textiles Flashcards
Absorbency
The ability of a material to suck/soak up moisture
Additives
Substances added to polymers to improve their properties
Aesthetically pleasing
It is attractive to the senses
Alloy
A metal made by combining 2 or more metals to give greater strength or resistance to corrosion
Annealing
Reducing the hardness of a metal and making it more ductile
Anthropometrics
The study of the sizes of the human body
Asymmetry
The absence of symmetry of any kind
Batch production
Making a set number of identical products
Bevel gear
A gear with teeth cut at a 45 degree angle to change the direction of the drive shaft by 90 degrees
Biobased?
A product made from a renewable resource
Biodegradable
The ability of material, substance or object to break down naturally in the environment through the action of micro-organisms (thereby avoiding pollution). Natural and regenerated fibres are biodegradable.
Blending fibres
Mixing fibres of different origins together in order to improve the properties of the finished yarn.
Block model
An informal model that captures the form of an idea tends to have no moving parts
Bondage fabric
Fabric manufactured by adding pressure, heat, chemicals or adhesives to a web of fibres causing them to bond together examples of bonded fabrics include baby wipes, and interfacing
Brazing
Soldering at very high temperatures
Breadboard
A prototyping tool for building electronic circuits
Brittle
Likely to snap crack or break when bent or hit with an impact
Bulk discount
Reduced price of items for buying a greater number at a time
CAD
Computer aided design
CAE
Computer aided engineering
Cam and follower
A mechanism to convert rotary motion into reciprocating motion
CAM
Computer aided manufacture
Case hardening
Hardening the outer surface of a metal
Catalyst
Chemicals that cause a reaction to happen
Circular economy
And alternative to traditional in the economy (manufacture, use, dispose), in which we use resources for as long as possible then reuse and re-generate products and materials; a cradle to cradle model
Climate change
A change in global climate apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards
Cloud computing
A network of online servers the store and manage data
CNC
Computer numerical control. Computer-controlled machine used in industry
Co-injection moulding
An injection moulding process that uses two different polymers
Collaboration
Working with others to achieve a shared goal. There is a shared expectation which is critical in understanding collaboration.
Commodity
A raw material that can be bought and sold such as coffee or gold
Compressive strength
The resistance of a material to breaking as a result of compression/squashing
Context
The setting or surroundings for a design solution
Crease resistance
Afibres ability to recover after being wrinkled
Culture
The ideas and activities of groups of people; the way that people behave and relate to one another; the beliefs and aspirations of a group of people
Current
The actual electricity flowing, measured in amps
Debugging
Finding and removing errors in a microcontroller program
Diode
A component that allows current to flow in one direction only
Downcycling
Recycling into a lower quality product
Drape
The weight of fabric hangs under its own weight
Driver
A component to boost the output current
Ductile
Able to be bent or deformed without losing toughness
Durability/hardness
The ability to resist cutting, wear, or abrasion
Eco-material
An environmentally friendly material
Economies of scale
The cost advantages that manufacturers obtain due to the size, output, or scale of their production
Effort
The input force in a mechanism
Electrolysis
Extraction of metals by melting and passing electric current through it
Emerging technologies
New technologies that are currently being developed, or will be developed within the next 5 to 10 years
Ergonomics
The study of how we use and interact with a product or system
Ethical
Correct, fitting, good or honourable
Fabricating
Creating products by assembling parts and components together
Fast fashion
A trend involving the quick transfer of new collections from the catwalk into stores
FEA
Finite element analysis
Felted fabric
Fabric manufactured by adding moisture, pressure and friction to a web of fibres, causing them to matt together
Ferrous metal
A metal that contains iron
Filament fibre
A long, smooth, fibre of synthetic or natural protein origin
Finite resources
Non-renewable sources that cannot be replaced in a sufficient time frame to allow further human consumption. Examples include crude oil and natural gas and coal, as these resources have taken millions of years to form
Focus group
An organised discussion led by a moderator, where a group of people are asked about their views and experiences, perceptions of and attitudes towards a product, brand, service, idea, advertisement or packaging
Force
A push, pull or twist
Former
A block made to hold material in the shape required
Fulcrum
The pivot around which a lever turns
Function
What a product will do and how it wI’ll work
Fused deposition modelling (FDM)
Building up a 3-D shape by laying down material in layers
Galvanising
Coating steel with zinc to stop it corroding
Globalisation
Businesses and organisations operating globally and developing international influence
Gloss
A shiny, reflective surface finish
Golden ratio
A common mathematical ratio found in nature that can be used to create pleasing, natural-looking compositions in your design work; also known as the golden mean, the golden section, or by the Greek letter Phi
GRP
Glass reinforced plastic
gsm
Grams per square metre. Used to classify the weights of paper and card
Idler gear
A gear that is inserted between two spur gears to change the output direction
Import
To bring goods in from another country
Inclusive design
Designing for the widest possible audience
Input
The type of motion or force put into a mechanism
Insulator
Resists the passage of heat or sound, keeps heat inside/blocks sound
Integrating circuit (IC)
A microchip
Internet of Things (IoT)
Where are electronic devices connect within the existing Internet infrastructure, to send and receive data without human intervention
Iterative design
A design process based on a cyclic process of prototyping, testing, reflecting, analysing, evaluating and refining of product or process. The processes are repeated with a focus of achieving the optimum design
Iterative modelling
Repeated modelling to develop an idea
Laminating
Building up a shape in thin layers
Lathe
A machine used for making cylindrical-shaped objects by spinning
Lay plans
Used by fabric pattern cutters to guide them when placing pattern pieces in the correct location and direction before cutting
Lean manufacturing
A systematic method for the elimination of waste within a manufacturing system
Lever
A rigid bar that turns around a fulcrum
Light dependent resistor (LDR)
A light sensing component
Lightweight
Weighs very little
Line bending
Bending a polymer sheet after softening a narrow strip
Linkage
A component used to direct forces and movement to where they are needed
Load
The output force in a mechanism
Lubrication
A substance applied to reduce friction between moving parts
Malleable
Able to be hammered or pressed into shape without breaking or cracking
Market pull
Refers to the market (users/customers ) identifying and requiring the need for a new product or solution to a problem
Marketing
The business of promoting and selling a product; can include advertising and promotion, and market research
Mass/high volume production
Producing very large numbers of an item or product
Mathematical modelling
The representation of a real situation using mathematical concepts and language
Matt
A dull, non-reflective surface finish
Mechanism
A series of parts the work together to control forces and motion
Micro controller
A programmable electronic component that adds functionality to the product
Micron
1000th of a millimetre. Used to classify the thickness of paper and card
Monomer
A molecule that can be bonded to other identical molecules to form a polymer
MOSFET
A type of transistor used as a driver
Mould
Has various references in design and manufacture; it can be a hollow container used to give shape to a molten or hot material while it cools and hardens; or used to describe the forming of an object from a malleable material
Moulding
Can describe the process of forming a shape from a mould; or be used to describe a specific form, e.g. a decorative moulding
Nanotechnology
Technology on a microscopic scale
Natural cellulose fibres
Fibres that come from plant-based sources, for example cotton and linen
Natural polymers
Chains of protein or cellulose molecules (monomers), such as keratin, glucose or fibroin. These chains are the basis of all natural fibres
Natural protein fibres
Fibres that come from animal-based sources. These include hair, fur or silk fibres
Non-ferrous metal
A metal that does not contain iron
Non-renewable energy
Energy derived from sources that come out of the ground as liquids, gases and solids cannot be quickly replenished
Non-woven fabrics
Fabrics made by entangling fibres together using friction, pressure, heat or chemicals. These fabrics are cheaper to produce then woven fabrics and are often used for disposable products
Obsolescence
Becoming outdated or no longer wanted
One off production
Making only one or a small number of products
Organic
Derived from living matter
Output
The type of motion or force a mechanism produces
Oxidation
Discolouring, tarnishing and/or rusting of metal through reaction with water
Physical and working properties
The properties of the material that affect the way it is used
Piezo-electric sounder
A miniature speaker for producing sounds from a microcontroller
Pinion
A small driver gear (smaller than the driven gear)
Plain weave
A basic weave construction in which the weft yarn goes under and over alternate warp yarns, giving a strong and flat fabric
Planned obsolescence
The business practices practice of deliberately outdating an item before the end of its useful life
Plating
Coating one type of metal with another to improve appearance or corrosion resistance
Polarised
A component in systems that must be connected the correct way round in a circuit
Polymer
A substance that has a molecular structure built up from a large number of similar units (monomers) bonded together
Polymerisation
The process of joining small molecules to form polymers (long chains)
Polymer Memory
The ability of the Thermo polymers to return to their original state after reheating
Powder coating
A coating of electrically charged powder that is baked on to achieve a tough finish
Press moulding
Forming a hollow shape from a softened polymer sheet
Primary user
The person or group of people who will use a product or system
Printed circuit board (PCB)
The support and connections for the electronic components in a product
Program
A set of instructions to tell a microcontroller how to carry out a task
Programming language
The set of instructions and rules used to write a microcontroller program
Proportion
The relative size and scale of the various elements in a design
Prototyping
A process that involves the production of a test model, on which the final product is based
Pulley and belt drive
A method of transferring rotatory motion between two shafts
Quenching
Rapidly cooling hot metal by immersing in cold water
Rack and pinion
A system to change between rotary and linear motion
Rapid prototyping
The process of making a 3-D shape from a digital file
Recyclable
Material or product suitable for re-processing back to raw forms
Recycled paper
Paper made from used paper products
Regenerated fibres
Fibres derived from natural Celulose sources, using synthetic chemical processes. These include viscose and bamboo fibre
Reinforce
To strengthen or support an object or substance with additional material
Renewable
A natural resource and is not depleted by use
Resistance
How hard it is for an electric current to flow, measured in ohms
Rigid
The ability to withstand forces without flexing
Satin
And in between gloss and matt finish
Satin weave
A luxurious weave in fabric construction in which the weft yarn floats over three or more warp yarns, giving a smooth and shiny finish
Scale of production
The number of products being produced at once
Seam allowance
A margin added in textiles to pattern pieces to allow enough fabric around the edge of the sewing line for errors
Seasoning
Adjusting the moisture content of timber to make it more suitable to use
Self finishing
A material that requires no further coatings or finishing processes
Sensor
A component that produces a signal in response to a specific physical quantity
Shaft
A rod that transfers the rotation through a mechanism
Signal
And electrical voltage that is used to represent information
Simple gear train
A pair of years consisting of a driver gear and a driven gear
Sketch models
Quick models, often of just parts of a design, made from easy to work and low-cost materials such as cardboard or foam
Smelting
Melting down metals into molten liquid
Soldering
Melting solder around two or more metals to create a joint
Spur gear
A wheel with teeth around its edge
Stabiliser
An additive added to polymers to help them with stand degradation
Stakeholder
A person, group or organisation with an interest in a product/system, for example parents/schools when designing products for children
Standardised component
An individual part or component, manufactured in thousands or millions, to the same specification
Staple fibre
A short fibre with crimp (wavy texture); most natural fibres are staple fibres, although synthetic fibres can be manufactured to form the staple shape
Steam bending
Softening the fibres of wood with steam to allow it to bend
Stock form
Commonly available forms of a material that can be bought
Stove enamelling
A paint coating that is baked onto achieve a tough, durable finish
Stroke
The distance the follower (of the cam) rises
Structure
A collection of parts that provide support
Subsystem
A section with a specific role within a system
Sustainable economic growth
A rate of growth that can be maintained for future generations without causing significant economic problems
Symmetry
When elements are arranged in the same way on both sides of an axis when rotated around a point
Synthesised
Made by combining parts of, e.g. combining different carbon components
Synthetic
A manufactured substance that imitates a natural product
System
The general name for a set of mechanical or electronic parts that work together to produce the desired output
System diagram
A diagram of the interconnections and flow of signals in an electronic system
Systems thinking
The understanding of a product or component as part of a larger system of other products and systems. In iterative design process, consideration of the role of all components and subsystems Of the product or system, including the user experience and the marketing of the object being designed, insures all aspects of the product and given the required attention to detail
Technical textiles
Textiles manufactured specifically for their performance properties instead of their aesthetic value. Examples of technical textiles include Kevlar and Stomatex
Technology push
One research and development of new technology drives new product development, e.g. touchscreen and fingerprint technology in smart phones
Tempering
Using heat to make a metal less brittle
Tensile strength
The resistance of the material to breaking under tension/stretching
Thermistor
A temperature sensing component
Throwaway society
A society influenced by consumerism and excessive consumption of products
Tolerance
An allowable amount of variation of a specific quantity, especially in the dimensions of a part
Torque
A turning or twisting force
Toughness
Ability to resist breaking, bending or snapping
Triangulation
Achieving rigidity by producing triangular structures
Twill weave
A strong weave in fabric construction in which the weft yarn goes under and over alternate warp yarns in a diagonal formation, giving a textured finish
Upcycling
Reusing and transforming products into a higher quality product
Usability
How easy a product is to use, how clear and obvious the functions are
User centred design (UCD)
Sometimes called human centred design, user centred design is a design strategy, or design approach, with the aim of making products and systems usable. It focuses on the user interface and how the user interacts with and relates to the product
UV degradation
The weakening of polymers when exposed to the ultraviolet light in sunlight
Vacuum forming
Producing thin hollow items over a shaped mould using a heated polymer sheet and vacuum
Viability
The ability to work successfully
Virgin fibre paper
Paper made from new, unused wooden fibres
Voltage
A measure of the electrical pressure causing a current to flow, measured in volts
Wastage
Removing material to leave a desired shape
Water resistance
The ability of a material to resist water droplets for a period of time
WEEE directive
Are sustainability scheme to reduce the amount of waste electrical products sent to landfill
Weft knit
Fabric constructed with horizontal and vertical rows of interlocking loops
Welding
A fusion of materials caused by intense heat
