Hello, I'm Mrs. Taylor and I'm really pleased you can join me here today for our lesson.

Our lesson today is Materials and manufacturing processes: polymers and timbers, and this is part of the Iterative Design: Nature unit.

The outcome: "I can determine and justify the materials and manufacturing processes required to manufacture my design." We have five keywords: justification, which is the reason or explanation for why something is done or believed to be right.

The manufacturing specification is a detailed document that outlines requirements to produce a product.

Working property is the way in which a material responds to an external force or certain environment, also referred to as mechanical properties.

Physical property: the characteristics of a material such as appearance and features.

And manufacture: the process of making products from raw materials, using machines or labour.

We have two learning cycles.

One is Selecting polymers and timbers, and the second is Manufacturing specification.

Let's get started.

Polymers and timbers are used in a variety of different ways to manufacture products.

There are also a wide range of different types of polymers and timbers that can be chosen when designing, modelling, and manufacturing.

Polymers and timbers are available in various forms like planks, sheets, dowels, granules, and mouldings.

Some manufacturing processes can only be used with a specific stock form of material, this affects the choice of materials and processes.

Some examples of timber stock forms include: MDF sheets, timber planks, dowel, which is circular and mouldings, which can be a variety of different shapes.

Some examples of polymer stock forms include: sheet, granules, tube and rod.

Notice the difference between tubes, which are hollow and rods, which are solid.

Here we have a check.

Which stock forms are timbers available in? Is it A: tubes, B: planks, C: mouldings, or D: granules? Pause the video.

Fantastic.

Let's check.

That's right, timber is available in both planks and mouldings.

The type of polymers or timbers a designer chooses will depend on the intended use or desired outcome.

It is down to the designer to justify their chosen material decisions.

To justify design decisions is to give a reason or explanation for the decision.

Decisions on which materials to use when manufacturing will come down to knowledge or research of the material properties.

The manufacture of a product is the process of making it from raw materials, using machines or labour.

Understanding the properties of a material is important because it helps ensure the final product is suitable for its intended use, as well as being able to choose the correct manufacturing processes.

The working properties are the way in which a material responds to an external force or certain environment, also referred to as mechanical properties, such as impact resistance.

The physical properties are the characteristics of a material, such as appearance and features.

For example, a smooth or glossy finish.

Here we have another check.

What are the physical properties of materials? Is it A: the way a material is used in a product, B: the characteristics of a material, such as appearance and features, or C: the shape of the material? Pause the video.

Great.

Let's check.

That's right, it's B.

The characteristics of a material, such as appearance and features.

Well done.

Aisha needs to decide which polymers and timbers would be most suitable for making her accessible herb planter.

She has decided to use polymer for the shelves and timber for the support and base and can justify her decision.

"I have decided to use a polymer for the shelves as this can be clear, which is important for the design to allow light through.

Timbers or boards will be better for the support and base due to their strength and how easy they are to work with." Aisha has narrowed her decision down to three types of timbers and boards and must now look at the properties of those to make and justify her decision of which one to use.

She's narrowed it down to MDF sheet, plywood sheet and pine, which is a solid timber available in planks.

Aisha has researched the properties of the three materials.

MDF has the properties rigid and stable, cost effective, smooth, easy to finish surface, very absorbent, so not good in high damp or humid places, and the common uses are flat pack furniture and kitchen units.

Plywood has the properties very stable in all directions due to alternate direction layering, and cost effective.

And the common uses for plywood are: furniture, roof construction, flooring, sheds, and building cladding.

And the properties of pine include: lightweight, easy to work, straight grain, light yellow in colour, but often has knots.

Common uses of pine include: furniture, window frames, and interior joinery.

"I have decided that MDF would be the best material for me to use for the base of my accessible herb planter," Aisha tells us.

She then goes on to explain, "It is strong enough to hold the support firmly.

I will need to finish the MDF with a waterproof layer." Let's have a check.

Which material is lightweight, easy to work and has knots? Is it A: pine, B: MDF, or C: plywood? Pause the video.

Fabulous.

Let's check.

That's right, it's the pine.

Well done.

Aisha also needs to consider the possible manufacturing processes when deciding upon the possible materials to ensure the material she chooses suits her process and vice versa.

One way Aisha could manufacture her product would be to use hand tools and machinery in the school workshop.

She says, "I can mark out a template for the base and use it again with the large shelf.

This will help me to be accurate.

I can use a coping saw to cut the curved shape out.

To cut the MDF base of her design, Aisha makes a card template.

Templates are useful when creating complex shapes, which are repeated.

Here we have an isometric view of Aisha's design and a card template that she has made for the base and the large shelf.

The steps to cut the MDF base: Mark out the card template.

Cut out the card template with scissors or a laser cutter if you have one available.

Select the appropriate size piece of MDF.

Use the card template to mark the shape on the MDF.

Check the marking out.

Remember the phrase "Measure twice, cut once." This is a quality check before we do any cutting.

And then place the MDF in a vice and use a coping saw to cut.

When working with timber and manufactured boards, it is important to remove the dust regularly with a vacuum cleaner which has the appropriate filters.

Let's have a check.

How should dust be removed when working with timber and boards? Is it A: with your apron, B: with the tools you are using, or C: with a vacuum cleaner? Pause the video.

Great.

Let's check.

That's right, it's with a vacuum cleaner that must have the appropriate filters.

Task A part one: Research the properties of the possible materials for your product and complete the table below to compile your research.

And part two: Decide upon your chosen material or materials and justify your decision based upon the research you have done in task one and the possible manufacturing processes.

Pause the video.

Fabulous.

Let's have a look at some of the answers you may have come up with.

You might have said that MDF is rigid and stable, cost-effective, smooth, easy to finish surface, very absorbent, so not good in damp or humid places, and the common uses are flat pack furniture and kitchen units.

You may have also investigated plywood and found the properties to be very stable in all directions due to alternate direction layering, and cost effective, and the common uses include furniture, roof construction, flooring, sheds, and building cladding.

Or you may have investigated pine, and the properties of pine include: lightweight, easy to work, straight grain, light yellow in colour, but it does contain knots.

And the common uses are furniture, window frames, and interior joinery.

For part two, Aisha explains, "I have decided that MDF would be the best material for the base of my accessible herb planter.

It is strong enough to hold the support firmly.

I can also make a template to mark out the MDF, which I can then use to mark out the large polymer shelf, ensuring accuracy.

I will need to finish the MDF with a waterproof layer, such as a moisture-resistant sealant, to ensure that it does not get damaged if it comes into contact with water.

Well done.

We now move on to the second learning cycle in this lesson: Manufacturing specification.

A manufacturing specification is a document that contains all of the information needed to manufacture the product.

It is produced after the final design has been decided upon.

It typically includes: a product description, which is a detailed overview of the item being manufactured; materials, which is details and the materials to be used; and dimensions, which is the exact measurements and tolerances.

It typically includes also: processes: details of how parts are manufactured and put together; tools and equipment, which is the machines, tools, and technology needed; quality standards: this includes quality control measures; and health and safety, which is the health and safety considerations whilst manufacturing the product.

Here we have a check.

What is the purpose of a manufacturing specification? Is it A: contains all of the information needed to manufacture the product, B: describes how the product will be marketed to customers, or C: lists only the materials needed without any technical details? Pause the video.

Fantastic.

Let's check.

That's right, it's A: contains all of the information needed to manufacture the product.

The manufacturing specification should include enough detail so that, along with the parts list and working drawing, there is enough information to manufacture the product.

Using the subheadings on the previous pages and bullet points to help to organise your manufacturing specification and make it clear for others to follow.

Aisha has started her manufacturing specification.

Product description: "I am making an accessible herb planter to hold at least four herb plants in pots.

It is designed so that all plants will get sunlight and are easily accessible for watering and picking.

The product has two shelves, one for larger pots and one for smaller pots.

It will sit on the kitchen counter." She's also added the materials section.

"I am going to make the base of my product out of 18 millimetres MDF.

I am also going to use three millimetre acrylic sheet for clear shelves to allow light to pass through." Task B: Write a manufacturing specification for your product.

Use the subheadings below to help guide you.

You may not be able to complete all of the subheadings at this stage, but try to complete as many as you can.

Include: product description, materials, dimensions, processes, tools and equipment, quality standards and health and safety considerations.

Pause the video and have a go.

Well done.

Let's have a look at some of the answers you may have come up with.

Aisha has started her manufacturing specification and here is the information about dimensions.

"My product will be 450 millimetres deep by 400 millimetres wide and 300 millimetres high.

Each shelf will be double layered to allow for the pots to be placed securely.

I have calculated that there will be enough space for three one litre plant pots on the large shelf and two smaller pots on the smaller shelf." She's also included the processes section.

"I plan on using a template to mark out the curved shape of the shelves.

I will use school workshop hand tools such as a coping saw and the pillar drill." Well done.

Here we have a summary of our learning today.

The type of polymer or timber a designer chooses will depend on the intended use or desired outcome.

It is down to the designer to justify their chosen material decisions.

Understanding the properties of a material is important because it helps ensure the final product is suitable for its intended use, as well as being able to choose the correct manufacturing processes.

A manufacturing specification is a document that contains all of the information needed to manufacture the product.

I'm so pleased you could join me here today.

Well done.