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Academics & Training / Programs & Degrees / Fields of Interest / Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics / Mechanical Design Technology

Mechanical Design Technology Associate Degree

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Program Code: 106061

Mechanical design technicians apply knowledge of mechanical engineering technology to design, develop, and test new or revised machinery. Working primarily on a computer utilizing 2D drafting or 3D modeling programs, you assist product engineers by detailing sections of machine designs. As a graduate of the Mechanical Design Technology program, you're also equipped for such careers as detailer and mechanical drafter. With additional education and/or work experience, you may also become a product designer, lead designer, project engineer, or technical sales/service representative.

Follow Your Path

Some credits from the following certificate(s) apply toward this associate degree:
• CAD (Computer Aided Drafting), 906061
• Parametric Modeling, 906062
Ask your advisor about 4-year university all-credit transfer opportunities.

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Program Costs & Financial Aid

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Employment Potential

A graduate of this program will have the potential for employment in the following areas:

Detailer: produces detailed drawings of parts of machines from supplied information on CAD, and make drawing changes to comply with Engineering Change Notices (ECN’s)/ Engineering Change Requests (ECR’s).

Mechanical Design Technician: applies knowledge of mechanical engineering technology to design, develop, and test new or revised machinery; assists in component selection and sizing of machine members; has duties split between design and drafting and may specialize in a specific type of machine or product. Most work is performed on a computer.

Mechanical Drafter: has the principal duty of preparing working drawings of machinery and mechanical devices using CAD systems to draft detail and assembly drawings indicating dimensions and tolerances, materials, surface finishes, joining requirements, and other engineering data.

With additional education and/or work experience, graduates may find other opportunities for employment.

• Mechanical Designer (Product Designer)
• Lead Designer
• Project Engineer
• Technical Sales/Service Representative

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Requirements for Program Entry

• Completed application.
• High school transcript or equivalent. (For a list of equivalents, go to www.nwtc.edu/gettingstarted.)
• To be admitted to this program, learners must achieve a prior cumulative high school or college grade point average of 2.6 or higher OR a satisfactory academic skills assessment score. College grade point average must be based on 15 credits or more. To learn more about starting this program, please contact an academic advisor at (920) 498-5444 or (888) 385-6982.
• A high school background in mathematics, science and industrial education.
• High school algebra or equivalent.
• Familiar with Microsoft Word and File Management.

Program Availability

FULL TIME Spring 2020 Summer 2020 Fall 2020
Green Bay
Unavailable
Unavailable
Accepting
Marinette
Unavailable
Unavailable
Unavailable
Sturgeon Bay
Unavailable
Unavailable
Unavailable

Application Checklist

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Curriculum
Students following the study plan below will complete the Mechanical Design Technology associate degree in the number of semesters shown.
FIRST SEMESTER
Credit for Prior LearningCredit for Prior Learning Available »
10-890-101 COLLEGE 101 ...Students will utilize digital tools and resources to assess, explore, practice, apply, and evaluate both employability and learning skills. By establishing NWTC cultural values as hallmarks of success in academic, career, and personal settings the course encourages reflective, personalized development of a growth mindset and emphasizes the importance of making wise choices. To maximize the return on investment, students should take this course in their first semester as it identifies key expectations (hidden rules) of higher learning and professional employment.
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Credit for Prior LearningCredit for Prior Learning Available »
10-606-111 MECHANICAL DESIGN EXPLORING ...philosophy/organization/procedure of the Mechanical Design Technology Program, brief overview of the engineering profession by involvement in a design project to illustrate basic concepts/methods of machine design.
View Course Outcomes
Credit for Prior LearningCredit for Prior Learning Available »
10-606-116 CAD (COMPUTER AIDED DRAFTING)-INTRODUCTION ...CAD terminology, drawing preliminaries, basic inquiry and setting commands, layer setting and manipulation, basic drawing and display commands, basic edit commands, and plotting, using AutoCAD software.
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Credit for Prior LearningCredit for Prior Learning Available »
10-606-119 SKETCHING-TECHNICAL ...graphically describe objects without CAD system or mechanical drawing aids; fundamental components of design process: lettering, geometric construction, orthographic projection, isometric sketching, section views, auxiliary views, and dimensioning. (Prerequisite: Accepted into Mechanical Design Technology program or Mechanical CAD Certificate; Corequisite: 10-606-116, CAD-Intro.)
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10-606-210 SOLIDWORKS FUNDAMENTALS, ASSEMBLIES AND DRAWINGS ...Terminology; software operation and interface basics, creating basic models, casting and forging models, revolved a swept features, SolidWorks drawing environment, completely dimensioned orthographic drawings; model troubleshooting. (Corequisite: 10-606-119, Technical Sketching)
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10-606-211 MECHANICAL AUTOCAD FUNDAMENTALS ...fully dimensioned orthographic mechanical drawings; section and asuxiliary views, mechanical assembly drawings, advanced layer management. (Corequisite: 10-606-116, CAD-Intro with a "C" or better and 10-606-119, Sketching, Technical)
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Credit for Prior LearningCredit for Prior Learning Available »
10-804-113 COLLEGE TECHNICAL MATH 1A ...topics include solving linear equations; graphing; percent; proportions; measurement systems; computational geometry; and right triangle trigonometry. Emphasis will be on the application of skills to technical problems. (Prerequisite: A placement value of 2400; OR Accuplacer Arithmetic score greater/equal to 65 AND Reading score greater/equal to 55; OR ACT Math score greater/equal to 15 AND ACT Reading score greater/equal to 16; OR preparatory courses-contact an academic advisor 920-498-5444)
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Credit for Prior LearningCredit for Prior Learning Available »
10-103-131 MICRO: EXCEL-INTRODUCTION ...creating a worksheet, enhancing worksheet appearance, moving and copying data, using formulas and functions, creating charts and using clip art. Windows experience improves success; consider 10-103-111, Windows/Computer Basics.
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Credit for Prior LearningCredit for Prior Learning Available »
10-801-136 ENGLISH COMPOSITION 1 ...learners develop knowledge/skills in planning, organizing, writing, editing. Students will also analyze audience/purpose, use elements of research, format documents using standard guidelines, and develop critical reading skills. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer Rdg score greater/equal to 55 AND Sentence Skills greater/equal to 75; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND Eng greater/equal to 18; OR preparatory courses-contact academic advisor at 920-498-5444)
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SEMESTER TOTAL
17
SECOND SEMESTER
10-614-204 ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING ...basics of rapid prototyping including preparation of SolidWorks models and fundamentals of operating a 3D printer. (Prerequisite: 10-606-210; SW Fund, Assemblies, Dwgs)
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10-442-153 PROTOTYPE METAL FABRICATION...ferrous and non-ferrous metals, oxyacetylene gas, tungsten arc, gas metal arc, and metal fabrication.
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10-606-213 CAD - AUXILIARY AND FLAT PATTERN ...primary and successive auxiliary views, 2D flat pattern developments. (Prerequisite: 10-606-211, Mech AutoCAD Fund)
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10-606-214 FABRICATION AND ASSEMBLY DESIGN ... sheetmetal drawings, welding drawings, threads and fasteners, working drawing documentation, GC&T, group design project.(Prerequisites: 10-606-210, SW Fund, Assemblies, Dwgs; 10-606-211 Mechanical AutoCAD Fundamentals)
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Credit for Prior LearningCredit for Prior Learning Available »
10-614-136 3D MODELING WITH INVENTOR ...develop the knowledge and skills, to create Solid Models using Autodesk Inventor; creating and editing 3D drawings; rapid prototyping; manipulating data.
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Credit for Prior LearningCredit for Prior Learning Available »
10-804-114 COLLEGE TECHNICAL MATH 1B ...topics include: performing operations on polynomials; solving quadratic and rational equations; formula rearrangement; solving systems of equations; and oblique triangle trigonometry. Emphasis will be on the application of skills to technical problems. (Prerequisite: 10-804-113, Tech Math 1A with grade C or better)
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Credit for Prior LearningCredit for Prior Learning Available »
10-806-154 GENERAL PHYSICS 1 ...applications/theory of basic physics principles: problem-solving, laboratory investigation, and applications including unit conversion and analysis, vectors, translational and rotational kinematics/dynamics, heat/temperature, and harmonic motion and waves. (Prereq: 2.6 GPA & Alg 2 or equiv w/C or better; OR placement value of 3400; OR Accuplacer Reading greater/equal to 80, Arith greater/equal to 65, & Elem Alg greater/equal to 61; OR ACT Reading greater/equal to 17 & Math greater/equal to 21; OR Coll Tech Math 1A OR Int Alg w/C or better)
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SEMESTER TOTAL
16
THIRD SEMESTER
10-606-135 MACHINE MEMBERS-STRENGTH ...force analysis, moments, truss and frame analysis, simple stress, properties of materials, joint design, centroids and moments of inertia, beam design, shafting design, combined stresses, columns. (Prerequisites: 10-806-154, General Physics 1; 10-804-114, College Tech Mathematics 1B or equivilant)
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10-606-212 CAD-ECD ...utilizing AutoCAD and AutoCAD Electrical, creation of electrical schematics, bills of material and panel layouts (Corequisites: 10-606-116, CAD-Intro; 10-664-100, Automation 1: Control)
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10-606-158 SOLIDWORKS ADVANCED ...sheet metal parts, sheet metal drawings, weldment parts, weldment drawings, equations, configurations, assemblies, assembly drawings, lofting and surfacing. (Prerequisite: 10-606-210 SW Fund, Assemblies, Dwgs)
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10-620-100 FLUIDS 1: BASIC PNEUMATICS ...what fluid power is, differentiate between hydraulics and pneumatics, implement basic pneumatic circuits, utilize schematics, apply Pascal's Law, define properties of fluids, implement airflow control and hydraulics cylinder circuits.
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10-620-101 FLUIDS 2: BASIC HYDRAULICS ...hydraulic pumps, basic hydraulics actuator circuits, hydraulic schematics, apply Pascal's Law, summarize the effects of fluids friction, define properties of hydraulic energy, design hydraulic circuits with directional control valves. (Corequisite: 10-620-100, Fluids 1: Basic Pneumatics)
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10-620-165 FLUIDS 3: INTERMEDIATE HYDRAULICS ...design of cylinder actuating circuits with pressure-compensated flow control valves, how to control pressure, pilot-operated check valve applications, accumulator operation and application, hydraulic motor types and applications. (Corequisite: 10-620-101, Fluids 2: Basic Hydraulics)
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10-664-100 AUTOMATION 1: CONTROL LOGIC ...electric motor control components such as switches, relays, starters, transformers; and safely mount and install motor and motor control components and perform related wiring and troubleshooting of motor control circuits.
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Credit for Prior LearningCredit for Prior Learning Available »
10-801-196 ORAL/INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION ...the communication process, perception and self-concept, language, listening, nonverbal communication, interpersonal relationships, communication in groups and public communication; prepare and deliver an oral presentation. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer Rdg score greater/equal to 55 AND Sentence Skills score greater/equal to 60; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND English score greater/equal to 16; OR preparatory course-contact an academic advisor at 920-498-5444)
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10-420-173 MECHANICAL DESIGN - CNC ...2 axis CNC, 3 axis CNC and importing files. (Prerequisite: 10-606-210, SW Fund, Assemblies, Dwgs; 10-606-211, Mech AutoCAD Fundamentals)
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SEMESTER TOTAL
17
FOURTH SEMESTER
10-606-168 LARGE MODEL MANAGEMENT ...building large assemblies from SolidWorks, Inventor, and 3D Point Cloud data. Utilizing assembly/sub-assembly structure. Exposure to CAD file management and work flows using AutoDesk Vault. Using the large assemblies to create factory layouts. Exposure to NavisWorks and AutoDesk Plant Design.
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10-606-141 DESIGN PROBLEMS ...data gathering, mathematics, document standard practices, project management and teamwork. [Prerequisites: 10-606-135, Machine Members-Strength; 10-606-103, 2D CAD Adv; (10-606-158, Solidworks Sheetmetal, Weldment, Loft OR 10-606-160, SolidWorks Sheet Metal AND 10-606-166, SolidWorks Loft & Surface)]
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10-606-143 MECHANISMS ...study of motion, vector equations and sense notation, basic motion concepts, kinematic drawing and displacement, velocities in mechanisms, accelerations in mechanisms, CAM motions, and gear trains. (Prerequisites: 10-606-116, CAD-Intro; 10-806-154, General Physics 1; 10-606-211, Mech AutoCAD Fund; 10-804-196, Trigonometry w/ Apps OR 10-804-114, Tech Math 1B)
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Credit for Prior LearningCredit for Prior Learning Available »
10-809-172 INTRO TO DIVERSITY STUDIES...basic American values of justice and equality by teaching vocabulary, history of immigration/conquest, transcultural communication, legal liability, multicultural majority/minority relations, ageism, sexism, gender, sexual orientation, the disabled/ADA. (Prerequisite: A placement value of 6200; OR Accuplacer Rdg score greater/equal to 55 AND Sentence Skills greater/equal to 60; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 15; OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing with a B or better)
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10-606-215 SOLIDWORKS SIMULATION ...stress analysis utilizing the SolidWorks software. Material selection and assembly motion simulation. (Prerequisite: 10-606-210 SW Fund, Assemblies, Dwgs; 10-606-135, Machine Members-Strength)
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Credit for Prior LearningCredit for Prior Learning Available »
10-809-198 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY ...survey of theoretical foundations of human behavior such as sensation and perception, motivation, emotions, learning, personality, psychological disorders, therapy, stress, and human diversity in personal, social and vocational settings. (Prerequisite: Cumulative GPA of 2.6 or greater OR satisfactory reading and writing assessment scores OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing 1 with "B" or better OR Corequisite: 10-831-102, English Comp Prep)
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10-623-170 ENGINEERING MATERIALS - INTRO ...exposure to engineering materials, their properties, and behavior. Topics will include: material types, material testing, mechanical properties, heat treatment and materials selection. (Prerequisites: 10-804-197, College Algebra & Trig w Apps OR 10-804-195, College Algebra w Apps AND 10-804-196, Trigonometry w Apps OR 10-804-114 Tech Math 1B)
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SEMESTER TOTAL
18
TOTAL CREDITS
68
Curriculum Note
. The credit for 10-890-101, College 101 is an Institutional Requirement for graduation. Consequently, it is not part of the program requirements, but must be passed with a C or better.
. Students considering pursuing a four-year degree should take Intermediate Algebra w/Apps, 10-804-118, in place of 10-804-113, College Tech Math 1A and 10-804-196, Trigonometry w/Apps in place of 10-804-114, College Tech Math 1B.

Program Outcomes

• Prepare detail and assembly drawings for the documentation of mechanical components and products.
• Create CAD geometry, parts, and assemblies.
• Design Mechanical components and products.
• Analyze Mechanical Engineering Problems.
• Select purchased parts.
• Operate word processing and spreadsheet programs.
• Understand application of electromechanical devices and servos.
• Participate as a member of a manufacturing team.
• Work in an organized manner, documenting work performed.

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Start here. Finish at a four-year.

NWTC transfer programs are offered through collaborative agreements with our four-year college and university partners. See where your associate degree credits will transfer >> EXCLUDEEND

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Study Abroad Opportunities

The International Programs staff continually seeks opportunities for students to travel abroad for educational experiences that may be offered in association with program courses. To find out more about which of your program courses may offer an opportunity during this academic year, contact your academic advisor or visit nwtc.edu/studyabroad.

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8 week icon

8-Week Advantage

This program will transition to 8–week courses in Fall of 2021. 

Average Starting Salary:

$42,584.00

FT Median Annual Wage - Learn more »

Graduate Employment

With 88% Employed in Field
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