Course detail

Project - Machine Analysis

FSI-ZP5 Acad. year: 2026/2027 Winter semester

Students work in small teams to solve a closed problem: analysing the function of a simple machine (e.g., a small-volume combustion engine) and its mechanical components. Emphasis is placed on understanding how to identify the machine through an initial overall inspection, followed by analysis of the machine, comprehension of the functions of individual parts, their categorisation, quality analysis and evaluation, and classification of the machine within a market segment. Students utilize and integrate knowledge gained from parallel courses, particularly in the basics of design and CAD modelling. The work also involves the use of measuring instruments and modern methods for assessing dimensional accuracy and the topography of functional surfaces. Instructors guide students through consultations toward systematic engineering work, which forms the foundation for understanding the design process of machine components and is a necessary prerequisite for completing follow-up project courses with more open-ended tasks.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Supervisor

doc. Ing. Milan Klapka, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Machine and Industrial Design

Entry knowledge

Knowledge of mathematics and physics at a high school level.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Conditions for obtaining course credit:

  • active participation in exercises,
  • submission of all interim assignments in the required scope in digital form,
  • submission of a fully completed project according to the required scope in digital form (technical report).

Conditions for passing the exam (0-100 points, the minimum to pass the exam is 50):

  • successful defense of the team project solution before the committee (conducted as a team and a necessary prerequisite for progressing to the second part of the exam),
  • successful completion of the individual discussion before the committee on topics related to the studied material and the team project,
  • the final grade is based on the evaluation of both parts of the exam. A maximum of 100 points can be earned, and the final classification is determined according to the ECTS grading scale.

Lecture: participation is recommended.

Exercises: Attendance is mandatory and monitored by the lecturer, with a maximum of two absences allowed. In case of long-term absence, compensation for the classes is in the responsibility of the course coordinator.

Aims

Graduates will understand the function of a simple machine in terms of the flow and transformation of energy, material, and information, focusing on identifying inputs and outputs and the relationships between components from the perspective of overall function as well as functional arrangement, applying a systematic engineering approach to evaluate the relationships between functional, technological, and economic aspects of the machine system. Expected acquired competencies of graduates:

  • Ability to analyze the function of a machine and understand its intended purpose.
  • Ability to analyze the function of machine components in the context of the entire machine.
  • Ability to connect functional and technological requirements to ensure the function of the machine and its parts.
  • Ability to verify key parameters that influence the function of manufactured components.
  • Knowledge of the principles of creating functional linkages between parts of the machine and their impact on the overall function of the machine.
  • Knowledge of the principles of creating technical drawings based on functional analysis of components and their relationships within the machine.
  • Knowledge of the relationships between product quality and the economic demands of manufacturing.
  • Ability to apply a systematic engineering approach to analyze or design a machine and its parts.

The study programmes with the given course

Programme B-KSI-P: Mechanical Engineering Design, Bachelor's, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

15 hours, optionally

Syllabus


  • Classification of machines, driving and driven machines, machine components.

  • Machine components and their functional connections within machine assemblies, basic definitions of machines and their functions, practical examples of machine usage.

  • Manufacturing processes and production technologies, the fundamentals of the economic balance between quality and production costs, concepts for ensuring the desired function in production documentation.

  • Verification of the quality of manufactured components – basics of metrology and reverse analysis.

  • Requirements and principles of manufacturing and technical documentation and its significance in the product life cycle.

Laboratory exercise

20 hours, compulsory

Syllabus


  • Division into project teams, analysis of the assignment, determination of competences.

  • Analysis and description of the machine’s function.

  • Breakdown of the machine into functional units.

  • Analysis and categorization of functional units.

  • Analysis of individual components and their categorization.

  • Evaluation of manufacturing methods, materials used, and surface quality.

  • Measurement and evaluation of dimensional and geometric accuracy.

Computer-assisted exercise

30 hours, compulsory

Syllabus


  • Evaluation of surface topography using optical profilometry.

  • Assessment of measured values in terms of measurement uncertainties.

  • Evaluation, analysis, and interpretation of measured data.

  • Scanning the geometry of selected parts using an optical 3D scanner.

  • Processing and evaluation of data obtained through 3D scanning.

  • Comparison of a given type of machine across different price categories in terms of function, design, and operating parameters.