Eduqas DT GCSE

mass production

when hundreds or thousand of the same product are produced (usually on a production line)

assembly line

a line of workers and equipment in a factory. A product is gradually assembled as it moves through each stage of the line until it is completely assembled

automated production

the use of automatically (computer) controlled equipment or machinery to manufacture products

market pull

a new product is produced in response to demand from the market

technology push

a development in materials, components or manufacturing methods leads to the development of a new product

life cycle

the stages a product goes through from initial idea to disposal

examples of market pull

mobile phone - people wanted to be able to contact each other when they were out and about

examples of technology push

development in electronics mean small powerful components could be put into smartphones allowing them to perform a range of functions, graphene is likely to have applications in a wide range of industries

LCA

product life cycle analysis

what are the stages of the product life cycle?

introduction, growth, maturity, decline

what is the introduction phase of a product life cycle?

when new products are launched and are heavily publicised so that consumers know they are available. This might be a new product or a new version of an existing product

example of a product in the introduction phase?

a new model of a smartphone with a larger memory and longer battery life

what is the growth phase of a product's life cycle?

once the product is available, sales will grow as more people become aware of the products and buy it to replace previous products or older models

what is the maturity stage of a product's life cycle?

sales of the product reach their peek. Companies want this stage to last for as long as possible to get the maximum number of sales

what is the decline stage of a product's life cycle?

at this stage, most interested consumers have already bought the product or a newer model will be available, at which point sales will begin to fall

downsides of globalisation and development?

- importing cheap products can lead to job losses locally and working conditions in other countries may be poor,

- increasingly automated production causes job losses,

- mobile technology leads to fewer face-to-face interactions making people feel isolated blurring work and leisure time,

What is The Consumer Rights Act 2015?

it protects customers when buying products or services. It covers you for faulty goods, counterfeit goods, poor services and problems with builders

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 allows you to request a refund, repair or replacement when a purchase does not meet which standards?

- the product does not function as intended it needs to be fit for purpose,

- of satisfactory quality, it should not be damaged or defective,

- it is not as it was described at time of purchase

compensation

payment, usually money given to someone as a result of loss

counterfeit

an imitation of something valuable sold with the intention to defraud or deceive someone

ethical traders

share a breakdown of costs for the products

sustainability

meeting today's needs without compromising the needs of future generations (producing goods and services without impacting on the needs of the future populations)

examples of ways in which new and emerging technologies can be used to help us to use, manufacture and dispose products in a more sustainable way?

- hybrid technologies and electric cars,

- developments in renewable energy,

- recycling technology

fossil fuels

finite resources that cannot be replaced

advantages of CAD

- quality of presentation of drawings is higher,

- 2D and 3D CAD models can be created, amended and edited easily,

- textures and colours can be applied to make models photorealistic,

- the design can be securely stored, shared and worked on collaboratively,

- the 3D model can be exported to CAM machines which can produce a working prototype,

- ideas, concepts and models can be exposed to clients and opinions sought to develop the product,

- speeds up the designing process and reduce lead-in time so the product gets to market quicker,

disadvantages of CAD

- powerful computers are necessary for 3D modelling and rendering,

- users will need training to use the software to its full potential,

- requires higher level of expertise to use efficiently,

- can be slower to generate initial ideas than on paper,

- software is being continually updated and can be expensive to keep up to date,

- hardware such as 3D printers can be expensive and quite slow to manufacture large objects,

CAM

computer-aided manufacture

CNC machines

Computer Numerically Controlled machines

advantage of CAM

- faster than traditional manufacture,

- high degree of manufacturing accuracy,

- consistent and repeatable processes,

- less waste is produced than in traditional manufacturing processes,

- allows for flexible manufacturing systems to be implemented into industry,

disadvantages of CAM

- can be expensive,

- needs regular maintenance and servicing,

- traditional skills and workforces can be displaced,

- costs generally inhibit CAM in small-scale manufacture

what is CNC embroidery and why is it good?

- CAD designs can be sewn into a range of textiles and fabrics,

- lends itself well to flexible manufacture by being able to personalise garments,

- designs can be saved or shared to allow for short or long production runs

examples of CNC embroidery

school uniforms, any applications where branding or logos need to be applied

Vinyl cutters

- using a roll of self adhesive vinyl, a simple pattern is cut out from a CAD drawing using a sharp cutting blade,

- the most affordable CAM machines, making them commonplace in schools

examples for uses of vinyl cutters

lettering or shapes for sign writing, applying branding to vehicles

CNC routing

- a rotating router cutter is used to cut around a path or shape determined by a CAD drawing,

- the profile of the cut can be changed by fitting alternative cutting tools and the depth of the cut are usually determined by different colours being used on the CAD drawing

uses of CNC routers?

more comprehensive 3D shapes can be produced on CNC routers that have attachments that rotate the workpiece while being machined

laser cutter

- use a directed laser beam to cut through or vaporise material, leaving a high quality accurate cut,

- the workpiece can be easily held as there is no force from a blade this means means intricate patterns can be cut out

uses of laser cutters

used to cut or engrave a wide range of materials, jigsaws, decorative designs in greeting cards

additive manufacture

the process of building up a physical shape, layer by layer

how do 3D printers work?

- uses a thermoforming polymer roll or spool of filament that is heated and extruded through a headed moving on an x and y axis,

- following the printing of the first layer the bed of the printer moved down and the next layer of polymer is extruded

positives of 3D printing

- a working prototype can be quickly produced,

- designers can test products and bring them to market without expensive tooling,

- makes small scale manufacture possible

how does the Under armour Architech footwear use CAD and CAM?

- they used generative design to develop a sole for their 'Architech' shoe,

- it has a lattice structure with cushioning properties,

- the sole is complex and can only be produced by 3D printing,

- the time taken to make each sole has limited production

rendering

applying a colour or texture to a drawing

environmental directive

a type of law to provide protection for the environment

what is the European Ecolabel?

- manufacturers can apply to have the label,

- products have to meet a tough set of environmental criteria taking into account a products whole life cycle,

- intended to simplify consumer choice in seeking out products which are good for the environment

circular economy

considering how to recover the assets from a product at the end of its life cycle and invest them in a new product

cradle-to-cradle

considering a product's life cycle, including its rebirth into a new product

energy rating label

- a label which helps consumers choose energy efficient products,

- A+++ = most efficient,

- G = least efficient

linear economy

- products are produced as cheaply as possible,

- once the product is broken or no longer wanted it is simply disposed of

what are the six R's?

rethink, reduce, recycle, reuse, refuse, repair

what are the stages of life cycle analysis?

acquiring raw materials, material processing, manufacturing, use, end of life, transportation

Fairtrade

- social economic and environmental standards are set for all companies, producers and workers involved in the supply chain

carbon foorprint

a measure of the amount of greenhouse gases released as a result of our activities

ecological footprint

the area of the Earth that they need to sustain their lifestyle. A measure of the impact that human activity has on the environment

ecological deficit

a measure to indicate that more natural resources are being used than nature can replace

sources of renewable energy

wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, wood, biomass, wave, tide

sources of non-renewable energy

nuclear, coal, oil, gas

greenhouse gase

atmospheric pollution which traps heat at the Earth's surface

cons of renewable energy

equipment needed to extract renewable energy can be expensive, there is often a high initial outlay

cons of wind and solar energy

they are not always available, quite small energy output, unsightly and spoil natural environment

cons of hydroelectric power

involves building large dam structures in rural areas flooding countryside and natural habitats

cons of geothermal energy

very expensive to install, only profitable in some areas

cons of electric cars

- electricity can still be produced by fossil fuels,

- battery can take hours to recharge,

- car's range is limited,

pros of electric cars

- avoid congestion tax,

- cheap to run,

- efficient as they can recover kinetic energy when the driver brakes and store it in the battery,

- no emissions

smart materials

materials whose physical or mechanical properties react to a change in their environment

electroluminescent materials

a material that provides a visible light when exposed to a current

how does electroluminescent wire work?

- thin copper is coated in phosphorus powder which when subjected to an ac current glows

when is electroluminescent wire used?

- in application's where the wire's flexibility is most beneficial such as decorative lighting, signage and clothing

what forms can electroluminescent technology be found in?

wire, flexible films / panels

how does electroluminescent film/panels work?

- phosphor is sandwiched between a pair of conductive electrodes and emits light when subjected to ac current

how is EL (electroluminescent) film better than LCD displays?

- they can be flexible,

- do not generate heat,

- increased reliability and durability,

where is EL (electroluminescent) film used?

mobile phones, car dashboard displays, watch illumination, signage

what is Quantum tunnelling composite (QTC)?

flexible polymer that contain conductive nickel particles, change from insulators to conductors under pressure

what are shape memory alloys (SMA's)?

- can be shaped and deformed but when heated the metal returns to its original shape

where are shape memory alloys (SMA's) used?

medical application e.g. medical fastenings, braces

what is polymorph?

a thermoforming polymer (usually in granules) when heated to 62C it becomes soft and easily moulded

where is polymorph used?

versatile modelling material, used in schools when modelling ergonomic features on a product

what is photochromic pigment?

change colour in response to light intensity

where are photochromic pigments used?

sunglasses

what are thermochromic pigments?

change colour in response to a change in heat, can be engineered to a specific temperature or temperature range

where are thermochromic pigments used?

temperature of a baby's bath, indicate baby food is cool enough to eat, labels of drinks

what is microencapsulation?

a process of applying microscopic capsules to fibres or fabric, substances are released through friction when in contact with skin

uses of microencapsulated fabrics?

- medical textiles (antiseptics embedded on dressing),

- sportwear (chemicals which repel odour and prevent fungal infections),

- children's wear or for sensitive skin (encapsulated with moisturisers and oils to soothe and heal),

- household textiles (lavender and camomile for soothing properties in bed sheets)

what is biomimicry?

taking ideas and mimicking features from nature

example of biomimicry

Fastskin swimwear from Speedo, mimicked shark's natural sandpaper skin by reducing drag. It was banned for giving an unfair advantage

what is a composite material?

a material manufactured from a combination of two materials with desirable properties

what are the parts of a composite material called?

one is called the matrix, the other is called the fibre or reinforcement

examples of composite materials

carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP), glass reinforced plastic (GRP), Kevlar

what is carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP)?

a composite of carbon fibre strand woven together and encased in a polymer resin. The resin is lightweight and rigid, the carbon strands have a high tensile strength to create a high-performance engineering material

what is carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) used for?

manufacture of racing bikes and mountain bikes due to it's strength to weight ratio and stiffness and ability to produce streamlined shapes,

also for F1 components, high performance sports equipment, and aerospace industry

what is glass reinforced plastic (GRP)?

a composite of glass fibres and polymer resin. Lower cost and more accessible manufacturing methods than carbon fibre reinforced plastic.

Resin makes it tough and lightweight, glass fibres provide rigidity

why are composite materials difficult to recycle?

- when the matrix has set or cured it is impossible to reverse the process

what is glass reinforced plastic (GRP) used for?

less attractive surface finish than CRFP so usually has a pigmented finish,

used in boats, canoes, hockey sticks and car body works

what is Kevlar?

a tradename for a fibre manufactured by DuPont. It is a lightweight, flexible and extremely durable fibre that has good resistance to heat and damage from chemicals.

what is Kevlar used for?

protective clothing, e.g. police body armour where it is woven in a lattice against knives

fibre thread in sportswear such as motorbike clothing and protective padding worn by mountain bikers and skateboarders

interactive textiles

fabrics that contain a device or circuit that responds and reacts with the user

what are common uses of interactive textiles?

heart-rate monitors, performance monitors for athletes, GPS tracking systems, heating and flexible solar panels, communication devices

microfibres

tiny fibres about a hundred times thinner than a human hair

properties of micrfibres

lightweight, versatile, high strength to weight ration, water resistance, breathability

where are microfibres used?

clothing, cleaning cloths, insulation