Free Training!
- FANUC Robotics
- Mechatronics
- Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA)
Access to state-of-the-art equipment and hands-on training will enable you to gain valuable troubleshooting skills in theory, logic, and process. This experience will make you highly competitive in the job market upon completion.
Offered in multiple locations, view all our options below
To learn more and schedule training, email CustomizedTraining@NorthwoodTech.edu
Northwood Tech Advanced Manufacturing Flex Lab
Location: Rice Lake Campus
- SACA Class Information and Registration
Looking to advance your technical skills and stand out in the workforce? Northwood Technical College offers SACA Silver (fully online) and SACA Gold (includes an in-person lab component) certification courses to help you gain industry-recognized credentials!
What is SACA?
The Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) is a globally recognized certification program designed to prepare individuals for careers in the rapidly growing field of Industry 4.0. These certifications validate your proficiency in advanced manufacturing, smart automation, and robotics, ensuring you have the skills that today’s employers demand.
Whether enhancing your current career or stepping into a new field, our SACA certifications provide practical, job-ready skills. You can tailor your learning to fit your schedule with fully online options and hands-on lab experiences.
Don’t miss your chance—register today and start building a future in smart manufacturing!
SACA Flexible Registration Periods
Register for any of the classes listed below during the timeframe:
Spring Semester: January 20, 2025 – May 1, 20252025 Spring Classes
Prerequisite:
Hours
None
24
Register Electrical Systems 1 - Gold Lab portion of Electrical Systems 1
C201 Electrical Systems1 Silver certificate
24
Register C201 Electrical Systems1 Gold certificate
24
Register C205 Sensor Logic Systems 1 Silver certificate
24
Register None
16
Register C209 Pneumatics Systems1 Silver certificate
16
Register None
16
Register C255 Hydraulic Systems1 Silver certificate
16
Register C255 Hydraulic Systems1 Gold certificate
16
Register Hydraulic Maintenance 1 - Gold Lab portion of Hydraulic Maintenance 1
C256 Hydraulic Maintenance 1 Silver certificate
16
Register C201 Electrical Systems1 Gold certificate
24
Register Electric MotorControl Systems 1 - Gold Lab portion of Electrical Motor Control Systems 1
C202 Electrical MotorControl Systems 1
Silver certificate
24
Register Programmable Controller Systems 1 Silver Introduction to PLCs
C205 Sensor Logic Systems 1 Gold certificate
24
Register Programmable Controller Systems 1 Silver Programming the PLC
Satisfactory completion of Programming Controller Systems 1 Silver - Introduction to PLCs
24
Register C207 Programmable Controller Systems 1 - Silver certificate
24
Register Satisfactory completion of Programming Controller Systems 1 Gold - Introduction to PLCs
24
Register C207 Programmable Controller Systems 1 - Gold certificate
16
Register Mechanical Power Systems 1 Silver Chain Drives and Spur Gears
Satisfactory completion of Mechanical Power Systems 1 Silver - Introduction and V-Belts
16
Register C210 Mechanical Power Systems 1 Silver certificate
16
Register Satisfactory completion of Mechanical Power Systems 1 Gold - Introduction and V-Belts
16
Register C207 Programmable Controller Systems 1 - Gold certificate
24
Register C208 Programmable Controller Troubleshooting 1 - Silver certificate
24
Register
St. Croix Manufacturing Skills Center
Location: Hammond, Wi
Courses Offered:
- Basic Pneumatics 1
- Introduction to AC/DC
- AC Drives
- Automation 1 - Control Logic
- Automation 2 - Motor Control
- Maintenance PLC
- Intermediate PLC
- Advanced PLC
- FANUC Course Information and Registration
Please note that while there are multiple session dates available, the content of the class remains the same for each session.
HandlingTool Operation and Programming
Learn tasks that an operator, technician, engineer or programmer needs to setup, record and/or troubleshoot programs on a FANUC Robot using HandlingTool Software.
- Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
- Power up and jog the robot
- Teach Frames
- Recover from common program and robot faults
- Execute production operations
- Create, modify and execute a material handling program
- Create and execute MACROs
- Monitor, force and simulate input and output signals
- Backup and restore individual programs and files
Start Date: January 7, 2025
Days & Times: 1:00—4:00 P.M. | Days vary | 24 Hours Total
Register Start Date: February 4, 2025
Days & Times: 1:00—4:00 P.M. | Days vary | 24 Hours Total
Register Start Date: April 1, 2025
Days & Times: 1:00—4:00 P.M. | Days vary | 24 Hours Total
Register iRVision Operation and Programming - 2D
Learn the basic tasks and procedures required for an operator, technician, engineer or programmer to set up, teach,
- View and/or change robot and computer parameters to facilitate access to the robot’s web page
- Setup a camera
- Perform an inspection vision process
- Perform an inspection vision process
- Understand basic vision concepts and lighting
- Master a robot using vision mastering
- Create tool frame for the robot applicator
- Create user frames necessary for use with the vision system
- Calibrate a camera
- Setup a 2D single-view vision process
- Program the robot to respond to vision results
Start Date: December 3, 2024
Days & Times: 1:00—4:00 P.M. | Days vary | 24 Hours Total
Start Date: March 18, 2024
Days & Times: 1:00—4:00 P.M. | Days vary | 24 Hours Total
- Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
- Mechatronics Course Information and Registration
Course and Description
Times and Competencies
Hours
Introduction to AC/DC
Tuesday and Wednesday 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
24
Introduction to AC/DC - Introduces the concepts of AC and DC power and basic circuits. Using a multimeter, students learn about voltage, current, and resistance in both AC and DC circuits.
- Investigate electrical properties
- Demonstrate use of digital multimeter and oscilloscope
- Construct electrical circuits using schematic drawings
- Identify electrical and physical characteristics of transformers
- Analyze electrical properties of transducers
- Analyze electrical properties of parallel and series circuits
- Analyze electrical properties of reactance
Register for Introduction to AC/DC
Automation 1 - Control Logic
Tuesday and Wednesday 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
24
Learn about 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.
- Apply basic manual motor control principles
- Apply manual motor control principles with overload protection
- Apply control transformers to circuits
- Apply basic control logic to circuits
- Apply control relays and motor starters to circuits
- Troubleshoot basic motor control circuits
Register for Automation 1 - Control Logic
Basic Pneumatics 1
Tuesday and Wednesday 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
18
Learn 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.
- Implement basic pneumatic cylinder circuits and connections
- Implement basic pneumatic actuator circuits
- Apply Pascal’s Law and Boyles Law to pneumatic systems
- Implement air flow control and measurement to control speed
Register for Basic Pneumatics 1
Automation 2 - Motor Control
Jan 7-Feb5, 2025
Tuesday and Wednesday 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
24
Learn more about electric motor control components such as sensors, timers and counters.
Pre-requisite: Automation 1
- Troubleshoot industrial control system circuits
- Apply reversing motor control
- Apply automatic input devices
- Apply basic timer control
- Apply electrical sensors
Register for Automation 2 - Motor Control
AC Drives
Feb 11-March 5, 2025
Tuesday and Wednesday 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
24
This course provides the opportunity for the student to develop the knowledge, skills, process, and understanding of the power and control circuitry of AC drives and application and troubleshooting of these industrial AC drives (VFDs) to AC induction motors. This course concentrates on the AB PowerFlex 525 Variable Speed Drive.
Pre-requisite: Automation 2
- Demonstrate the application of timing circuits
- Examine device characteristics of Power Transistors
- Examine device characteristics of Thyristors
- Investigate device characteristic of triggering devices
- Demonstrate triggering circuits for power control circuitry
Register for AC Drives
Intermediate PLC
Jan 24-Feb 28, 2025
Friday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
24
Continuing the discovery of industrial control, this course will look a little deeper into the organization and code building related to a process. Building on concepts from the Maintenance PLC introductory course, this course will examine additional PLC instructions in ladder logic as well as an introduction to other forms of coding with the Studio 5000 environment.
- Examine structures and where they are used
- Examine database structures (array addressing)
- Program basic instructions in ladder logic(digital vs. analog, logical comparison, arithmetic)
- Program advanced functions in ladder logic (timers, counters, compute)
- Program using function block diagram
- Program using structured-text
- Configure communications with a human machine interface (HMI)
- Build a database and display for a human machine interface (machine edition and site edition)
Register for Intermediate PLC
Advanced PLC
April 4-May 16, 2025
Friday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
24
This course develops the skills required for the implementation of vacuum and air used to transmit force for performing useful functions on machines. Students will apply symbols to components and connect components to understand the assembly, operation, and maintenance of pneumatic systems.
- Examine the user-defined structure
- Examine the Add-on Instruction
- Examine the Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)
- Configure a Powerflex 525 VFD using Connected Components Workbench
- Program control of the VFD in the PLC
- Examine Studio 5000 motion programming
- Program motion group and axis using a Kinetix drive
Register for Advanced PLC
- Investigate electrical properties
- SACA Information and Registration
- Looking to advance your technical skills and stand out in the workforce? Northwood Technical College offers SACA Silver (fully online) and SACA Gold (includes an in-person lab component) certification courses to help you gain industry-recognized credentials!
What is SACA?
The Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) is a globally recognized certification program designed to prepare individuals for careers in the rapidly growing field of Industry 4.0. These certifications validate your proficiency in advanced manufacturing, smart automation, and robotics, ensuring you have the skills that today’s employers demand.
Whether enhancing your current career or stepping into a new field, our SACA certifications provide practical, job-ready skills. You can tailor your learning to fit your schedule with fully online options and hands-on lab experiences.
Don’t miss your chance—register today and start building a future in smart manufacturing!
SACA Flexible Registration Periods - Register for any of the classes listed below during the timeframe:
Spring Semester: January 20, 2025 – May 1, 2025 2025 Spring Courses
Prerequisite:
Hours
Electrical Systems 1 - Silver
None
24
Register Electrical Systems 1 - Gold
Lab portion of Electrical Systems 1
C201 Electrical Systems1 Silver certificate
24
Register Sensor Logic Systems 1 - Silver
C201 Electrical Systems1 Gold certificate
24
Register Sensor Logic Systems 1 - Gold
Lab portion of Sensor Logic Systems 1
C205 Sensor Logic Systems 1 Silver certificate
24
Register Pneumatic Systems1 - Silver
None
16
Register Pneumatic Systems1 - Gold
Lab portion of Pneumatic Systems 1
C209 Pneumatics Systems1 Silver certificate
16
Register Hydraulic Systems 1 - Silver
None
16
Register Hydraulic Systems 1 - Gold
Lab portion of Hydraulic Systems1
C255 Hydraulic Systems1 Silver certificate
16
Register Hydraulic Maintenance 1 - Silver
C255 Hydraulic Systems1 Gold certificate
16
Register Hydraulic Maintenance 1 - Gold Lab portion of Hydraulic Maintenance 1
C256 Hydraulic Maintenance 1 Silver certificate
16
Register Electric MotorControl Systems 1
- Silver
C201 Electrical Systems1 Gold certificate
24
Register Electric MotorControl Systems 1 - Gold
Lab portion of Electrical Motor Control Systems 1
C202 Electrical MotorControl Systems 1
Silver certificate
24
Register Programmable Controller Systems 1 Silver Introduction to PLCs
C205 Sensor Logic Systems 1 Gold certificate
24
Register Programmable Controller Systems 1 Silver Programming the PLC
Satisfactory completion of Programming Controller Systems 1 Silver - Introduction to PLCs
24
Register C207 Programmable Controller Systems 1 - Silver certificate
24
Register Satisfactory completion of Programming Controller Systems 1 Gold - Introduction to PLCs
24
Register C207 Programmable Controller Systems 1 - Gold certificate
16
Register Satisfactory completion of Mechanical Power Systems 1 Silver - Introduction and V-Belts
16
Register C210 Mechanical Power Systems 1 Silver certificate
16
Register Satisfactory completion of Mechanical Power Systems 1 Gold - Introduction and V-Belts
16
Register C207 Programmable Controller Systems 1 - Gold certificate
24
Register C208 Programmable Controller Troubleshooting 1 - Silver certificate
24
Register
- Looking to advance your technical skills and stand out in the workforce? Northwood Technical College offers SACA Silver (fully online) and SACA Gold (includes an in-person lab component) certification courses to help you gain industry-recognized credentials!
