For students in the Fitting and Machining specialisation, Grade 12 is the year where theory meets advanced practical application. Success in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) requires a mastery of complex machinery, precise calculations, and strict safety protocols.
The Annual Teaching Plan (ATP) 2026 provides the roadmap for the year, ensuring that learners cover everything from advanced milling to hydraulic systems before the final examinations.
Mechanical Technology (Fitting and Machining) Grade 12 ATP
This guide outlines the weekly schedule for 2026, broken down by term, to help learners and teachers track their progress through the CAPS topics and Practical Assessment Tasks (PAT).
Term 1: Advanced Machining & Safety
Focus: The first term focuses on advanced operations on the lathe and milling machines, along with the necessary calculations for gear manufacturing.
- Weeks 1–3: Safety & The Lathe
- Safety: Analyze the OHS Act regarding grinding, cutting, and shearing machines. Students must understand the responsibilities of both the employer and employee.
- Lathe Work: Theory and practical application of taper turning and multi-start screw cutting.
- Balancing: Graphical solutions to balance irregular workpieces on a face plate.
- Weeks 4–6: Milling Processes
- Identify and apply Gang milling and Straddle milling.
- Understand the difference between Down-cut and Up-cut milling.
* **Layouts:** Compare **process layout** versus **product layout** in workshop environments.
- Weeks 7–9: Advanced Engineering Equipment
- Calculations: Calculate indexing for squares, pentagons, and hexagons, including depth of cut.
- Gears: Manufacturing of spur gears, including calculations for Module, PCD (Pitch Circle Diameter), Addendum, and Dedendum.
- CNC & DRO: Programming on a 3-axis digital readout (DRO) system and understanding absolute vs. incremental reference systems.
- Testing: Usage of Brinell and Rockwell hardness testers and tensile testers.
Term 1 Assessments
- Assignment.
- PAT Phase 1.
Term 2: Forces, Maintenance, and Materials
Focus: Term 2 introduces heavy engineering science involving forces and moments, as well as maintenance strategies.
- Weeks 1–4: Forces & Moments
- Forces: Calculate resultants and equilibrants for a system of up to four forces.
- Moments: Analyze a simply supported beam with two vertical point loads and one uniformly distributed load (UDL).
- Stress & Strain: Basic calculations on stress, strain, and the safety factor.
* **Modulus:** Calculate the Modulus of Elasticity and change in length.
- Weeks 5–7: Maintenance
- Preventative Maintenance: Strategies for gears, belts, and chain drives.
- Materials: Use of thermoplastic and thermo-hardened composites for bushes and gears.
- Friction: Identify minimum and maximum coefficients of friction for materials like Copper, Cast Iron, Stainless Steel, and Rubber.
Term 2 Assessments
- PAT Phase 2.
- Mid-Year Examination (June Controlled Test).
Term 3: Systems, Hydraulics, and Heat Treatment
Focus: The third term covers joining methods, fluid mechanics (hydraulics), and material properties.
- Weeks 1–2: Joining Methods
- Calculations: Determine root diameter, crest diameter, and pitch for ISO metric threads.
- Angles: Calculate helix angle, leading angle, and clearance angle.
- Weeks 3–4: Drive Systems
- Calculations: Determine angular and linear velocity for gears, pulleys, belts (V and flat), and chains.
- Power: Calculate the transmission of torque and power in these systems.
- Weeks 5–6: Hydraulics & Pneumatics
- Components: Identify symbols and functions for pistons, pumps, reservoirs, filters, and valves (one-way, non-return, pressure gauge).
- Calculations: Determine the force exerted in a closed circuit (Pascal’s Law application).
- Weeks 7–8: Materials & Heat Treatment
- Testing: Perform Sound, Bending, Filing, and Machining tests to identify materials.
- Heat Treatment: Enhance steel properties using Tempering, Case hardening, Hardening, Annealing, and Normalising.
Term 3 Assessments
- PAT Phase 3 and 4.
- Preparatory Examination (Trial Exams).
Term 4: Final Assessment
Focus: The final term is dedicated to revision and the external NSC examination.
- Weeks 1–2: Final PAT moderation and revision of all topics.
- Final Assessment: Final NSC Examination.
FAQ: Fitting and Machining Grade 12
Q: What are the specific gear calculations I need to know?
A: You must be able to calculate the Number of teeth, Pitch Circle Diameter (PCD), Module, Outside diameter, Addendum, Dedendum, Clearance, and Circular pitch for spur gears.
Q: Which heat treatment processes are covered? A: You need to understand Tempering, Case hardening, Hardening, Annealing, and Normalising. You must know the heating temperatures and cooling methods for each.
Q: Is the stress/strain diagram important? A: Yes, specifically for mild steel. You need to understand the diagram to perform calculations on stress, strain, and elasticity.