Design of Precision Machines

By Prof. Jitendra P. Khatait | IIT Delhi

Learners enrolled: 462 | Exam registration: 5

ABOUT THE COURSE:

The course gives an insight into the conceptual design of mechanisms used in products, machines, and devices used in various domains. The course aims to enable the student to recognize problem areas, generate design alternatives and make design choices to achieve precision and reliability, and avoid over-constraints in the design.

The course contents include lectures & hands-on experience covering fundamental concepts in precision machine design; controlling Degrees-of-Freedom, exact-constrained design; design of elastic mechanisms/ flexures/ compliant mechanisms; friction, hysteresis and micro-slip; actuators and sensors for precision motion; slideways for long range precision motion, and dynamics of precision mechanisms. The course contents also include different case studies.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: UGs and PGs from Mechanical, Materials, Aerospace, Automotive, Civil, and other related engineering branches. Working professionals associated with mechanical design of products, machines, etc.

PREREQUISITES: UG courses in Engineering Mechanics, Kinematics and Dynamics of Machines, and Solid Mechanics

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Elective
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Multidisciplinary Environment Structural Design Structural Analysis Construction Materials Technology
Credit Points :	3
Level :	Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date :	21 Jul 2025
End Date :	10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends :	28 Jul 2025
Exam Registration Ends :	15 Aug 2025
Exam Date :	26 Oct 2025 IST
NCrF Level	4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1: INTRODUCTION TO PRECISION MACHINES

• Applications – Semiconductor equipment, precision machines, robotics, etc.

Week 2: FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS IN PRECISION DESIGN

• Design principles
• Definitions and terminology

Week 3: CONTROLLING DEGREES OF FREEDOM

• DOFs and Constraints
• Exact-constrained design
• Over-constraints
• Case-studies

Week 4: DESIGN FOR STIFFNESS

• Stiffness calculation
• Parallel v/s series
• Design using sheet metals

Week 5 & 6: FLEXURES

• Building blocks
• Cross flexures, flexure parallel guiding
• Sheet and wire flexure with reinforcement
• Folded sheet flexure, hole flexure
• Case studies

Week 7: FRICTION, HYSTERESIS AND MICROSLIP

• Virtual backlash, hysteresis
• Hysteresis in clamped joints
• Hysteresis-free connection

Week 8: NON-CONTACT BEARINGS

• Air bearings
• Flexure bearings

Week 9: SLIDEWAYS FOR LONG RANGE PRECISION MOTION

• Design using air bearings
• Air bearing stages

Week 10: ACTUATORS AND SENSORS

• Linear drives
• Sensors and encoders

Week 11: DYNAMICS OF PRECISION MECHANISMS

• Transient response – second order system
• Backlash induced dynamics
• Examples of avoiding backlash

Week 12: CASE-STUDIES

Books and references

1. Soemers H.M.J.R., Design Principles for Precision Mechanism, T- Point Print, Enschede, Netherlands, 2011, ISBN 978-90-365-3103- 0.
2. Douglass L. Blanding, Exact Constraint: Machine Design Using Kinematic Principles, ASME Press, 1999
3. Alexander H. Slocum, Precision machine design, Prentice Hall, 1992
4. Smith S.T. and Chetwynd D.G., Foundations of Ultraprecision Mechanism Design, Volume 2 of Developments in Nanotechnology, CRC Press, 2003

Instructor bio

Prof. Jitendra P. Khatait

IIT Delhi

Dr. Jitendra Prasad Khatait has been with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Delhi since 2014. His Ph.D. degree (2013) is from University of Twente, Netherlands. He is B.E. (2000) in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Roorkee (formerly University of Roorkee) and M.Tech. (2002) in Design of Mechanical Equipment from IIT Delhi. He also has a specialized Masters in Technological Design (MTD) in Mechatronics through a joint program between National University of Singapore (NUS) and Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Netherlands in 2005.

Dr. Khatait has designed precision electro-mechanical systems at ASML, Netherlands (2013 – 2014) including lithography machines. While at Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech, 2005 – 2008), A-STAR, he has designed ultra-precision motion stages using air bearings and linear motors for semiconductor applications. He had small stints at Daewoo Motors and Maruti Suzuki, India.

Over the years, Dr. Khatait has involved in various research activities like designing and developing kinetic energy storage system, ultra-precision motion stages, micro-manipulation systems, and surgical assists. A recent development is of a test bed for minimally invasive surgery (MIS)/ laparoscopy using remote centre of motion (RCM, as in Da Vinci surgical robot) to demonstrate efficacy of precision adjustment vis-à-vis component manufacturing precision. He has also designed compliant mechanism based precision imprinting system for microfluidic applications.

His teaching emphasizes the role of compliant mechanisms, precision engineering, and exactconstrained design techniques needed to achieve ultra-precision. These additions, drawing on his work experience in Singapore and Netherlands, add a unique dimension to the usual Mechanical Engineering design curriculum. Hands on engagement with student teams and start-ups has enabled the next generation at IIT Delhi to target design of precision systems alongside fabrication of precision components.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: October 26, 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Madras .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team

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