Section A Flashcards
- Smart materials
A smart material is one which reacts to an external stimulus or input. This means that it can alter its functional or aesthetic properties in response to a changing environment
- Thermochromic pigments
Examples:
• Flexible thermometers
• Clothing
• Novelty goods
Characteristics:
• Respond to temperature changes by changing colour
• They change as they heat up and cool down
- Photochromic pigments
Examples: • Novelty goods • Paints • Clothing which change colour in UV light
Characteristics:
• The photochromic material responds to changes in the UV light levels by changing colour or darkening.
• Once the UV light is taken away they change back again or lighten
- Photochromic particles
Example:
• Sunglasses
The particles enable the lenses to darken when the user wears them in sunlight and the same glasses will appear clear when they are worn inside.
- Shape memory alloy
Examples:
• Frames for glasses
• Dental braces
Characteristics:
• Varying thickness
• A shape can be programmed when heated, it can be deformed and will return to memory shape when reheated
- Common papers: Bleed proof paper
Uses:
• Marker pens for design ideas and final designs
Characteristics: • 70gsm sheet • Coated to stop solvent based markers staining through the page • Deeper colours are achieved • Slightly textured
- Common papers: Cartridge paper
Uses:
• Pencil and ink drawings
• Sketching and watercolour
Characteristics:
• Completely opaque
• More expensive than photocopier paper
- Common papers: Grid paper
Uses:
• Used for graphical scientific and mathematical diagrams
Characteristics:
• Faint lines often in light blue ink
• Printed grid of squares, isometric lines or other patterns
- Common papers: Layout paper
Uses:
• Creating sketches and working ideas
Characteristics:
• Semi - translucent
• Takes pencil and most media well
- Common papers: Tracing paper
Uses:
• Copying and tracing images
Characteristics:
• Translucent
• Takes pencil and most colours well
Common boards: Corrugated cardboard
Uses:
• Packaging
• Boxes and impact protection
Characteristics:
• Strong
• Lightweight
- Common boards : Duplex board
Uses:
• Cheaper version of white card used for packaging boxes
• Food and drink containers
Characteristics:
• Stiff
• Lightweight coatings to improve functionality
- Common boards: Foil lined board
Uses:
• Takeaway containers and lids
• Used to retain heat for longer
Characteristics:
• Stiff
• Foil reflects heat and a water and oil resistant coating enables food and liquid products to be contained
- Common boards: Foam core board
Uses: • Architectural models • Model making • Prototyping • Mounting and framing of photographs and artwork
Characteristics: • Lightweight • Rigid in all directions • Smooth board • Variety of colours and thickness
- Common boards: Ink jet card
Uses:
• High quality photographic images
Characteristics:
• Medium to thick card treated to hold a high quality photo image
• Ink dries on the surface to create deeper colours
- Common boards: Solid white board
Uses: • Greeting cards • Packaging • Advertising • Embossing
Characteristics:
• Stiff board
• Holds colour well
• Easily cut or creased
- Hardwood
Definition:
Hardwoods generally have a less porous and and denser cell structure than softwoods. This makes them harder wearing and less prone to rotting.
- Hardwood: Ash
Uses:
• Sports equipment
• Toole handles
Characteristics:
• Flexible
• Tough
• Shock resistant
- Hardwood: Beech
Uses:
• Children’s toys
• Models
• Furniture
Characteristics:
• Fine finish
• Tough
• Durable
- Hardwood: Mahogany
Uses:
• High end furniture
• Joinery
• Veneers
Characteristics:
• Easily worked
• Durable
• Finishes well
- Hardwood: Oak
Uses:
• Flooring
• Furniture
Characteristics:
• Tough
• Hard
• Durable
- Hardwood: Balsa
Uses:
• Prototyping
• Modelling
Characteristics
• Very soft and spongy
• Very lightweight
- Softwoods
Definition:
Softwood generally has a more porous cell structure than hardwood. If left unprotected from the elements, it can absorb moisture and begin to rot.
- Softwood: Larch
Uses:
• Exterior cladding
• Flooring
• Furniture
Characteristics: • Durable • Tough • Good water resistance • Good surface finish
- Softwood: Pine
Uses:
• Interior construction
• Cheaper furniture
• Decking
Characteristics:
• Lightweight
• Easy to work
- Softwood
Uses:
• Construction
• Furniture
• Musical instruments
Characteristics:
• Easy to work
• High stiffness to weight ratio
- Manufactured boards
Definition:
Manufactured boards are usually sheets of processed natural timber waste products or veneers combined with adhesives.
- Manufactured boards: MDF
Uses:
• Flat pack furniture
• Toys
• Kitchen units
Characteristics
• Rigid
• Stable
• Good value with a smooth, easy to finish surface
- Manufactured boards: Plywood
Uses:
• Furniture
• Shelving
• Toys
Characteristics:
• Very stabile in all directions due to alternate layering
- Manufactured boards: Chipboard
Uses:
• Flooring
• Low-end furniture
• Kitchen units
Characteristics:
• Good compressive strength
• Good value
- Ferrous metals
Definition:
Most ferrous metals are magnetic and will rust if exposed to moisture without a protective finish
- Ferrous metals: Low carbon steel
Uses:
• Screws
• Nails
• Many car bodies and bike frames
Characteristics:
• Tough and ductile
• Easily machined
- Ferrous metals: High carbon steel
Uses:
• Garden or workshop tools
• Blades
• Scissors
Characteristics:
• Less ductile and harder than low carbon steel
• Very hard wearing
- Ferrous metals: Cast iron
Uses:
• Kitchen pots and pans
• Post boxes
Characteristics
• Hard
• Easily cast in to complex shapes
- Non-ferrous metals
Definition:
Non-ferrous metals do not rust, but they can oxidise. They come in many colours.
- Non-ferrous metals: Aluminium
Uses:
• Pots and pans
• Drinks cans
• Foil or takeaway trays
Characteristics:
• Lightweight
• High strength to weight ratio
• Ductile
- Non-ferrous metals: Copper
Uses:
• Plumbing supplies
• Electrical cables
Characteristics:
• Ductile
• Malleable
• Good electrical conductor
- Non-ferrous metals: Tin
Uses:
• Can production
• Used for playing surfaces to preserve contents
Characteristics:
• Soft
• Malleable
• Ductile
- Non-ferrous metals: Zinc
Uses:
• Used to galvanise steel to prevent rusting
Characteristics:
• Fair electrical conductivity
• Malleability and ductility
- Alloys
Definition:
Alloys are a mixture of at least one pure metal and another element
- Alloys: Brass
Uses:
• Musical instruments
• Plumbing fitments
Characteristics:
• Malleable
• Easy to cast and machine
- Alloys: Stainless steel
Uses:
• Cutlery
• Kitchen and medical equipment
Characteristics:
• Hard
• Very smooth
- Alloys: High speed steel
Uses:
• Cutting tools such as drill bits
• Taps
Characteristics:
• Able to withstand high temperatures
• Keeps it’s cutting edge well
- Thermoforming plastics
Definition:
Thermoforming plastics are generally more flexible, especially when heated. They can be re-shaped once heated
- Thermoforming: Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE)
Uses:
• Bottles
• Food packaging
Characteristics:
• Fully recyclable
• Dimensionally stable
• Easily blow moulded
- Thermoforming - High density polyethylene (HDPE)
Uses:
• Wheelie bins
• Hard hats
Characteristics:
• Lightweight
• Rip and chemical resistant
- Thermoforming: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Uses:
• Raincoats
• Pipes
Characteristics:
• Flexible
• High plasticity
- Thermoforming: Low density polyethylene (LDPE)
Uses:
• Plastic carrier bags
• Bottles
Characteristics:
• Very flexible and tough
• High strength to weight ratio
- Thermoforming: Polypropylene (PP)
Uses:
• Kitchen products
• Medical and stationery products
Characteristics:
• Flexible
• Tough
• Lightweight
- Thermoforming: High impact polystyrene (PS)
Uses:
• Food containers
• Yoghurt pots
Characteristics:
• Flexible
• Impact resistant
• Lightweight
- Thermoforming: Acrylic
Uses:
• Car lights
• Display stands
• Trophies
Characteristics:
• Tough
• Easily formed and bonded
- Thermosetting
Definition:
Thermosetting plastics are more rigid and once they are formed they cannot be reformed
- Thermosetting: Epoxy resin (ER)
Uses:
• Bonding different materials together
• Electronic circuit boards
Characteristics:
• Stronger than other resins
• Heat resistant
• Good electrical insulator
- Thermosetting: Melamine formaldehyde (MF)
Uses:
• Kitchenware
• Flat packed furniture
Characteristics:
• Food safe and hygienic
• Lightweight
• Hard
- Thermosetting: Urea formaldehyde (UF)
Uses:
• Electrical fittings
• Electrical casings
• Electrical buttons and handles
Characteristics:
• Heat resistant
• Very good electrical insulator
• Hard
- Thermosetting: Polyester resin (PR)
Uses:
• Waterproof coatings
• Flooring
Characteristics:
• Reasonably strong
• Heat resistant
• Good electrical insulator
- Thermosetting: Phenol formaldehyde (PF)
Uses:
• Electrical components
• Mechanical parts
Characteristics:
• Very rigid
• Hard
• Brittle
- Forces: Tension
Tension occurs when a pulling force is applied to either end of a material. The object becomes stretched as it tries to resist being pulled apart.
For example: a rope being pulled in a tug-of-war game, or chains supporting a swing
- Forces: Compression
Compression occurs when a pushing force is applied to either end of a material. The object becomes compressed as it tries to resist being squashed.
For example: a spring in a suspension system, a clove of garlic in a garlic press
- Forces: Torsion
Torsion forces occur when a material is being twisted. The two ends of the material rotate in opposite directions creating a twist.
For example: Wringing out a wet towel
- Forces: Bending
A bending force results in both tension and compression either side of its neutral axis. The pressure to make a material bend is applied at either end with an upwards or downwards pressure.
For example: when two people are sitting on opposite ends of a seesaw, the beam will bend over a fulcrum
- Force: Shear
Shear force is a force that acts in an object in a direction perpendicular to its length.
For example: wind pushing against a tree is a shear force
- Production techniques and systems: Automation and PDM
- Automation involves computers using complex software systems that have an overview of many, if not all, aspects of production.
- Product data management (PDM) is the term used for these software systems, in which all information is stored centrally, updated live and is accessible by all employees. PDM reduces mistakes
- Production techniques and systems: CAD and CAM
- Computer aided design is the design of new products using specialist software.
- Computer aided manufacture uses CAD files to realise these designs in to prototypes of finished products.
- Production techniques and systems: Flexible manufacturing systems
A flexible manufacturing system is a collection of automated machines that are adaptable and are used in production lines where the products that are being made may change in a regular basis.
- Production techniques and systems: Lean manufacturing and Just In Time
- Lean manufacturing is based on an ethos of eliminating waste in manufacture
- By using Just In Time (JIT) production methods, manufacturers are able to respond to customer demands more effectively. A customer’s order triggers the production process and the manufacture makes the product specifically to meet the order
- People: Consumer choice
The internet has helped to create a global market place where designers and manufactures can trade goods relatively freely with consumers
- People: Technology push
When a new scientific discovery becomes public it is never long before designers, engineers and technologists use it or turn it in to a product despite there being no consumer awareness or demand. This is called technology push as it drives forward current thinking and creates new and exciting developments
- People: Market pull
Market pull describes consumer demand as the driving force behind new products. Analysis of the consumer market, along with an understanding of human needs and desires, enables the ‘gap in the market’ to be filled.
- People: Changing job roles
The pace of development of new technologies and in particular, the growth in digital and social media, means that some of the traditional jobs of the last century cannot be relied in to last.
- Culture: Fashion and trends
Different cultures, influences and beliefs combined with consumer driven economy result in a product design market that is invariably influenced by the ‘latest thing’
- Culture: Faiths and beliefs
A designer has to be responsible for considering the wider implications of a product launch within certain communities. Manufactures have to be more understanding and tolerant of other views.
- Society
Many forward thinking companies try to achieve a target and as a result they are considered to be more ‘eco-friendly’ or more responsible than some of their competitors. This may give them an advantage over their competitors, as some consumers will usually take the greener option as long as they feel the additional cost of the goods or service is worth it.
- Society: Design for the disabled and elderly
Most developed and developing countries are striving to become more inclusive and to cater for the disabled and elderly. New and emerging technologies have allowed designers and manufacturers to create products and designs ranging form simple tools and household gadgets, to transportation methods and access to buildings, that dramatically improve the lives of many
- Society: Different religious groups
A further issue for designers to disiderano is designing products that will not offend or have a negative impact on different religious groups
