The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to recommend ferrous and non ferrous metals or alloys for an application. Critical aspects for assessment and evidence are required to demonstrate competency in this unit.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

It is essential that competence is demonstrated in the ability to:

Understand the given application and designer's expectations, to recommend the appropriate metal alloy.

Relationship to other units

This unit may be assessed concurrently with other relevant units.

Assessment method and context

Assessors must be satisfied that the person can consistently perform the unit as a whole, as defined by the elements, performance criteria, skills and knowledge. A holistic approach should be taken to the assessment.

Assessors should gather sufficient, fair, valid, reliable, authentic and current evidence from a range of sources. Sources of evidence may include direct observation, reports from supervisors, peers and colleagues, project work, samples, organisation records and questioning. Assessment should not require language, literacy or numeracy skills beyond those required for the unit.

The assessee will have access to all techniques, procedures, information, resources and aids which would normally be available in the workplace. The method of assessment should be discussed and agreed with the assessee prior to the commencement of assessment.

Resource implications

This section should be read in conjunction with the range of variables for this unit of competency. Resources required include suitable access to an operating plant or equipment that allows for appropriate and realistic simulation. A bank of case studies/scenarios and questions will also be required to the extent that they form part of the assessment method. Questioning may take place either in the workplace, or in an adjacent, quiet facility such as an office or lunchroom. No other special resources are required.

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required skills:

communicate personally and in writing

write reports

prepare basic costs and estimates

Select appropriate metals to suit specific applications

Apply basic metallurgical principles in preparing recommendations

Apply and manipulate appropriate formulas for applications involving engineering calculations

Apply appropriate calculations to engineering and metallurgical situations

Required knowledge:

Competency includes sufficient knowledge of:

Unalloyed steels

iron-iron carbide phase diagram. Phases in iron carbon alloys. Slow cooling of steel, critical temperature lines. Introduction to the more common heat treatment processes including full annealing, spheroidising stress relief annealing, process annealing, normalising, hardening and tempering.

Alloy steels

effect of alloying elements

structural changes resulting from alloy additions Phase diagrams - Fe-C-Cr. effect of alloy additions on heat treatment, austenitising temperature, time and rate of transformation, hardening and tempering.

Manganese steel

Stainless steels

classification

compositions, heat treatment, structure, properties and applications of stainless steels

austenitic

ferritic

duplex and super duplex ferritic-austenitic

martensitic

precipitation hardening

heat treatment problems - sensitisation, embrittlement, etc.

Cast irons - classifications

classification - structure, carbon distribution and form.

factors affecting structure and properties - effect of carbon, silicon, cooling rate, etc.

Typical cast irons

compositions, method of manufacture, structures, properties and applications of

grey cast irons

white cast irons

malleable cast irons

nodular (ductile) cast irons

alloy cast irons

austempered cast irons

compacted graphite irons

Copper alloys

commercial alloys from the following systems:

Cu-O, Cu-Be, Cu-Ni, Cu-Sn and Cu-Al.

the effects of casting, deformation, recrystallisation and ageing treatments on the structure and properties of the above alloys.

Aluminium alloys

commercial alloys from the following systems:

Al-Si, Al-Cu, Al-Mg and Al-Mg-Si

the relationship between structure and properties of the above alloys.

Other

Zinc alloys

tin alloys

nickel alloys

cobalt alloys

magnesium alloys

Titanium alloys

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Codes of practice/standards

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used.

Design requirements

Includes reference to all relevant drawings, specifications, manuals and documentation in accordance with workplace procedures.

Further processing

Includes addition of alloys and heat treatment ; hardening, tempering, annealing

Materials

Covers both elemental metals and alloys including:

unalloyed steels

alloy steels

stainless steels

grey cast irons

white cast irons

malleable cast irons

nodular (ductile) cast irons

alloy cast irons

copper alloys

aluminium alloys.

zinc

tin

nickel

cobalt

magnesium

titanium