Postgraduate Diploma in Surface Finish and Form Control
Online Postgraduate Diploma of 800 h in Surface Finish and Form Control. 8 modules covering ISO 21920 surface texture: profile, ISO 25178 surface texture: areal and Digital Surf MountainsMap. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Surface Finish and Form Control — studying from New Zealand
New Zealand has a modest automotive industry, with most vehicle engineering centred on aftermarket parts, commercial vehicle body building, and the import and distribution of vehicles. Motorsport is a significant sector, with Hamilton and the Waikato region hosting a dense cluster of racing teams and engineering firms, and the Motorsport New Zealand body governing the national championships. Automotive engineers commonly work for importers, dealer networks, fleet operators and specialist fabrication businesses, and the sector also serves the country's large agricultural vehicle market.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$2,960 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
Is automotive engineering a regulated title in New Zealand, and which bodies matter here?
The title Chartered Professional Engineer is regulated and administered by Engineering New Zealand, which sets competence standards for registration. Vehicle standards and certification in New Zealand are overseen by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by a national body, so recognition by employers or Engineering New Zealand is not something SEIUM can promise.
What kinds of automotive and motorsport employers hire engineers in New Zealand?
New Zealand's automotive sector includes vehicle importers, workshops and fleet operators, motorsport teams and specialist fabrication and engineering firms, along with companies supplying parts and servicing. Roles often reward hands-on experience and clear technical reporting. A private qualification can support an application, but whether an employer values it is their decision and cannot be assumed.
How much time does a programme need, and can an employer help fund it?
Specialist courses take about 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours, all online in English with an assigned technical tutor and a final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Choose a pace you can sustain alongside work, and check with your employer early about any funding or study leave arrangements.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Specify surface finish on drawings according to ISO standards.
Measure and evaluate profile roughness parameters.
Characterise 3D texture using areal parameters.
Select finishing processes according to the function of the part.
Measure form errors using appropriate methods.
Establish finish control plans in production.
Relate surface integrity to fatigue, friction and wear.
Who it's for
- Metrology engineer who wants to specialise in Surface Finish and Form Control.
- Manufacturing process engineer who wants to specialise in Surface Finish and Form Control.
- Surface laboratory technician who wants to specialise in Surface Finish and Form Control.
- Quality engineer who wants to specialise in Surface Finish and Form Control.
- Tribology engineer who wants to specialise in Surface Finish and Form Control.
- Finishing manager who wants to specialise in Surface Finish and Form Control.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter a competitive field.
What you'll work with
- ISO 21920 surface texture: profile
- ISO 25178 surface texture: areal
- ISO 1302 indication of surface finish
- ISO 1101:2017 geometrical tolerances
- ISO 12181 roundness
- ISO 12781 flatness
- ISO 4287 profile parameters
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Concept of surface integrity1.2Roughness, waviness and form1.3Affected layer and residual stresses1.4Microhardness and metallurgical alterations1.5Influence on fatigue and wear1.6Functional surfaces in motorsport1.7Friction and lubrication according to texture1.8Corrosion and finish1.9Specification on drawings1.10Workshop: reading finish indications on drawings
2.1Primary, waviness and roughness profiles2.2Gaussian filters and cut-off lengths2.3Ra, Rz and Rq parameters2.4Material parameters Rmr and Rk2.5Abbott-Firestone curve2.6New ISO 21920 standard2.7Common specification errors2.8Relationship between process and roughness2.9Typical values by process2.10Laboratory: measurement with a contact profilometer
3.1Areal parameters of ISO 251783.2Sa, Sq, Sz and volume parameters3.3Functional parameters Vmp and Vvc3.4Optical measurement: confocal and interferometry3.5Focus variation and its limits3.6Areal filtering and operators3.7Motif analysis3.8Cylinder and honing surfaces3.9Comparison between 2D and 3D3.10Practice: areal characterisation with MountainsMap
4.1Precision grinding4.2Honing and superfinishing4.3Lapping and polishing4.4Grit blasting and shot peening4.5Surface treatments: nitriding and DLC4.6Electropolishing of stainless steels4.7Finishing of additive manufactured parts4.8Finishing of composites and paint4.9Process selection according to function4.10Case study: finishing of a drive shaft
5.1Straightness, flatness and roundness5.2Cylindricity and taper5.3Roundness measurement methods5.4Filtering of per-revolution waviness5.5Element association: least squares and Chebyshev5.6Form of freeform surfaces5.7Distortion from clamping and temperature5.8Distortion after heat treatment5.9Relationship between form and geometrical tolerance5.10Laboratory: roundness measurement of a bearing seat
6.1Finish control plans6.2Sampling and surface inspection6.3Statistical control of roughness6.4On-machine measurement6.5Calibration of profilometers and standards6.6Uncertainty in texture measurements6.7Management of finish deviations6.8Suppliers and specifications6.9Traceability of results6.10Practice: control plan for a gear
7.1Gear surfaces and pitting7.2Bearing surfaces and friction7.3Texture on brake discs and pads7.4Aerodynamic surfaces and roughness7.5Sealing and sealing surfaces7.6Effect of finish on titanium fatigue7.7Low-friction coatings7.8Analysis of surface failures7.9Optimising the cost-finish balance7.10Case study: pitting failure in a gearbox
8.1Selection of a functional component8.2Definition of surface requirements8.3Specification on drawing according to ISO8.4Selection of the finishing process8.5Plan for measuring texture and form8.6Analysis of measured results8.7Proposal for process improvement8.8Assessment of performance impact8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Fully 100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, making it possible to combine it with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Digital Surf MountainsMap, Mahr MarSurf, Taylor Hobson TalyMap, Zeiss Calypso, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for characterising roughness of machined components, measuring roundness of bearing seats and analysing surface failures. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Specify surface finish on drawings according to ISO standards.
Measure and evaluate profile roughness parameters.
Characterise 3D texture using areal parameters.
Select finishing processes according to the function of the part.
Measure form errors using appropriate methods.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical standards documents.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with Digital Surf MountainsMap, Mahr MarSurf, Taylor Hobson TalyMap, Zeiss Calypso. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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