2.3-Technological and cultural changes Flashcards
Explain the impact of post-first world war on design movements (think Bauhaus)
the post war Bauhaus design school believed in uniting art and industrial design and had a revolutionary design form. A major influence on their furniture designs was the large-scale wartime adoption of metal tubing as a replacement for wood, as seen in Marcel Breuer’s iconic tubular steel chair. The products were designed for mass production using industrial machinery
Name a famous Bauhaus designer
Marcel Breuer
Explain the effect of WW2 on furniture design
WW2 brought about a shortage of many goods and so rationing was introduced in Britain to try and fairy distribute goods (including furniture). There was also a severe timber shortage due to the destruction of lots of houses and their contents and the switch of a great deal of manufacturing capacity towards the war effort. The utility furniture scheme was founded to ensure that basic, simply designed products were available in response to shortages. Utility furniture was designed to be strong, with no superfluous decoration, borrowing from the Arts and Crafts movement.
Explain utility furniture
designed to be strong, with no superfluous decoration, borrowing from the Arts and Crafts movement. Much of the furniture used traditional methods involving locally sourced materials (e.g. beech grown in local woods in Buckinghamshire).
Explain the transition from after world war 2 in terms of design movements towards contemporary times
products designed designed in the aftermath were well made but lacked much excitement or creativity. The main aim was to create functional products. In the USA designers began to experiment more and the streamlining movement eventually gained traction
What major development revolutionised design in the 1940s and 1950s
the rapid development of polymers and related moulding techniques
What was the council of industrial design (COID)
a group set up by the UK Government as they were concerned that competition from other countries and the legacy of wartime utility design would result in Britain being left behind as a designing and manufacturing nation. They introduced a programme of training, assessment and information to improve design standards
What new component drastically changed furniture design and how?
knock down fittings made it possible for consumers to buy reasonably priced, fashionable furniture without worrying about what they will do about replacing it when fashions change. Prior to this furniture was seen as a “once in a lifetime” experience and it was designed to be highly robust and capable of outliving its owner. This new approach to design allowed customers to enjoy a more affordable furniture experience and the opportunity to make changes with current trends.
What is a transistor
a semiconductor device foramplifying, controlling, and generating electrical signals. Transistors are the active components of integrated circuits, or “microchips”, which often contain billions of these minuscule devices etched into their shiny surfaces. The development of smaller transistors has meant that more of them can be packed into modern microchips (for example the intel i9 14th gen processor has about 4.2 billion transistors). This has allowed for smaller chips that are more powerful, efficient and faster. Smaller transistors also consume less power.
What are ICs?
integrated circuits consist of multiple transistors and other components formed on a single silicon chip. They allowed massive reductions in the size of circuits and now allow us to have 10 billion transistors on a single device-leading to very powerful computers
Benefits of programmable chips
allows manufacturers to use one chip in lots of different devices and purposes. It acts as a sort of standard component. Using programmable chips allows companies to release products and revise and improve software without having to physically access every device. This allows for new functionalities and updated products regularly to keep users engaged
Give advantages of microelectronic development
- Products are far more portable as they can be made much smaller
- Programmable chips allow for regular software updates for new features or security patches
- Smaller devices can be made for use inside and outside the body to accurately monitor health levels constantly (e.g. galaxy ring). This can significantly improve the lives of people with diabetes or pacemakers
- Miniaturisation of batteries allows for small health devices that can work non-stop for long periods
-Made it possible to incorporate powerful microprocessor ICs in CNC machines
-Allowed for extremely powerful computers capable of carrying out the complex calculations required to manipulate CAD programmes
-Internet searches for research
-FEA and CFD
Give disadvantages of microelectronic development
- Products might be vulnerable to security breaches-hacking
- Countries can take advantage of the technology in warfare (Israel’s attack on Hezbollah pagers)
- Widespread use of mobile phones may be damaging to society-especially for younger children
- Privacy issues
- Gives companies more access to data
Name some new methods of manufacture
electrohydraulic forming
direct metal laser sintering
fibre injection moulding
laser beam welding
Explain electro hydraulic forming
- Single sided former
- Complex shapes can be produced
- Fast, single stage process
- Better for milled detailed products
An electrical pulse generates a shock wave in the fluid (water) which forces the material (usually metal) into the shape of the former. The air is evacuated from the mould prior to forming so this does not prevent the material forming properly
Explain direct metal laser sintering
- 3D metal parts
- Bespoke
- Makes very complex parts that are often not possible with other metal manufacturing processes
Metal particles in the form of a powder are sintered (heated and compressed without melting) using a powerful laser layer by layer to slowly build up and create solid and often very complex shapes. Formed from 3D CAD models
Explain fibre injection moulding
- Can use existing injection moulding techniques
- Long strand moulding with additional fibre feed
The process involves these key steps:
- Preparation: Thermoplastic pellets and long strands of reinforcing fibres (often carbon or glass) are prepared separately.
- Injection: The thermoplastic is melted and injected into the mould cavity.
- Fibre Integration: Simultaneously, the long fibres are fed into the mould through a separate channel.
- Mixing and Forming: The molten plastic and fibres mix within the mould, creating a composite material that takes the shape of the mould cavity.
- Cooling and Ejection: The part cools and solidifies, then is ejected from the mould.
The process combines the speed and efficiency of traditional injection moulding with the strength-enhancing properties of fibre reinforcement. This process results in parts with improved strength-to-weight ratios compared to standard injection moulded components, while maintaining the speed and cost-effectiveness of traditional injection moulding
Explain laser beam welding
- Highly accurate and precise welding method
- No filler material required, creating cleaner welds
- Capable of producing deep welds
- Low running costs
- Non-contact process, reducing material distortion
- Faster than conventional welding techniques (higher production scales)
- Minimal heat affected area so less distortion
Laser Beam Welding (LBW) is an advanced welding technique that uses a high-energy laser beam to melt and join materials. Although the initial equipment investment can be substantial, the running costs and maintenance are relatively low.
While LBW is useful in many applications, it may not be suitable for all welding tasks, particularly those involving very thick materials or requiring high heat input.
Name 4 new materials
Glulam
Kevlar
Precious metal clay
Nanomaterials
Explain glulam
the use of several pieces of timber that are glued together to create strong, composite components for use in buildings, bridges and other structures. It is stronger than using solid timber because the careful choice of laminates enables the natural defects in timber to be eliminated.
-it has better strength to weight ratio than steel due to minimisation of defects
-easy to form and shape with lower energy costs
-sustainable
Explain Kevlar
a form of aromatic polyamide artificial fibre with tremendous toughness and tensile strength due to the density and chemical bonds present in its molecular structure. It can be woven into a variety of materials. It is used in bulletproof vests and puncture resistant tyres.
Example: Boeing 787 Dreamliner has Kevlar honeycomb panels as part of its composite structure
Explain PMC
consists of microscopic particles of gold, silver and other materials that are bound together in a pliable medium so that they can be shaped into jewellery and other products. When shaped, a sintering process is carried out to fuse the particles and burn off the binding medium. It will generally shrink during this process.
Give pros of PMC
Ease of Use: PMC is user-friendly and can be moulded, shaped, and fired with minimal tools, making it accessible for beginners.
Versatility: It can be used to create intricate designs and detailed jewellery pieces that might be difficult with traditional metalworking techniques.
Minimal Waste: Since PMC can be reused and rehydrated, there’s very little material waste.
Low Equipment Requirements: You don’t need a full workshop; a small space and basic tools like a torch or small kiln are sufficient.
Give cons of PMC
Cost: PMC can be more expensive than traditional metals due to the cost of the precious metal content.
Shrinkage: PMC shrinks during the firing process, which can be challenging to account for in precise designs.
Durability: While PMC is strong, it may not be as durable as traditionally forged metals, especially for items subject to heavy wear.
Learning Curve: Although it’s beginner-friendly, mastering the techniques to achieve professional results can take time and practice
