LC DCG

An interesting problem solved in SolidWorks

Every day students ask interesting questions and sometimes even pose problems which take a bit of time to solve. So when a DCG student wanted to draw a tapered helical spiral and google wasn't throwing up any help, a lot of heads started banging together and eventually a solution was found. Instead of using the traditional sweep feature to extrude a circle along a helical spiral which would result in the same diameter spiral Fig 1, a loft between varying diameter circle profiles using the centre line profile of a helical spiral was the solution Fig 2 & 3.

Fig 1 

 Fig 2

Fig 3

4th Year Technology

MP3 Speaker

Transition year students have been busy making an MP3 audio speaker for the last couple of weeks. This project is based on the audio amplifier PCB which was sourced from Rapid Electronics. Students helped design the casing for the speaker using the CNC and production began from there. Its a great little project which gives the students a taste of all aspects of technology from vacumn forming acrylic and finishing to populating PCB's. All stages of manufacture are shown below.

Et Voila!!

2nd Year Technology

Power Boat Project

Second year technology students are currently designing and making a power boat. This is a great little project and the students are being very creative in their designs. It allows the students to work with foams and plastics while integrating a very simple circuit using a small standard dc motor to power their boats. Now that the the designs are in let the fun begin...

Sample Student Designs

1st Yr Technical Graphics

Perspective Exercises

During the sampling session of Technical Graphics first year students excelled in their understanding and creative use of perspective. Some of their work is shown below.

5th Year Technology

Picture Frame CNC Project

 

5th year technology students were given the design task of designing and making a flat pack, slot together picture frame made from acrylic plastic. Another challenge facing them was that it had to be manufactured by CNC.

 

Having done a couple of weeks with 2D CAD drawing, students were able to draw their designs while gaining an understanding of the parameters with which the CNC machine operates; machine plans, selection of tooling and paths, feed speeds and rates and machine limits. Below are the stages involved.



 

CAD drawing and machining plans

CNC machining of acrylic 

Machined picture frame parts 

Selecton of students finished picture frames 

Welcome Back

Its that time of year again and we're back to school. There's lots of smiling determined students ready to take on the challenges of the year ahead. Already there is so much happening in the school and especially in the Technology department.
6th year DCG students received their Leaving Certificate assignments at the start of September and are making good steady progress. LC technology students are undertaking a project involving the design and manufacture of a picture frame using CAD and CNC machine. Transition years are making a speaker for their mp3 players. 1st years are engaging with technology and making yoyo's as part of their sampling of technology subjects while the normal schedule of classes run on.
We'll be back following and posting on the above activites in the weeks ahead. No doubt there will be lots more going on. That all for now.

End of Term

It has been a very busy year with lots of new and exciting projects been undertaken by students. Undoubtedly the highlight being the sumo robot competition http://technologyvilliers.blogspot.ie/2013/04/lc-technology.html. Hopefully next term will be as fun and challenging for all here in the technology department in Villiers School. Summer time is upon us again so the last post of the term only leaves me to wish all the students best of luck in their Junior and Leaving Certificate exams and enjoy your holidays. See you all here back in September.

 

5th yr DCG

Game Controllers

Towards the end of term students are given assignments which help prepare them for the project work that is part of their Leaving Certificate. Based on the LC assignment of 2010 students were given the following task.

There have been many changes to handheld electronic game controllers over the last thirty years. These developments consist of changes to shape and form as well the addition of new features. Such features include cordless technology, integral speakers, inbuilt screen and console, etc.

Carry out a design investigation of the physical form and features of handheld game controllers to include their development since the late 1970’s.

Using the following format, students presented their assignments as shown below.

Page 1: Introduction to topic including (historical) development of item to present day, key features of item with specific reference to shape and form in its design. Reflect personally on this with photos, pictures, sketches etc.

Page 2: Choose two designs, one modern and old. List features/specifications and sketch outlines (pictorials/orthographic views) with key dimensions

Page 3: Graphically compare and contrast three main features of the previous two designs with sketches, render/shade as appropriate and add main dimensions.

Page 4: Freehand drawing of modern design

Page 5 & 6:Solidworks modeled views and orthographic drawing (2pgs)

Student Solutions

 

2nd Year Technology

Cars - The movie

2nd Year Technology

Cars Cars and more Cars !!!

With lots going on in each year group, its with due accord that the next post looks at what the 2nd year technology class has been getting up to. Designing and making cars is a regular favourite with 2nd year students. No doubt each student will enthusiastically attest that their design, based on a combination of pulley mechanism and Doble Pole Double Throw switch, is by far the best designed and fastest car of them all. Let the race begin....

 

1st Year Desktop Lamp

The Lamp Update !!!

After all their hard work and a belated post regarding how the students got on, we can finally reveal their finished lamps. Good work guys.

LC Technology

Villier's Sumo Roboteers

Congratulations to all the 5th year technology students who took part in the inaugural Irish Mini Sumo Robot Tournament which was recently held in Galway. Thirty two teams from all over Ireland took part and battled it out to capture the bragging rights to be recognised as the best Mini Sumo Robot in Ireland. Considering all the programming difficulties and last minute adjustments to the robots, it was a great achievement by everyone who took part especially those who reached the finals of the competition. Special congratulations to Jonathan Powell, Kerrie Ahern and Niamh Kennedy in reaching the semi-final and final of the competition respectively.

 

Roboteers: Prince Bossman, Senan Moore, Paul Byrne, Niamh Kennedy, Kerrie Ahern, Javier Gil, Giorgio Hartmann, Niall Poff, Evan Kennedy, Conor Grace, Jonathan Powel and Pablo Llovet.

 



 

JC Technology

Picaxe 8 Pin Proto Board Wiring Diagram (8m2 chip)

A lot of confusion exists for students when wiring this project board.  Of course it can be configured for numerous input/output options but generally I advise Junior Certificate students to set them as explained in the diagram below. It allows for a good range of output options specifically suited for their JC projects.

5th DCG

Sketching Exercises

Students never fail to impress in demonstrating natural and attained skills in the art of freehand sketching. Learning this lifelong skill helps students in communicating their ideas while reflecting on geometry which exists in everyday items.

5th Year DCG

Freehand Sketching

5th Year Design and Communication Graphic students practise their freehand sketching. Presentation, colouring, shading and reference to geometry in design are the main focus of this exercise.

1st Year Technology

Designing and Making a Desktop Lamp

Having designed their lamps, students use a mixture of materials, acrylic plastic and wood to bring life to their ideas.

Sumo Wrestling Takes On Robots

Mini-Sumo Robot Challenge

5th year students at work designing and making mini-sumo robots which will take part in the inaugural Irish Junior Mini-Sumo Robot Tournament. This will take place in Galway on the 19th of April.

5th Year Construction Studies

Project Time for 5th Years

Students enjoy taking a break from theory to work on their practical projects. Favourite types of projects include tables, lamps and clocks. These projects and the practical skills involved in creating such master pieces help develop the necessary skills required to undertake the leaving cert project in 6th year.

 

The Maestro

Introducing Mr Jones

1st year students listening to the wisdom of Mr Jones as they undertake to design their next project: A Desktop Lamp.

The Bridge - 1st Year Technology Project

The Design Brief !!!

Design and make a bridge which must span 700mm between supports. The width must not exceed 100mm. It must be capable of supporting a minimum 1kg load in the middle of the bridge and be made from seven pieces of 6mm x 6mm section MDF (medium density fibreboard).

 

How They Got On!!

The Finished Bridges 

Competition Time !!!