Spark Erosion Machining Operations for Component Production Training

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate safe working practices and procedures when setting up and operating spark erosion machines.
• Apply appropriate electrode materials and geometries for specific component production tasks.
• Analyze erosion parameters (current, pulse duration, voltage) to optimize material removal and surface finish.
• Evaluate component quality using measuring instruments and compare against specified tolerances.
• Implement corrective actions to adjust machine settings based on inspection results.
• Design a simple spark erosion machining sequence for a given component drawing.

Target Audience

This course is designed for machinists, toolmakers, and production technicians who operate or supervise spark erosion machines in manufacturing or engineering environments. It is also suitable for apprentices and experienced operators seeking formal recognition of their skills.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment. However, learners should have access to a workshop with spark erosion equipment for practical application.

Course Outline

Practicals

Overview

Hands-on practical sessions are essential for learners to develop competence in setting up, operating, and troubleshooting EDM machines. These sessions provide supervised practice in real machining tasks, reinforcing theoretical knowledge and preparing learners for workplace application.

Practical Activities

• Machine Familiarization and Safety — Learners identify machine components, perform safety checks, and practice emergency shutdown procedures. (4h)
• Setup and Parameter Selection — Learners mount an electrode, set up a workpiece, and select machining parameters for a given material. (4h)
• Cavity Sinking Operation — Learners execute a cavity sinking operation, monitoring and adjusting parameters to achieve specified depth and finish. (4h)
• Through-Hole Machining and Quality Check — Learners machine a through-hole using a tubular electrode and inspect the results using standard gauges. (4h)
• Troubleshooting and Maintenance — Learners diagnose common faults, perform routine maintenance, and prepare a production report. (4h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total

Component	Out of	Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored)	100%	30%
Daily Average (multiple choice)	100%	20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice)	100%	50%
Final Total	—	100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

How it works

• Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
• Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
• You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
• If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.

Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates	Discount
5	3% off
10	6% off
15	9% off
20	12% off
25	15% off
30	18% off
50	30% off
75	35% off
100	40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.