IFPS CFPS study plan
IFPS CFPS · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Fluid Power Fundamentals
Define pressure, flow, force, work, and power and state the SI and US customary units for each
Derive force from pressure and area for piston and annulus cases, and solve ten numeric problems without reference notes
Convert between gauge, absolute, and vacuum pressure and explain why each appears in fluid power specifications
Explain Pascal's law, the continuity equation, and Bernoulli's principle well enough to predict what happens when a line diameter changes
Your checkpoint
A one-page formula sheet plus a worked problem set of 20 solved fundamentals problems with units shown at every step
Fluid Power Fundamentals & Hydraulics
Compute hydraulic cylinder extend and retract force, speed, and flow demand from bore, rod diameter, and pump flow
Identify the function of filters, reservoirs, accumulators, heat exchangers, and seals in a typical hydraulic circuit
Describe the properties and selection criteria of hydraulic oils, including viscosity grade and viscosity index
Explain how contamination, aeration, and cavitation each damage a system and how each is detected
Your checkpoint
A labeled schematic of a basic hydraulic power unit and cylinder circuit, annotated with component function and one failure mode per component
Hydraulics
Trace flow through a directional control valve in each spool position and predict actuator motion
Compare relief, reducing, sequence, counterbalance, and check valve behavior in a circuit
Calculate pressure drop and flow split in a meter-in versus meter-out speed control arrangement
Explain the operation of fixed versus variable displacement pumps and when each is preferred
Your checkpoint
Five hand-sketched circuits in which you predict actuator direction, speed control method, and maximum system pressure for each
Hydraulics
Size a hydraulic pump and cylinder combination for a specified load, speed, and pressure limit
Diagnose three written fault scenarios involving overheating, slow operation, and drifting actuators
Explain the purpose and setup of accumulators, including precharge and safety considerations
Interpret common hydraulic schematic symbols from memory
Your checkpoint
A timed 25-question hydraulics self-test scored and reviewed, with every missed item rewritten as a corrected one-line rule
Pneumatics
State the gas laws used in pneumatics and apply them to cylinder force and air consumption calculations
Identify the function of FRL units, dryers, filters, and lubricators and where each belongs in a circuit
Compare directional control valve actuation types and port numbering conventions used in pneumatic schematics
Explain how compressors, receivers, and pressure regulators interact to maintain stable system pressure
Your checkpoint
A pneumatic circuit schematic for a two-cylinder sequence with an air consumption calculation and a component list
Pneumatics & Electrohydraulics and Electrical Controls
Design a simple ladder logic sequence for two pneumatic cylinders with limit switch feedback
Distinguish relay logic, PLC control, and direct solenoid control and state when each is used
Explain how solenoid-operated directional valves are specified, including voltage, current, and manual override
Describe safe lockout and exhaust procedures for a pneumatic circuit before maintenance
Your checkpoint
A ladder logic diagram and written sequence of operation for a two-cylinder pneumatic cycle, checked against a limit switch truth table
Electrohydraulics and Electrical Controls
Read and interpret analog sensor signals, including 4-20 mA and 0-10 V, and convert them to engineering units
Explain proportional valve control, including command signal, spool position feedback, and deadband
Identify common electrical faults in an electrohydraulic system and describe a systematic troubleshooting sequence
Interpret basic electrical schematic symbols and relay contact arrangements used with fluid power controls
Your checkpoint
A troubleshooting flowchart for an electrohydraulic positioning fault, plus five signal-conversion problems solved with units
Fluid Power Fundamentals & Hydraulics & Pneumatics & Electrohydraulics and Electrical Controls
Complete two full-length timed practice exams under exam conditions
Rank your weakest subtopics by error count and rework the top five until you can explain them aloud
Reconstruct the key formulas and circuit symbols for all four domains from blank paper
State your exam-day strategy for time allocation and for handling calculation-heavy items
Your checkpoint
A final one-page consolidated reference sheet, handwritten from memory, plus a scored error log from both practice exams
Milestones
Week 2: You can compute cylinder force and speed for both extend and retract without notes, and you can name the function of every component in a basic hydraulic power unit
Week 4: You score at least 70 percent on a 25-question hydraulics self-test and can redraw five standard circuits from memory
Week 6: You can write a working ladder logic sequence for a two-cylinder pneumatic cycle and explain each rung aloud without referring to notes
Week 8: You score at least 80 percent on both full-length practice exams with no domain below 70 percent, and your consolidated reference sheet is complete from memory