Definitions Flashcards
Absorbency
The ability of a material to draw in moisture
Accuracy
The degree of closeness of a measurement to its true value
Adhesive
A chemical used to stick or glue objects together
Aesthetics
How a product appeals to the five senses; its sense of beauty
Alloy
A mixture of two or more metals
Annotation
Adding labels identifying and explaining key features on a drawing
Anthropometric Data
Measurements taken from millions of people of different shapes and sizes and placed in charts
Art Nouveau
A design movement known for its use of long, organic lines and architectural designs
Arts and Crafts
A design movement that favoured a return to traditional craft methods
Atmospheric Pollution
The release of pollutants into Earth’s atmosphere
Automation
The use of computer systems and control technology to operate equipment
Batch Production
Making a series of groups of identical products
Battery
Converts chemical energy to electrical energy to power products and systems
Bauhaus
A German design school that existed from 1919 to 1933 and favoured a minimalist approach to design
Biodegradable
The ability to decompose or rot due to interaction with the environment
Biomass
Fuel that is developed from organic materials, such as crops, scrap wood and animal waste
Blow Moulding
A process used to shape hollow polymer products
Bonding
A method of joining fabrics without stitching
Brazing
A joining process for metals where a joint is created by soldering at high temperature
Breadboarding
A temporary, physical method for prototyping electronic circuits
Cam
A mechanism that converts rotary motion to reciprocating mostion
Casting
Pouring molten metal into a mould to form a product
CNC
Computer numerical control; using a computer to control a machine tool
Composite
A material made up of two or more other materials that are not chemically combined
Computer-aided design (CAD)
The use of computer software to produce designs for products
Computer-aided manufacture (CAM)
The use of computer software to control machine tools to manufacture products
Continuous Improvement
A process where ongoing incremental improvements are made to a product ore system
Continuous Production
Making a material or chemical continuously using dedicated equipment
Co-operative
A business or organisation that is run jointly by and for the benefit of its members
Cracking
A process where complex organic chemicals are broken down into simpler molecules such as the monomers used to make polymers
Crowd Funding
A way for people to raise awareness and money for a project or idea, where people donate money in return for rewards
Datum Surface
A reference point for measurement on a material, product or object
Deforestation
The removal of forests and conversation of the land to other uses
Density
Mass of material per unit of volume
Design Brief
A short description of a design problem and how it is to be solved
Design Fixation
When designers become overly attached to a particular idea, therefore not taking account of other potential solutions
Design Specification
A list of measurable design criteria that a product or system must meet
De Stijl
A Dutch design movement that simplified designs by using only horizontal and vertical lines, and primary colours
Die Casting
A process where molten metal is shaped using pressure and reusable mould
Die Cutting
A process that uses metal blades and press to cut a shape in paper or card
Ductility
The ability of a material to be stretched without breaking and stay permanently in its new form
Economies of Scale
A saving in cost per product gained by making a higher number of products
Effort
The force applied to something (for example, to a lever)
Elasticity
The ability of a material to return to its original shape when a force on it is removed
Electrical Conductivity
The ability of electricity to be conducted by a material
Electronic System
A collection of input, process, driver and output stages that respond to, change and produce and different types of signals
Embossing
A technique that uses steel dies to press a shape onto the material, giving a tactile effect
End User
The person or people that will use a product when it is completed
Ergonomics
The study of how people interact with products and systems around them
Evaluation
An assessment of how well a product or prototype looks, functions or does its job
Exploded Drawing
A picture that shows how the parts of a product fit together
Extrusion
Making a sectional shape by pushing material through a die
Fair Trade
A movement that works to help people in developing countries get a fair deal for products that they produce
‘Fast fashion’
A trend where catwalk clothing designs move quickly to the high street so people can capture the current fashions; often clothes will only be worn for a single ‘season’ before being replaced
Ferrous Metal
A metal that contains iron
Finite Resource
A resource of which there is only a limited quantity
Former
A profiled shape used to mould material
Fossil fuel
Fuel created from the remains of dead organisms over a long period of time; for example, coal, oil and gas
Fractional Distillation
Separation of a liquid mixture into the different chemicals of which it is comprised by a chemical distillation process
Fulcrum
The pivot point of a lever
Functionality
How well a product fulfils the purpose it is designed to meet
Fusibility
The ability of a material to be changed from a solid to a liquid by heat
Gathering
A sewing technique for shortening the length of a strip of fabric, to allow a longer piece to be attached to a shorter piece
Gear
A mechanism used to transfer rotary motion, which can also change the direction or magnitude of the force tramsitted
Grain
The growth rings visible on the surface of the wood
Graphene
A form of carbon consisting of sheets which are one atom thick
GSM
Grams per square metre; the weight of paper or card
Hardness
The resistance of a material to wear and abrasion
Hardwoo
Wood from deciduous trees that shed their leaves each autumn
Hydro-electrical energy
Energy that is taken from flowing water, typically by releasing water from a dam to turn turbines
Inclusive Design
The design of products and systems that can be used by everyone, without any special adaptations
Injection Moulding
A process used to shape polymer products
Input Device
A device that turns a real-world signal, such as light, sound or movement, into an electrical signal
Interfacing
Adding multiple layers of material to a textile product to increase its strength
Isometric Projection
A scaled 3D drawing with sides at an angle of 30 degrees to the baseline
Iterative Design
A cyclic design approach where each iteration is tested, evaluated and refined, resulting in a new iteration
Jig
A custom-made tool designed to achieve accuracy, repeatability and interchangeability during product manufacture
Just-in-time Production
A production technique where suppliers deliver materials only when they are needed
Knitted
Made from yarn using interlocking loops
Laminating
Overlaying a flat object or sheet of material with a layer of protective material
Lean manufacturing
An approach to improve efficiency of manufacture through elimination of waste
Lever
A simple device that pivots about a fulcrum
Linear
Moving in a straight line
Line Bending
A process that involves bending thermoplastic along a heated line
Linkage
An assembly of parts used to transfer motion between two mechanisms, which can also change the direction or magnitude of the force transmitted
Malleability
The ability of a material for its shape to be permanently changed without the material breaking
Manufacturing Specification
A set of information that is required to manufacture a product or system
Market Pull
Products developed because of market forces
Market Research
When information is collected to find out whether there is a place in the market for a proposed product
Mass Production
Making the same product in large quantities
Mathematical Model
A representation of a product or system using mathematical formulae
Memphis
A design movement characterised by the use of asymmetric shapes and colourful decoration
Metal Foam
A metal containing gas-filled pores, giving it a very low density
Microcontroller
A small, programmable computer on a chip that is designed for use in control applications
Model
A representation of a product or system that is being developed
Moisture-wicking Fabric
Fabric that removes sweat from the skin and carries it to the outside of the fabric
Moulding
Using a former to shape a material
Nanomaterials
Materials made up of particles that are less than 100 nanometres in size
Natural Fibres
Fibres from sources such as animals and plants
Non-ferrous Metal
A metal that does not contain iron
Non-renewable Energy Source
An energy source that cannot replenish itself quickly and therefore will eventually run out
Nuclear Power
Power that is created by making use of highly controlled nuclear reactions, such as nuclear fission
Oceanic Pollution
The release of chemicals or industrial waste into the oceans
Offset Lithography
A transfer printed process used to print products in large quantities
One-off/Bespoke Production
Making a single product to a customer specification
Orthographic Projection
A scale drawing that shows a series of views of a part
Oscillating
Swinging in alternate directions
Output Device
A device that turns an electronic signal into a real-world signal, such as light or sound
Pattern
A type of template that is used to trace the parts of garment onto fabric before it is cut; also, a replica of a product to be cast, used to prepare a cavity into which the molten material will be poured
PCB Lacquering
The application of a waterproof and protective layer for the tracks and pads of a printed circuit board (PCB)
Perforation
A hole in a material
Perspective
A 3D drawing technique that uses guidelines to show how dimensions change with distance
Piping
A strip folded over fabric inserted in a seam in a textile product
Pleating
Making a double or multiple fold in a textile product, held by stitching
Ply
A layer of paper, wood or fabric in a material
Polishing
A finishing technique used to protect and improve the aesthetics of plastics and metals
Polymer
A material made from chains of a repeating chemical part called a monomer
Precision
How repeatable or reproducible a measurement is
Presentation Software
Software that allows visual aids to be created for face-to-face presentations
Pressing
Applying pressure to deform a material
Primary Data
Raw data taken first hand or from original research
Process
Changes an electronic signal to create functions such as timing and counting
Prototype
A full-sized, actual version or primary example of an intended product or system
Pulley
A mechanism comprising two wheels linked by a belt; this transfers rotary motion and can also change the direction or magnitude of the force transmitted
Quality Assurance
Putting systems in place that ensure the quality of the processes used to manufacture the product
Quality Control
Testing and checking that a product meets the specification or a set of defined quality standards
Quilting
Sandwiching wadding or stuffing between layers of fabric and stitching through the layers
Reciprocating
Moving backwards and forwards
Recycle
To reprocess or convert waste back into a useful material
Reinforcement
Adding strength or stiffness to a product
Renewable Energy Source
A source that can replenish itself quickly and therefore will not run out
Rotating
Turning in a circle
Scale
The ratio of the size of a drawn object to the size of the object
Secondary Data
Data that is freely available and taken from other parties or sources
Selvedge
An edge of a fabric that will not fray
Sewing
A method of joining fabrics by stitching with thread
Shearing
A wasting process used to cut material
Softwood
Wood from trees that maintain their foliage all year round
Solar Energy
Energy that is taken from the sun, typically by using solar panels to harness sunlight and convert it into electricity
Soldering
A joining process for metals where a filler metal is melted to join parts together
Spreadsheet Software
Software that presents and allows the analysis of data in tabular form
Standard Component
A common part that is commercially available in specified sizes
Stock Forms
The standard shapes and sizes in which a material is available
Strength
The ability of a material to withstand a force that is applied to it
Sustainable
Naturally replenished with a short period of time
Synthetic
Made by people; not natural
Synthetic Fibres
Fibres made by people, typically from oil or chemicals
Systems Thinking
A top-down design approach that starts with an overview of the overall system in terms of its input, process and output sub-systems
Technical Textile
A fabric made for its performance properties rather than aesthetic characteristics
Technology Push
Products developed as a result of developments in materials and/or manufacturing technologies/techniques
Template
Used to draw a shape onto material which can then be cut around
Thermal Conductivity
The ability of heat to be conducted through a material
Thermoforming Polymer
A polymer that can be reshaped when it is heated
Thermosetting Polymer
A polymer that will not change its shape when reheated
Toile
An early version of a piece of clothing, usually made from cheap materials
Tolerance
The permissible limits of variation in the dimensions or physical properties of a manufactured product or part
Toughness
The ability of a material to absorb an impact without rupturing
Trend
A change in direction in the way people are acting or behaving
Turning
Using a lathe to create a product with a round profile by wasting
User-centred Design
A design approach where the needs and wants of the end user are considered extensively at each stage of the design process
Vacuum Forming
A process where heated plastic is formed onto a mould using a vacuum
Varnishing
A finishing technique for timber where varnish is applied to protect the wood underneath
Veneer
A thin layer of wood
Virtual Meeting Software
Software that allows face-to-face meetings to occur between people in different locations over a wired, wireless or mobile network
Wasting
Removal of material
Webbing
Ribs of material that provide reinforcement, normally inside a product
Welding
A joining process for materials where the parts are melted along the joint line by heat
Wind Energy
Energy that is taken from the wind, typically by using wind turbines to generate electricity
Working Drawing
A scale drawing that shows the dimensions of a part
Woven
Made from interlaced yarn
Yarn
Spun and twisted fibres
