© 2008 Festo Corporation 80 U
Getting Started with Festo MecLab
Lesson Planning
If a visit to an actual production facility is not possible, the videos supplied on the
CD-ROM can be used.
In the follow-up phase, the results should be summarized and a connection should be made
with the learning system:
Which functions are found in the stations in our classroom?
Which components were also present in the actual production facility?
Group work
MecLab® is designed for project-based teaching in small groups. The recommended group
size is 2 students for each station (they will also need a PC with the supplied FluidSIM® soft-
ware).
Before starting the group work, it is a good idea to give a general introduction on using Fluid-
SIM®, connecting the stations to the PC and also the function of the components.
Students must also be made familiar with the safety information.
Project work can be introduced with an explanation about certain topics, for example sen-
sors, pneumatics, circuit or programming technology. Instructor resources include the infor-
mation in the theory section, the supplied PowerPoint presentation and the animations on
CD-ROM and in FluidSIM® .
The Instructor can allow the students to acquire the information they need to complete the
exercises on their own (within the window of the project work). In this case, it is useful to al-
low the students to present their results once the exercises have been completed. This is im-
portant given the fact that the subject matter is similar, but not completely identical between
the three stations. The presentations will help to ensure that all students have the same level
of knowledge.
The exercises become increasingly challenging. Table 7.1 provides an overview of the objec-
tives of the exercises. The stack magazine station has the easier exercises and the handling
station has the more complex exercises. That leaves the exercises for the conveyor station
somewhere in the middle.
The time required to complete each exercise varies from 1 to 4 lessons depending on the
level of difficulty, school type, age group or preparation.
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