Year 8 Projects
Pivoting Toy, Bookend & Electronic Timer
Pivoting Toy, Bookend & Electronic Timer
In Year 8 pupils complete a Pivoting Toy Project as shown. The frame of the toy is common and allows pupils to learn several metalworking principles.
Pupils are introduced to the centre lathe and learn to use it safely. They make the central pivot piece from bright drawn mild steel, facing off one end and turning a taper to a point at the other.
Pupils are introduced to the brazing hearth and learn to use this safely. They braze the pivot piece onto the cross-arms of the frame, leaving the brazed workpiece to cool slowly in the air so that the cross-arms are normalised. Pupils then use a simple jig to bend the cross-arms to shape.
Nuts are then fixed to the ends of the cross-arms for weight, using a tight fit method after being drilled on the bench drill. Finally pupils learn about different methods of metal finishing and use plastic coating to finish the frame.
Pupils research what design the toy should have by creating a questionnaire, which their customer completes. They then complete a set of designs to meet their specification before developing a final idea. They decorate their pivoting toy by making decorations for the ends of the arms, a top piece and base from MDF.
Pupils are introduced to the centre lathe and learn to use it safely. They make the central pivot piece from bright drawn mild steel, facing off one end and turning a taper to a point at the other.
Pupils are introduced to the brazing hearth and learn to use this safely. They braze the pivot piece onto the cross-arms of the frame, leaving the brazed workpiece to cool slowly in the air so that the cross-arms are normalised. Pupils then use a simple jig to bend the cross-arms to shape.
Nuts are then fixed to the ends of the cross-arms for weight, using a tight fit method after being drilled on the bench drill. Finally pupils learn about different methods of metal finishing and use plastic coating to finish the frame.
Pupils research what design the toy should have by creating a questionnaire, which their customer completes. They then complete a set of designs to meet their specification before developing a final idea. They decorate their pivoting toy by making decorations for the ends of the arms, a top piece and base from MDF.
In the Bookend Project, below, pupils learn to analyse a commercially made product similar to the one they are to make. They learn what questions to ask and how to use the information gleaned to inform their own work. Pupils then use orthographic drawing techniques to create a range of initial ideas. They evaluate these and develop their intended final design.
Once the design phase is complete, pupils learn the woodworking skills necessary to make the base of the bookend, which is common for all pupils. Pupils learn to construct a lap joint, cutting out the joint using tenon saw, bench hook, mallet and chisel, before assembling the joint by gluing and pinning. Pupils also learn to use marking out tools: steel rule, tri-square and marking gauge and learn the correct way to add a finish by sanding.
Once the design phase is complete, pupils learn the woodworking skills necessary to make the base of the bookend, which is common for all pupils. Pupils learn to construct a lap joint, cutting out the joint using tenon saw, bench hook, mallet and chisel, before assembling the joint by gluing and pinning. Pupils also learn to use marking out tools: steel rule, tri-square and marking gauge and learn the correct way to add a finish by sanding.
In the Electronic Timer Project pupils build upon the knowledge of electronics and soldering techniques learned in Year 7.
They learn about the function of the NE555 timer chip and how it operates in a circuit to perform a timing function. They further learn how capacitors work and how they can be combined with resistors to determine a time period. Using this knowledge pupils construct a timing circuit which switches on an LED three minutes after a button is pressed. This can be used by the pupils, for example in board games requiring a timer.
Once the electronic circuit is complete, pupils recap what they learned in Y7 of the properties of thermoplastics. They learn how to utilise these properties to press mould a casing for the timer. They make the casing and decorate it using vinyl stickers to their own design. CAD/CAM may be used to generate the stickers using the STIKA machine in combination with CAD software.
Finally, pupils learn to combine the electronic component with the non-electronic component by assembling their product after test.
They learn about the function of the NE555 timer chip and how it operates in a circuit to perform a timing function. They further learn how capacitors work and how they can be combined with resistors to determine a time period. Using this knowledge pupils construct a timing circuit which switches on an LED three minutes after a button is pressed. This can be used by the pupils, for example in board games requiring a timer.
Once the electronic circuit is complete, pupils recap what they learned in Y7 of the properties of thermoplastics. They learn how to utilise these properties to press mould a casing for the timer. They make the casing and decorate it using vinyl stickers to their own design. CAD/CAM may be used to generate the stickers using the STIKA machine in combination with CAD software.
Finally, pupils learn to combine the electronic component with the non-electronic component by assembling their product after test.
