What you will be able to do
- Calculate torque, work, power and drive-train efficiency in SI and imperial units.
- Predict the output speed, torque and direction of a gear train, belt drive or chain drive.
- Tell angular, parallel and axial misalignment apart and explain what each does to a coupling.
- Explain why a motor needs time to accelerate a load and how a gearbox changes what the motor feels.
- Convert lead, pitch and encoder counts into linear speed and resolution for a screw, rack or belt axis.
- Read the basics of a mechanical drawing and use noise, heat and vibration clues to narrow down a fault.
- 01
Force, torque and work in plain language
Free14 min · lessonTorque is a force with a lever and work is force times distance: use a unit-aware calculator in SI and imperial to see the difference.
- 02
Speed, power and efficiency
Free15 min · lessonFind power from torque and rpm, switch between kW and hp, and see how efficiencies in a drive train multiply into heat loss.
- 03
Gears and gearboxes
Free18 min · lessonBuild a gear train by picking tooth counts and read the output speed, torque and direction, including a compound two-stage reducer.
- 04
Belts, chains and pulleys
Pro16 min · lessonWork out pulley ratios, belt speed, belt length and wrap angle, then decide when a V-belt, timing belt or chain suits the job.
- 05
Shafts, keys and couplings
Pro15 min · lessonSee how keys and couplings carry torque, compare rigid and flexible couplings, and identify the three misalignments from pictures.
- 06
Bearings and lubrication
Pro16 min · lessonCompare ball, roller and plain bearings, decode a bearing number, and learn the noise and heat signs of a bearing that is failing.
- 07
Inertia and acceleration
Pro16 min · lessonChange the load and the gearbox ratio to see how long a motor takes to speed up, and why inertia reflects by the ratio squared.
- 08
Linear motion: ball screws, rack and pinion, guides and belts
Pro17 min · lessonTurn lead, pinion size and encoder lines into speed, thrust and resolution, and see why vertical axes need a way to hold.
- 09
Reading mechanical drawings
Pro18 min · lessonRead views, line types, dimensions and tolerances, check a measured part against its limits, and identify nine geometric tolerance symbols.
- 10
Fasteners and thread basics
Pro15 min · lessonDecode thread sizes and bolt grades, learn what preload is and why torque specs and thread-lockers exist, and where to find the real values.
- 11
Alignment, vibration and condition clues
Pro17 min · lessonPlace a vibration peak as a multiple of running speed, learn the classic suspects, and see why trends beat single readings.
- 12
Mechanical troubleshooting
Pro20 min · lessonFollow a safe method for mechanical faults and test yourself with a graded set of symptom-to-cause questions.
Who this track is for
Maintenance technicians, electricians and controls people who work on machines and need the mechanics behind the motors and drives they already know.
3 of the 12 units are free with a free account, with no card and no expiry. The other 9 are part of a paid plan; compare them on the pricing page.
Printable study guide
A PDF study guide for this track: a chapter per lesson with the learning goal, key terms, a worked example and check-yourself questions with answers, plus a quick-reference page. Free accounts get a two-page sample.
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- Electrical FoundationsThe electrics you need before PLC wiring: Ohm's law to a start/stop circuit, in 12 short units.12 units, 4 free
- Drawings and DocumentationRead a P&ID and an electrical drawing set, follow a signal from the process to a PLC terminal, and document your own work the way an employer expects.10 units, 3 free
Why do automation technicians need mechanical knowledge?
Many faults that look like control problems start mechanically: a worn belt changes speed feedback, a seized bearing trips an overload, a loose coupling makes an encoder lie. Knowing the mechanism lets you decide whether to chase the program or the machine.
What is the difference between a belt drive and a chain drive?
A belt drive is quiet and tolerates some misalignment but can slip, which hurts speed accuracy unless it is a toothed belt. A chain drive does not slip and carries higher loads but needs lubrication and tension checks and is noisier.
Is this a mechanical engineering course?
No. It covers the practical mechanisms a technician meets on automated equipment. It does not teach machine design or load calculations for certified work, and real mechanical work needs lockout/tagout and a qualified person.
How much of Mechanical Foundations is free?
3 of the 12 units are free with a free account, no credit card and no expiry, starting with Force, torque and work in plain language. The remaining 9 units are included with a paid plan; see the pricing page for the current plans.
Do I need a PLC or any hardware?
No. Everything runs in the browser against simulated equipment. It is training material: it does not replace supervised practice on real equipment, and lockout/tagout and a qualified person are required for real equipment.
Start with the free units
Browser-based, no install, no hardware.
Start free: Force, torque and work in plain language