GCSE AQA Design and Technology - Designing and Making

Explain how can you carry out tests to ensure safety

*Research your materials* - make sure they are suitable. *Use standards components* - they have already been tested by the manufacture to make sure safety standards are met. *Make prototypes* and carry out real-life simulations. *Get electrical items PAT tested* - (Portable Appliance Test) Makes sure that portable electronic won't hurt anyone if used properly. *Test using CAD software* - If you've selected the right materials, you can simulate stress tests, such as how well a product will stand to an impact.

Explain the three types of design strategies

*Systems approach* - breaking down the design process into a number of different stages and doing research in every turn, e.g. the design specification, coming up with new ideas, developing ideas, etc. This is a very orderly and reliable method of designing. *User-centred design* - the wants and needs of the user are prioritised - their thoughts are given a lot of attention at each and every stage of the design process. *Iterative design* - Based on the constant process off evaluation and improvement. Ideas get tested, evaluated and improved based on the results of testing - a circular process.

Explain different ways to model your design

1) Creating models using materials that are easy and quick to work with, e.g. cardboard, newspaper or foam core board. 2) Construction kits - have different sized and shaped parts for you to play with. 3) Toile - used for textiles - early versions of a clothing design. Worn by a model or put of a mannequin to work with proportions and fit of the garment. Calico is commonly used toile fabric. 4) Breadboards - use to test whether a circuit design works. Boards have rows of holes that electronic components can be pushed through without soldering - pieces can be easily moved. 5) CAD/CAM - CAD can be used to draw a detailed 3D design and then CAM machines can use this design to print a model.

Explain the process of iterative design

1) Develop a design brief and specification. 2) Sketch and model ideas. 3) Make a prototype 4) Hold a focus group for the prototype to be tested by the target market. 5) Evaluate the design - examine the feedback from the group and identify and problems. 6) Fix any problems 7) Go back to step 3

State the steps of drawing an othrographic drawing

1) Draw the front view and add constrution and centre lines to the right to help draw the outlines of the end view. 2) Add construction lines and centre lines going up from the front view. Then, draw a line at 45 degrees from the top right corner of the front view. 3) Draw construction and centre lines going uo from the end view. When they reach the 45 degree line, draw them going 90 and to the left - used to draw the plan view 4) Find out which edges are hidden detials and mark them on the drawing. Then add the dimension in millimetres.

Explain what you need to know before starting to make the prototype

1) The best materials, tools and other equiptment to use, including stanard components. 2) The assembly process - important when it comes to planning production. 3) The approximate manufacturing time needed to make each product. 4) How much it should cost to manufacture each product.

Explain what to do if you get stuck on a bad idea

Design fixation is when a person is stuck on the idea. It stops you from thinking creatively and coming up with an innovative design idea. Following a design stratergy can help avoid design fixation, by looking at your design in a critical way and making improvements. Try to focus on new solutions to the design brief. If you focus too much on existing products, then it can be easy to copy them - instead, take a fresh approach to your product's specific requirements.

Explain how to reach the right product

Keep modeling something and then evaluated it and then make another modification and test that and so on - iterative design. Depending on your time and resources, you could make any number of alternative prototypes and select the best one Once a product is perfect, it can then be produced on a larger scale. Testing prototypes are important as they pick up any mistakes, which will cost a lot of money to put right.

Explain how evaluating prototypes can be useful for the manufacturing specification

Making a prototype allows you to check that the manufacturing specifiaction is correct. Any problems identified during this process will need to be solved, and the manufacturing specification modified to include these changes. Making a prototype can also help you calculate some of the manufacturing costs - this is important as you don't want a final product that costs far too much to make.

Explain what is meant by perspective drawing and the two different types

Perspective drawings try to show what something would actually look like in 3D - smaller in the distance and larger close up. It does this by using lines that appear to meat at points called vanishing points. One-point perspective - for drawing objects head-on - have on varnishing point and shows the front view. Two-point perspective - for drawing objects edge on - have two vanishing points horizontally.

Explain how and why you should get feedback from other people

Prototypes allow other people to try out your product. Feedback from the client, potential customers and experts in the industry provide additional suggestions on how you could modify your design. This will hopefully improve the product so that it's marketable - appealing to the target market, is fit for purpose and will sell.

Explain how to evalute your prototype

Prototypes are evaluated by checking that they meet the criteria set out in the design specification. It's best to go through one by one. You'll find that parts of your design don't work out the way you wanted them, and so don't fit the design specification. If not, you need to make improvement such as rejecting part of the design that doesn't work and justify and alternative. You also need to make sure that the prototype meets the requirements of the design brief - what the client wants or needs.

Explain what are prototypes

Prototypes are fully-size, fully-functioning products or systems. They're made using the materials and manufacturing methods that are intended for the final product. This allows you to test the product and the production methods you're going to to use and make sure they're as you want them.

Explain what are schematic diagrams

Schematic diagrams clearly shown the layout of electrical and mechanical systems. A circuit diagram is an example as it clearly shows how components are connected up. Repair manuals use schematics to show the user how the system should be assembled. They should be easy to read and simple to draw. • They aren't draw to scale so components can be nicely spaced out. • Often use symbols, e.g. circuit components. • Use simplified and often unrealistic graphics.

Explain different environmental impacts of different material

Some materials are toxic, e.g. paints and dyes. Many come from finite resources, e.g. plastic and synthetic fibres, which will eventually run out. Products that use recyclable materials, e.g. recycled metals and plastic. It's better to use sustainable materials - softwoods are a better choice than hardwoods as they won't contribute to deforestation. Many materials are thrown away - it's good if these products are made from biodegradable materials or recycled material, e,g, waste wood.

Explain what should each stage of the manufacturing process should include

• How long each stage will take. • What needs to be prepared before you can start each stage. • How you will ensure consistency and quality, e.g. jigs, formers and measuring tools. • How will you ensure consistency and quality. • How will you do quality control checks. • What health and safety precautions you will have to take.

Explain the design consulting method of: 1) Collaboration 2) Client invovlement

Collaboration is all about working with other people. It allows you to gain specialist knowledge from across a variety of subject areas. Brainstorming ideas with other people and getting honest feedback might allow fixation to be broken and be more creative. Client involvment allow you to show your client your designs, models and prototypes to make sure it fits the brief. If not, you can get feedback to improve future iterations of the design.

Explain what are isometric drawings

Isometric drawing show objects in 3D at 30 degrees. It doesn't show perspective but it's easier to get across the dimensions that in perspective drawing. The three main rules are: • Verticle edges are drawn as vertical lines. • Horizontal edges are drawn at 30 degrees (from horizontal). • Parallel edges appear as parallel lines.

Explain what are system diagrams

Flowcharts that separate a system into input, process and output boxes - useful when developing the basic design for a system. Annotations are used to outline the concept of the system without going into detail. They should include the components or mechanisms that will be used at each stage. They should be brief and to the point.

Explain what is meant by freehand drawing

Freehand means without using any equipment. It's the quickest method of drawing so it's handy for getting initial designs down on paper. You can combined 2D and 3D sketches to explain details. You can also annotate your sketches to explain further, e.g. the materials you will use.

Explain what do gantt charts show

Gantts charts show how long each stage of the product will take and will fit into the total time. The tasks are listed down the left-hand side and the timing is plotted across the top.

Explain what do environmental standards aim to do

They aim to reduce environmental impact in ways such as: • Reducing the use of pesticides. • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions. • Protecting biodiversity.

Explain what are othrographic drawing projection

They show 2D views of a 3D object. 3rd angle projections are used widely in industry to help the manufacturer understand the design. They show a 3D object as a set of 2D drawing from different angles - a front view, a plain view and an end view. Each 2D view is drawn accurately to scale and the dimensions are always given in millimetres. ø is the diameter of the circle. Different lines are used: Outlines - bold and continuous *—* Construction lines - light and continuous — Centre lines - alternative long and short dashes — - — - — Hidden details - edges that you can't see - - - - - - - - - - - Dimension lines - show the dimension, contain arrowheads

Explain what are scale drawing used for

To draw a big object on a small piece of paper, you need to scale it down - in proportion, but smaller - shown as a ratio, e.g. 1:2. Anything drawn as 1:1 is to scale. You can also scale up things, e.g. a scale of 2:1 means the drawing is twice the size of the real objects. The scale needs to be clearly shown in the diagram. To calculate the length of the real object, you multiply the length in your drawing by the scale factor.

Explain the design consulting method of: 1) User involvement 2) Expert Opinions

User involvement involves asking a sample of the target market for input in the design process. You can get feedback from potential users on your design idea, models and prototypes to make them more appealing to the target market. Experts are other professionals in the industry, e.g. electronic experts, seamstresses. You can benefit from their experience by asking them for improvements.

Explain what is a manufacturing specification and what does it need to include

A manufacturing specification can be a series of wriiten statements, or working drawings and sequence diagrams that has to explain exactly how to make the product. It should include: • Clear construction details explaining exactly how to make each part. • Materials - which are needed at part and how much. • Equiptment - what's needed at what stage. • Sizes - precise dimensions of each part in millimetres. • Tolerances - the max and minimum sizes each part should be. • Finishing details - any special information, e.g. laminate the paper. • Quality control instructions - what needs to be checked, how and when. • Costings - how much does each part cost and any other cost.

Explain how can you show the work order of the manufacturing process

A table or flowchart can be used to plan the word order - the sequence in which tasks should be carried out. They can also include tools, quality control stages, safety. Ovals - Start and end Boxes - Processes Diamonds - Decisions

Explain why and how to test and evaluate a model

After making the first model, do some test to check it's how it should be. Write down what the problem is and suggest how to fit. Record how the design develops - take photos of the model. Then evaluate each model eagainst the design specification. Take each point on the specification and see if your model meets them. You might end up modifying your specification or model after you've evaluated.

Explain what do exploded diagrams show

Assembly drawing show how separate parts join together - an exploded diagram is a type of assembly drawing. They are in 3D and have the product with each separate part of it, drawn moved out - as if it's been exploded. Each part is drawn in line with the part it's attached to. Dotted lines show where the part has been exploded from and therefore where it fits. It doesn't need to have many words.

Explain what do social standards provide

Fair terms of trade (higher prices) for the produce of small-scale farmers and workers, allowing them to feed their families. Safer working conditions for farmers and workers. Fairtrade premiums - money for farmers and workers to help their community in an area they wish to improve, e.g. schools, roads, healthcare, etc.

Explain how you could analyse a product's sustainabiliy, materials and manufacture

Sustainability - how much does making or using the product harm the environment? Materials - product analysis should include what materials have been used and why those materials have been chosen. Manufacture - consider all the processes that have been used to make the product. This include techniques that have been used to shape parts of the product and products that have been sub-assembled.