TSD09 - Fluid Power Fundamentals for Hydraulic Systems Professionals
Program Description
Whether you work in maintenance, engineering, customer service, or somewhere in between in the hydraulic systems industry, this online self-paced program is designed to give every member of your team a common language and a practical understanding of how hydraulic systems work. Using Elementary Hydraulics as a guide, you’ll learn how key system elements guide proper sizing and selection, how duty cycles can troubleshoot and predict potential system failures, and how to ensure systems meet design requirements for safety, efficiency, and reliability.
Workshop Details
This is an online, self-paced workshop conducted via Canvas that can be completed anytime between August 31, 2026 and December 4, 2026. Enrollment is open until Wednesday, November 25, 2026.
Learning Objectives
After completing the program, you will be able to:
- Identify and describe the key components of a hydraulic system and explain their individual functions
- Understand and apply basic principles of fluid power, including pressure, flow, and force relationships
- Evaluate system requirements to determine appropriate sizing and selection of hydraulic components
- Recognize the role of duty cycles in system performance and use this knowledge to support troubleshooting and failure analysis
- Assess complete hydraulic systems for safety, efficiency, and reliability in alignment with design specifications
- Communicate effectively about fluid power concepts with technical and non-technical stakeholders
Who Should Attend
Anyone who would like an overview of fluid power and an understanding of the functioning of the components that make up a system, including, but not limited to:
- Maintenance technicians
- Engineers
- Customer service representatives
David Spitzenberger has been designing equipment and fluid power systems for over 47 years. He has extensive experience in mechanical engineering and product sales of both industrial and mobile equipment. Dave has worked for several manufacturers such as the Falk Corporation, Regal-Beloit (Grove Gear Division) and Parker Hannifin. Dave worked for 17 years at Miller Fluid Power and Parker Hannifin as a Sales Engineer. Dave is now retired but enjoys training and mentoring Sales Engineers, Designers, Technicians and Customer Service individuals in understanding the design, function and automation of all types of power transmission and fluid power equipment. Dave now works as an Adjunct Instructor for MSOE (Milwaukee School of Engineering) teaching courses on Fluid Power Specialist Certification, Basic Fluid Power, Maintenance, Safety, Troubleshooting and Failure Analysis.