Use and Maintenance of Forest Machines (5 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

The student:
- knows the working environment of a forest machine operator
- knows the basics of using forest machines as well as the working methods (logging and hauling)
- knows how to do basic service, maintenance and adjustment procedures on forest machines
- knows how to use and maintain the data transfer methods
- knows how to adjust the harvester measuring device
- knows how to create cut-to length files
- knows how to interpret and use the digital data produced by a forest machine (following the condition of the machine, the use of the machine, tree data etc.)

Content (course unit)

Forest machine operators collective wage agreement, forest machine enterprise, effective working methods, machine adjustments and their impact, basics of maintenance and service, forest simulator exercises (logging, hauling), harvesting operations on a logging site, creating of control files for bucking, development and testing by simulating, occupational safety, information produced by the forest machine.

Location and time

Aloitus 13.10. Käydään läpi kurssin tavoitteet, menetelmät ja laaditaan suunnitelma simulaattoritehtävien suorittamisesta. Simulaattoritehtävien suoritusajat varataan tämän jälkeen lukujärjestykseen. Simulaattoritehtäviä joutuu tekemään iltapäivän jälkeen ja myös ohjauskertoja järjestetään lisää klo 16-18 välille.
Kurssiin kuuluu kolme päivää aidoilla koneilla harjoittelua. Nämä päivät on varattu alaustavasti lukujärjestykseen, mutta niihin saattaa tulla muutoksia, jos esitetty ajankohta ei sovi koneiden vuokraajalle.

Exam schedules

Final exam in the Moodle: It's possible to try during two days on the latest week and it's open three hours to answer.

Assessment methods and criteria

Simulator exercises:
- exercise 1 (Logging and run), independent exercise (5 points)
- exercises 2 (bucking file revision + driver’s adjustments) and 3 (measurement calibration) will be done in small groups or independently
20 % the evalution: Results of simulator exercises
30 % of the evalution: The report of simulator exercises, and the report of harvest and service’s intensive week
50 % of the evaluation: The exam

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Teaching (lectures/demos), teaching simulators and games/exercises, a report of working in the field

Learning materials

Material used in the course is mainly from forest machine manufactures (deere.com, ponsse.com)
Uusitalo Jori. Introduction to Forest Operations and Technology. 2010
Persson Per-Erik. Working in Harvesting Teams, parts 1 and 2. 2009
(http://www.loggingon.net/new-logging-book-working-in-harvesting-teams_news_op_view_id_45 4)

Student workload

Lectures 30 h
Independent exercises 12 h
Intensive week 24 h
Other independent studying 70 h

Content scheduling

Lectures and simulator demos will appear in the timetable
Simulator exercises will be taught in simulator workshops: with instruction if needed, and also on other times if the class is free (exercises 1-2 have to be done before the week 48, the last one before 16.12.)
The report has to be submitted on 18.12. at the latest
You will be given feedback on 20.12. at the latest

Completion alternatives

Driver training and work experience will be taken into account if lend itself. Those skills will be ensured: creating of bucking files, adjusting of machine, effective working methods and improvement of driver skills, calibration of measuring equipment

Practical training and working life cooperation

Visiting to a forest machine manufacturer or to machine entrepreneur’s hall (services)
Visiting to harvesting site
Practical harvesting and driving exercise on real site

Further information

Education of safety at work is required before attendance and simulator exercises 1 and 2 must have been done before machine working days
Machine simulator used in the course has been updated to the newest version (Harsi4) which makes it possible to use 3D view.

Assessment criteria - fail (0) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student has not attended to all required fullfilments
- simulator exercises
- teaching of safety at work
- machine days
- service days
- report
- exam

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student reaches part of the learning aims set to the course. The student knows how to analyse the use of forest machines and instruct services of the machines. The students shows ones skills by analysing ones simulator exercises, the exam, the report and attending to the teaching. The student masters mainly the content of the course.

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student reaches mainly the learning aims set to the course. The students knows how to analyse and develop the use and service of the forest machines. The students shows ones skills by analysing ones simulator exercises, the exam, the report and attending to the teaching. The student masters mainly the content of the course, and can also give one’s reasons to one’s decisions.

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student reaches the learning aims set to the course. The student knows how to analyse and develop the use of the forest machines so that the action of the driver and the machine is effective and economic. The student knows how to prove one’s skills by analysing one’s simulator exercises, the exam, the report and active attending. The student creditably masters content of the course, and can also give one’s reasons to one’s decisions.