Lesson video

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

Our lesson today is "Materials and manufacturing processes: textiles," 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.

There are five key words: Justify.

The reason or explanation for why something is done or believed to be right.

Manufacturing specification.

A detailed document that outlines requirements to produce a product.

Working property.

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

Mechanical properties.

Physical property.

The characteristics of a material such as appearance and features.

Manufacture.

The process of making products from raw materials, using machines or labour.

In this lesson, we have two learning cycles.

The first is selecting textiles, followed by manufacturing specification.

Let's begin.

Textiles are used in a variety of different ways such as storage, clothing, and soft furnishings, such as curtains and cushions.

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

Textiles can be from natural sources such as cotton or are synthetic, such as polyester, which is manufactured from crude oil.

Combining two or more different textiles fibres is called blending.

Many modern textiles include blended fibres as they then have the properties of each fibre.

Common blend examples are wool and acrylic or polyester and cotton.

There are several benefits of blending fibres, improving aesthetics, reducing cost, improving functionality such as making the fabric stronger or more crease resistant.

Let's have a check.

What are the advantages of using blended fibre textiles? Is it A, brighter colours? B, smoother texture? C, increased strength or D, reduced cost? Pause the video and have a go.

Wonderful, let's check.

That's right, it's both C and D.

The advantages include increased strength and reduced cost.

Well done.

The type of textiles 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 decisions.

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

The manufacturer 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.

Let's have a check.

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

Great, let's check.

That's right, it's B, the characteristics of a material such as appearance and features.

Well done.

Sofia needs to decide what textiles would be most suitable for making her accessible herb planter.

She has decided to use a synthetic fabric as opposed to natural and can justify her decision.

I have decided to use a synthetic fabric instead of a natural fabric.

The fabric pockets on my design need to hold plants in soil, which will need to be watered.

Therefore, my fabric needs to be waterproof.

I think there are more waterproof synthetic fabrics to choose from.

Sofia has narrowed her decision down to three types of synthetic fabrics I must now look at the properties of those to make and justify her decision of which ones to use.

The first is ripstop nylon.

The second is a polyester mesh, and the third is a PVC.

Sofia has researched the properties of the three materials.

Ripstop nylon has the properties.

It's a durable fabric, resistant to tearing and creasing, waterproof, lightweight, strong, easy to work with, and noisy when moving.

And the common uses include tents, outdoor covers, sails on boats, backpacks, and clothing.

The properties of the polyester mesh include easy to work, durable to wear and tear, chemicals and mould and hydrophobic, which means to repel water.

And the common uses include protective sports netting such as cricket nets, hospital cubicle curtains, cargo nets in aircraft, and high visibility tabards.

The properties of the PVC include, it can be printed on, it is strong and durable, it is available in both rigid and flexible forms, it is heat resistant and has a smooth, easy to clean surface.

And the common uses include tablecloths, aprons, shower curtains, outdoor covers, and gazebos.

Sofia says, "I have decided that ripstop nylon would be the best material for me to use for my accessible herb planter.

It is strong enough to support my herb plants, but lightweight enough to be easily moved around when cleaning.

It is also easy to work and available in many different colours." Let's have a check.

Which material is easy to work, durable to wear and tear, chemicals and mould and hydrophobic, which means to repel water? Pause the video and have a go.

Fantastic, let's check.

That's right, it's the polyester mesh.

Well done.

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

One way Sofia could manufacture her product would be to use pattern pieces to mark out and cut the fabric and then fabricate using a sewing machine.

Sofia says, "If I use pattern pieces to mark out the pocket shape and seam allowance, I can reuse them to repeat the pocket accurately." To create the pockets of her design, Sofia makes a paper pattern piece.

Pattern pieces and templates are useful when creating complex shapes or repeated items. They can be reused, which saves time marking out and ensures accuracy.

On the left, we can see here Sofia's design with the pockets holding different plants, and on the right, we can see Sofia's paper pattern piece for the fabric pockets.

Paper for pattern pieces is very thin, very similar to tracing paper, so it can be folded neatly, opened up and pinned easily to fabric.

You can also see around the edge of this particular pattern that there is a seam allowance marked with a dashed line.

The steps to create a fabric pocket: Source the ripstop nylon and pattern paper.

Mark out the pattern pieces for the pocket, including seam allowance on the pattern paper.

Check the paper pattern pieces for accuracy.

Cut the paper pattern pieces.

Pin the pattern piece to the ripstop nylon.

Cut the pocket, pin the pocket fabric the wrong way round and straight stitch using a sewing machine.

Tie off the loose ends and turn the pocket the correct way round.

When working with sewing machines, scissors, pins, and needles, it is important to follow the health and safety procedures.

Let's have a check.

What are the advantages of using paper pattern pieces? Is it A, saves time, B takes time, C, increased accuracy or D, decreased accuracy? Pause the video.

Brilliant, let's check.

That's right, it's both A and C.

It saves time and increases accuracy.

Well done.

Task A, research the properties of the possible materials for your product.

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 possible manufacturing processes.

Pause the video.

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

You might have said, ripstop nylon and the properties are durable fabric, resistant to tearing and creasing, waterproof, lightweight, strong, easy to work with, noisy when moved.

And the common uses include tents, outdoor covers, sails on boats, backpacks, and clothing.

You may have also included polyester mesh, which is easy to work, durable to wear and tear, chemicals and mould, and is also hydrophobic, which means to repel water.

This is used for protective sports netting, hospital cubicle curtains, cargo nets in aircraft, and high visibility tabards.

You could have also included PVC, which has the properties it can be printed on, it is strong and durable, available in both rigid and flexible forms, is heat resistant and has a smooth, easy to clean surface.

The common uses include tablecloths, aprons, shower curtains, outdoor covers, and gazebos.

Well done.

And for part two, you may have said something similar to Sofia.

"I have decided that ripstop nylon would be the best material for me to use for my accessible herb planter.

It is strong enough to support my herb plants, but lightweight enough to be easily moved around when cleaning.

It is also easy to work and available in many different colours.

Ripstop nylon is also suitable for machine stitching, and I think this could be a great manufacturing process for me to use." Brilliant.

We now move on to our second learning cycle, which is 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.

The materials, which is details on the materials to be used.

Dimensions, which is the exact measurements and tolerances.

Processes, which is details of how parts are manufactured and put together.

Tools and equipment, which includes machines, tools, and technology needed.

Quality standards, we will consider quality control measures.

Health and safety, the health and safety considerations whilst manufacturing the product.

Let's have a check.

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

Brilliant, let's check.

That's right, it's A, it contains all 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 help to organise your manufacturing specification and make it clear for others to follow.

Sofia has started her manufacturing specification.

Product description.

I am making an accessible herb planter that will hold at least six herb plants.

It is designed so that all of the plants will be easily accessible for watering and picking.

The product has different pockets for the plants to remain accessible.

It will sit on the kitchen counter.

She also wrote about materials.

I'm going to make my product using ripstop nylon for the pockets.

I'm also going to use 18 millimetre MDF and 18 millimetre dowel for the frame.

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.

Pause the video.

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

Sofia tells us about her manufacturing specification, and this subheading is dimensions.

My product will be 300 millimetres in depth, 100 millimetres wide with an overall height of 150 millimetres.

I have calculated that there will be enough space for two one litre plant pots in each pocket.

She also describes the processes.

I plan on using a paper pattern to mark out the pockets.

I will use a sewing machine to fabricate the pockets.

The frame will be made in the school workshop using the fret saw and the pillar drill.

Well done.

Here, we have a summary of our learning today.

The type of textile 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 a 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.

Thank you for joining me for this lesson today, and well done.