Design Technology Gallery

Ben Claxton & James Smith 8M

Automatons

Form 8 have been making automatons and exploring mechanical movement. James Smith has made a superb project using cams to move a wriggling caterpillar shape. Ben Claxton has made a helicopter and the blade moves using rotary movement. These projects are based on video, DVD and internet ideas. Both made really good mechanisms and have produced some really high calibre work. Very visual solutions to the design brief!

Jonathan Reading 8R

Wooden Bowl

Bowl turned on a lathe during activities. The bowl was turned from a blank of English Chestnut into a beautiful product. This involved a high level of psychomotor skills and commitment. The finished bowl was a very high calibre piece of work.

An outstanding piece of work for a year 8 pupil!

Ed Capps 7T

Lunar Buggy

Lunar Buggy made from cannibalised scrap over the summer holidays. The buggy is powered by a motor cycle battery driving an old golf cart motor and, the chassis is built from old kitchen units. Ed has wired up the motor to a switch using a simple wiring harness and he has also designed and built a simple steering mechanism. The buggy can be used indoors and outdoors. It’s a great achievement and goes slowly but, really well. To the rear of the chassis is an integral tool box carrying a basic tool kit and one essential item a battery charger.

Alexander Fomin 8R

Robot

Alexander was given a pile of IT components from an office clearance. He decided to be creative and convert the parts into a free standing robotic form. Using his arc welding skills developed from a previous project he joined up the body form. A simple circuit was integrated and flashing lights installed. The project has created a lot of interest in school. The whole creation is very visual, it looks really good. A fun project! Well done.

Emil Almazov 7L

Solar Energy

Form 7 have been looking at Solar Energy and had to create a 3D moving picture. Emil decided to make a racing car with the back wheel moving. He used high impact polystyrene for the car, polyethylene wheels and foam board for the base and back board. The moving rear wheel was directly mounted onto the output shaft of the motor using a reduction sleeve and the solar cell attached using velco. A fun and visual project!

Freddie Geffen 4G

Swamp Buggy

Freddie designed and made a swamp buggy out of balsa wood. Templates were made for the hull profiles. A motor, switched battery pack and large propeller provide the power. The hull was varnished with yacht varnish. It has been tested in a swimming pool! It flies along! Freddie now fancies a trip to the Miami Everglades to go on a real one. A very well made project.

Harry Moore 8M

Table

Harry has produced a really well made small table. The table was made out of pine. The main frame was assembled using cascamite glue and dowel peg joints. It was finished with a two tone finish, paint and varnish. This project was made during DT activity time. Harry aims to use the table in the hall way of his home. The structure is really strong and stable. A really useful project! Looks great, well done.

James Kendall 7D

Sledge

James has produced a really fast sledge in DT activities. The runners are old skis purchased from a local charity shop. Great recycling! The main frame is made from ply wood and pine glued and screwed together. This was then varnished with yacht varnish. To increase speed the runners can be waxed using ski wax. The design is well proven and works on all types of snow. With snow already around this year James sledge could have a lot of use and give hours of fun!

Jonathan Stocks 6H

CD Holder

Form 6 have been looking into industrial processes using vacuum forming and thermo plastics. A plug was placed into the vacuum former, coloured thermo plastic sheet placed under the heating element and the vacuum pump activated. A CD rack comes out! The boys then had to create a 3D structure to hold it all together. Jonathan used high impact polystyrene and MDF to create his racing car holder. A bright, creative and imaginative solution was created.

Andrew Slater 5H

3D Buzzer Project

Form 5 have been looking at electrical circuits and different types of switches. Pupils had to create a 3D picture with pupil made switches integrated into their work. Andrew selected a pressure switch built into a gardening, forestry theme. Wood is being chopped, the axe slips and cuts the fingers. A loud buzzer then goes off! All of the wiring is concealed behind the gardener. A very visual well developed and presented project.