I thank you for your patience as on some occasions due to family matters I have not been able to get a quick response back to for say 3 days.

Your responses have indicated that you have been happy with the help that I have provided and suggestions to improve your Major Design Project.

A common theme I have found in students is to try and design a project without having purchased all the parts they  intend using.

This usually results in a redesign or re manufacture of some parts wasting precious time. Time is something one has to guard!

This year the Design and Technology Examination is for once , late in the Timetable of the examinations giving students a little more study time.

Some examination strategies would be appropriate to mention at this point.

As always take your time to read the question carefully so that you do understand what is being asked

Always leave space between your answers in the examination booklet so that you can add any additional information.

Use your time wisely allowing about 1 minute for a mark ie, 15 marks allow 15 minutes to answer!

Do not leave early. use all the time that has been provided to check and double check your answers’

Some one has to read your script.I know its hard but do try and ensure that someone can read your hand writing.

Good luck in the examinations Australia.

Good luck in the HSC Design and Technology final Examination 2011 is a post from: Design and Tech Help

I recently can across a problem where a school had set assignments which did not meet the Board of Studies curriculum and had been set up in good faith by teachers. It is a timely reminder to both Design and Technology pupils and teachers to check the technology curriculum assessments which have been written to ensure you as a student meet the boards’  curriculum requirements.

It is easy to go to the Boards web site and “goggle” the website for say Design and Technology and review what the various requirements are for  courses and then check the outline for the assessment requirements provided by the school. If pupils are unsure please see your Design and Technology teachers for advice and any correction.

Good luck with your  Major Design Project and your Design and Technology Curriculum.

Design and Technology Curriculum and Board of Studies Requirements is a post from: Design and Tech Help

The Pedestal Drill is easier to use then a hand held drill, particularly if you are drilling a piece of metal where you need to exert pressure to make the drill cut.

If you are drilling an item which is long, always place the part on the left hand side of the drill. If the drill “digs in” it will hit the post of the drill rather then you. It will give you a little reaction time to get out of the way.

As a general rule your Design and Technology Projects should be placed in a machine vice and bolted to the Pedestal Drill table. Never try and hold a project while you are drilling a hole as it may have the twist drill dig in and throw it at you.

To prevent accidents to yourself, back off the feed pressure when the twist drill is about to break through the material you are drilling.

Never try and stop the Pedestal Drill quickly by holding the drill chuck to slow it down. The motors on most Pedestal Drills are several horsepower; a lot more power full then you.

As a courtesy to others, always clean down the cuttings left behind on the Pedestal  drill and leave it the way you found it.

Always remove the twist or drill bits and return them to their storage location.

All the best with your Design and Technology Project.

Pedestal Drill is a post from: Design and Tech Help

You have dreamed up a great project for your Major Design Project, used CAD to draw it up and have a great school workshop available for manufacturing.

But being new to manufacturing there are a number of issues which relate to working safely in a workshop. Have you been shown by your teacher how to use a machine or process. Are you wearing safety glasses , apron and know where safety zones are around machinery while working on your product.

Project Management of your Major Design Project

Is there a Material Safety Data (MSD) box available in your workshop which list chemicals in use and how to treat a person for an accidents.
Students often make statements about how they worked safely only to show themselves completing their project with on thongs on their feet.
Think about every aspect in your photos you take. Make sure you do not show your face! Markers should not be able to identify you.

Only your student number should appear on your folio and product.

Safety while manufacturing your Major Design Project is a post from: Design and Tech Help

Board of Studies – New folio requirements for 2011 Design and Technology is a post from: Design and Tech Help

Many students once they have made a Design and Technology Project will need to metal plate their project to prevent it from rusting and give it a professional look. Here is a video on how metal can be plated and the various steps that go into metal plating.

Metal Plating your Project is a post from: Design and Tech Help

Working Safely and your Major Design Project is a post from: Design and Tech Help

When it comes to a students Major Design Project, a frequently asked question  in many of the emails I receive is “Where will I be able to purchase………………………..” and “How much is my Major Design Project likely to cost?”

Two issues face students. Where will I find the material I need and how do I calculate how much material I will need allowing for some trial and error. Students need to be flexible with building or raw materials as it makes sense to firstly know the size of materials and design your Major Design Project around the standards sizes available.

You need to use any trade magazines, the yellow pages directories and any sources you can find to source or find your raw materials.
To give but one example a student wished to purchase some brass rod to manufacture a brass ships cannon. He rang one supplier and was quoted $31 for 200mm length of brass.

Saving Money on your Major Design Project

I suggested he visit a scrap metal dealer and he was able to purchase what he required for $5. In some cases suppliers will give samples if you promote the company name.

Why work in isolation? If you can find out what other students are designing for their Major Design Project, it may be possible to club together and make a bulk purchase of textiles, leather or other materials.
Ask your Design and Technology Teacher if he or she knows of possible suppliers of raw materials near your school or home location. Your teacher has been involved in designing and manufacturing a range of products and it may well be your teacher has good contacts or even some left overs which will help you.

Good luck with the Major Design Project.

Raw Materials for your Major Design Project. is a post from: Design and Tech Help

Anything is possible!

One of the questions I regularly receive from Design and Technology Students is asking my advice on the suitability of their proposed Major Design Project.

Sometimes the ideas proposed are either going to need very expensive manufacturing equipment or processes which are not available to the average Design and Technology student or for that matter members of the general public.

It’s hard for me to advise a student via email or my mentoring group that the project is not going to be a “goer“. I do not wish to stand in the way of new innovation or new invention but I also do not wish to give false hope to a student which will result in a very hard development time during the year and possibly a project which does not attract a high mark.
Some things, however, good projects can be constructed from very unusual building materials.

Materials which even the supplier may have never intended to be used in a new way are often open to new use and extend the possibilities.

Having seen many Design and Technology Projects over the years, I am in a position to be able to advise students of viable “work a rounds” in many cases.

The same old story seems to emerge each year where students do not do enough research on possible materials, with the result that the Major Design Project works but could have been a whole lot better.

Many inventors are forced to use less then the best materials and recently I came across a satellite construction which was not made from mild steel. Its material?
Bamboo.

Bamboo I hear you say! Steel materials were not available for the construction of this earth receiving station so engineers made a decision to construction the rotating dish from bamboo. A material which was available in vast quantities in the local area. So I guess anything is possible. Good luck with the selection of your materials for your project.

Now put your Design and Technology hat on and think about your Major Design Project as  you can see almost anything is possible.

Anything is possible! is a post from: Design and Tech Help

Sustainability

Firstly what is sustainability? We hear the words ‘sustainable‘ and ‘sustainability‘ almost every day. But what does it mean exactly? Is it about people and culture, our environment, or jobs and money? Is it about cities or the country? Is it about you and me or is it something for other people to worry about?
Sustainability is about all of these things and more.
Sustainability could be defined as an ability or capacity of something to be maintained or to sustain itself. It’s about taking what we need to live now, without jeopardising the potential for people in the future to meet their needs.
Living sustainably is about living within the means of our natural systems (environment) and ensuring that our lifestyle doesn’t harm other people (society and culture). It’s a big idea to get your head around, for all of us. It’s really about thinking about where your food, clothes, energy and other products come from and deciding whether you should buy and consume these things. For example, you can buy timber imported from other countries to use in your home, but do you know enough about the rules in place in those countries to prevent animals from being harmed during the timber harvesting process, or if the local indigenous people support the harvesting, or how much they get paid?

Increasingly our lifestyle is placing more and more pressure on natural energy systems. Scientists continue to investigate how human interactions with natural systems can be improved and sustained.

Sustainable design

A good example of a sustainable design or practice is timber harvesting from native NSW state forests.

Well what does this have to do with your Major Design Project. If you were to develop a Major Design Project which relates to sustainability it should attract a good mark.
Can you thing of invention which meets sustainability needs.
Good luck with the introduction of sustainability into your Major Design Project.

Sustainability project for your Major Design Project is a post from: Design and Tech Help