Bachelor of Engineering in Precision Engineering and Design

Course Summary

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Please note this programme has been removed from the CAO. However, it remains part of our common entry Engineering programmes at Level 7 - AU830 BEng in Engineering and Level 6 - AU715 Higher Certificate in Engineering

Students who choose AU830 BEng in Engineering or  AU715 Higher Certificate in Engineering will study a variety of modules in Semester 1 and may choose to specialise in Precision Engineering and Design from Semester 2 onwards.

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Precision Engineering is a specialist branch of mechanical engineering which involves the design and manufacture of complex products, machines, tools and instruments, whose parts must be precisely correct in size and shape, have exceptionally tight tolerances and be produced repeatedly to exact specifications. These include machines and fixtures produced for the medical devices and aerospace industries. Precision Engineering is often defined as having an accuracy of1x106 - that’s one millionth of a metre, or 1 micron. 

The Precision Engineering programmes at ATU Sligo have been designed to meet 21st century manufacturing requirements and to ensure that graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills now needed in modern manufacturing companies.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

This degree enables students to understand and apply the principles of mathematics, science, physics, and the various precision engineering technologies, as well as practising design processes and techniques.

Students acquire the specialist knowledge and skills needed to design and manufacture modern, high-tech engineering products, and to design and build the specialist equipment needed for their manufacture. Skill shortages have been identified in precision engineering and increased job opportunities have been predicted for engineers with these skills.

Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including comprehensive material and testing laboratories, industry standards software in CAD/CAM, automation equipment, traditional manufacturing workshops, and 3D printers as well as advanced CNC machines. 

This Precision Engineering degree focuses on:

• Precision Design – product, mould, tool and machine design
• Computer Aided Manufacture – CNC (Computer Numerical Control) programming & machining
• Advanced Manufacturing Technologies – automation, polymer processing, materials
• Metrology – Precision measurement and CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine)
• Manufacturing Requirements – validation, quality management, lean manufacturing and project management

Design is a key activity on this programme and graduates acquire the skills needed for the design of precision products, such as medical devices, the design of precision tooling, such as plastic injection moulds and the design of automation equipment, such as assembly machinery.

Students also learn how to program and use computer numerical control (CNC) machines used to make precision components and precision measurement equipment such as coordinate measuring machines (CMM).

Advanced manufacturing techniques, automation, computer integrated manufacturing technologies and the use of polymer processing technologies used for plastic moulding are also addressed.

YEAR 1

During Semester 1, students are introduced to the engineering profession by sharing the same modules as our other engineering programmes. The common first semester helps develop a multidisciplinary mindset.

YEAR 2

Students specialise in Mechanical Engineering, and study Engineering Materials, Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Computer-Integrated Manufacturing and Automation Technology, Computer-Aided Manufacture, Manufacturing Technology and Computer Aided Design (CAD), along with Mathematics, Mechanics and completing a group project.

YEAR 3

Specialist Precision Engineering modules ensure that students become proficient in Product and Tool Design, CNC Technologies, Robotics, Integrated Manufacturing, Metrology, Validation and Quality Management. Students complete a major final-year project.

PRECISION ENGINEERING BURSARIES FOR CAO APPLICANTS 

ATU Sligo have partnered with Abbott Nutrition, Avenue Mould Solutions, Moll Industries Ireland Ltd., Ophardt Hygiene Ireland, Prior PLM Medical and Ward Automation to offer financial bursaries of up to €1000 to CAO applicants choosing to study the BEng in Precision Engineering and Design. This is to help combat the huge skill shortages within this specialist area of mechanical engineering.

Interested students can contact companies directly for more information. Companies will award the bursary to students on successful completion of first year exams in Precision Engineering and Design at ATU Sligo.

PRECISION ENGINEERING INDUSTRY BURSARIES

ATU Sligo is delighted to have partnered with companies such as Abbott Nutrition, Avenue Mould Solutions (Nolato Group), Ophardt Hygiene Ireland, Prior PLM Medical and Ward Automation who have awarded financial bursaries up to a value of €1,000 to BEng in Precision Engineering and Design students. The bursaries were provided to attract students to this specialist area of mechanical engineering, to help combat the huge skill shortages in the industry.

Bursaries continue to be offered regularly, information on which will be provided to students when the application opportunities open.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for CAO courses at ATU Sligo are available for download below:

• Download Entry requirements for just Level 7 programmes
• Download Entry requirements for all programmes

Career Opportunities

Skill shortages have been identified in precision engineering, particularly for designers of precision products, tools and machines, with increased job opportunities for graduates possessing these skills. ATU Sligo has consulted widely with industry to develop this programme. Our graduates are in very high demand to meet the skills shortages, both nationally and internationally.

Graduates gain employment in design, manufacturing, project management, CNC programming, metrology, validation and procurement roles in high-performance, advanced manufacturing and precision engineering companies.

Further Study

Upon completion of this Level 7 ordinary degree, students may progress their studies through the Level 8 add-on programmes in the BEng (Hons) in Precision Engineering & Design or the BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering.

BEng (Hons) in Precision Engineering and Design add-on

BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering add-on

Following completion of a Level 8 honours degree, we offer a wide range of Level 9 and Level 10 postgraduate studies.

Postgraduate studies at ATU Sligo

Testimonials

Hear what employers have to say about Engineering graduates from ATU Sligo. Plus, see some of the projects our students have worked on.

Did you know?

PRECISION ENGINEERING INDUSTRY BURSARIES

ATU Sligo is delighted to have partnered with companies such as Abbott Nutrition, Avenue Mould Solutions (Nolato Group), Ophardt Hygiene Ireland, Prior PLM Medical and Ward Automation who have awarded financial bursaries up to a value of €1,000 to BEng in Precision Engineering and Design students. The bursaries were provided to attract students to this specialist area of mechanical engineering, to help combat the huge skill shortages in the industry.

Bursaries continue to be offered regularly, information on which will be provided to students when the application opportunities open.

SKILLS SHORTAGE AND INDUSTRY DEMAND

Skill shortages have been identified in precision engineering, particularly for designers of precision products, tools and machines, with increased job opportunities for graduates possessing these skills. ATU Sligo has consulted widely with industry to develop this programme.

This programme concentrates on the design of precision plastic and metal products, mould and die design, together with all of the related manufacturing, polymer processing, metrology and validation technologies.

Final year students design and manufacture a working prototype that is often linked with a company. The final year projects are regularly submitted to national competitions and student projects have won several awards including the Engineers Ireland Award.

Students complete a major final-year project.

Student projects are presented at The Sligo Engineering & Technology Expo. The Expo is attended by a range of companies including Fortune 500 industry leaders. This allows students to network with potential employers. View the latest Engineering Expo Catalogue

Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including comprehensive material and testing laboratories, industry standards software in CAD/CAM, automation equipment, traditional manufacturing workshops, and 3D printers as well as advanced CNC machines. 

Our Level 7 and Level 6 Engineering programmes have a common first semester. This gives students a good understanding of the different aspects of the engineering profession. In Semester 2, they choose a field of engineering to specialise in from  AU835 BEng in Civil Engineering, AU833 BEng in Mechanical Engineering, AU831 BEng in Mechatronic Engineering or BEng in Precision Engineering and Design This allows students to change their speciality in Semester 2 if desired.

Course Format

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Semester 5

Semester 6

Semester 7