SQA / QS Higher
Higher Design & Manufacture revision
Revision notes, key terms, practice questions and worksheets for every SQA / QS Higher Design & Manufacture topic: design, materials, manufacturing processes, commercial manufacture and the impact of design. Choose a topic.
Design
- Briefs, research & evaluationA brief outlines the main objectives of the task and identifies important constraints.
- SpecificationsA list of everything the product must do, be and have. It sets clear boundaries for the designer…
- Idea generation & developmentGenerating a range of original ideas is hard. Techniques give a starting point, help overcome…
- ModellingModels are used through the whole design process to:
- GraphicsSketches are the quickest way to communicate design work. The type and quality of graphic depends…
- Function & performanceFunction is what a product has to do. Features such as controls, handles and grips are included to…
- Safety & ergonomicsImproving the interaction between people and products so they are safe, comfortable and easy to use.
- Market & aestheticsThe group of people a product is aimed at (age, gender, income, lifestyle). It influences function…
- People who influence designGood communication between members (meetings, shared CAD files, reports) prevents costly mistakes.
- Intellectual propertyIntellectual property is anything that results from creative work. Protection gives legal rights…
Materials & manufacture
- Woods & manufactured boardsSoftwoods come from coniferous trees (needles, evergreen). Grow quickly, often plantation grown and…
- MetalsFerrous: contain iron, attracted to magnets (except stainless steel), rust unless protected.
- Plastics, composites & elastomersThermoplastics: soften when heated and can be reshaped repeatedly ("plastic memory"). Recyclable.
- Joining, assembly & finishingFrame joints: mortise and tenon (strong; tables, chairs, frames), bridle (strong corner joint for…
- Commercial processesFour of the processes in the table above, step by step.
- Manufacturing featuresSplit lines: where two halves of a mould meet.
- CAD/CAM, laser cutting & 3D printingA product is modelled on computer (CAD) then manufactured by computer-controlled machines (CAM)…
- Production systems & planningChoosing a system (Higher): expected demand and sales, unit cost, investment in tooling and…