Vocational education
Vocational training
In vocational training you can choose between two learning pathways: the day release course (Dutch acronym: BBL) and vocational training (Dutch acronym: BOL).
Day release course ("BBL")
In the BBL, the apprentice employee almost has a full-time job. This often means that you go to college one day, or sometimes one to two evenings, per week and that you learn the profession at a recognised apprenticeship company.
Vocational training ("BOL")
If a student follows a daytime course then during this he or she must complete an internship of several weeks at a recognised apprenticeship company. If this is the case, the student is following a vocational course. Students can enter at four educational levels.
Nikhef's Mechanical Engineering Department is a recognised apprenticeship company for the following courses:
Precision mechanical engineering:
100960 BOL Level 4
Instrument maker: 101030 BBL Level 2
Machining operator specialised in milling and turning 101071 BBL Level 2
Machining operator specialised in CNC machining (round and flat workpieces): 100971 BBL Level 3
Machining operator specialised in CNC machining (round workpieces) 100972 BBL Level 3
These courses are aimed at the following professions, for example:
Instrument maker
The instrument maker independently produces instruments and measurement tools or the parts thereof. Most of this work concerns small series of products or, sometimes, single pieces. Precision mechanical engineering plays a prominent role in the work of an instrument maker.
He or she produces complex and composite products and, in order to do so, makes use of machining processes (turning, milling, grinding, honing, and polishing), joining processes (assembly, mounting, (silver) soldering, bonding, screwing), separating processes (cutting, sawing) and (to a lesser extent) deformation processes (bending and shearing). Besides composite products, the instrument maker can also produce single material products.
The instrument maker mostly produces products from non-ferrous materials (stainless steel, aluminium, plastics and ceramics). His or her work is automated to a limited extent: some instrument makers only work in a traditional manner (mainly turning and milling), whilst others operate in both a traditional and a CNC-guided manner, in which the emphasis is on the traditional machines.
CNC turning/milling
The CNC turner/miller independently produces (parts of) products from ferrous or non-ferrous materials using machining processes that are realised using CNC turning and milling machines.
The CNC turner/miller is a complete, all-round professional on conventional turning and milling machines. In addition to this, he or she operates conventional and 'teach-in' turning in milling machines. However, the emphasis is on CNC-guided machining.
The CNC turner/miller is responsible for:
♦ operating CNC turning and milling machines;
♦ calling up existing CNC programs;
♦ modifying existing CNC programs;
♦ and the writing of new CNC programs (remotely and at the machine).
The work of the CNC turner/miller starts with the supply of the job and working drawing and ends with the first product check and (after approval) the delivery of the workpiece for either a possible subsequent processing or finishing off or directly to the client. In general, the CNC turner/miller produces small series and sometimes individual pieces. It mainly concerns complex workpieces in which CNC machining has an added value.
