Inspiration from within

Pyrography

Sometimes you get get inspired by the materials you work with. Students here use Pyrography to embellish wood projects, but we came across this piece while researching this topic and it truly inspired us. So we decided to give it a try and I think we made a pretty good job of it if I don't mind saying. Here it is below.

5th Year Technology

Click Together Picture Frame

5th year students designed and produced a picture frame which clicks together like flat pack furniture. After some thought and careful analysis they produced some really nice pieces.

1st Year Technology

Yo-Yo's

Continuing with the great success of last year and the enjoyment the students had in making yo-yo's we decided to do them again.

1st year students enjoing their Technology taster session

Back to school

Summer is officially over!

Its been a lovely summer break, but we're back starting a new school term with lots of enthusiasm for the year ahead. It's great to see a new bunch of 1st year students coming into the school and like always they start sampling technology for the first time. We'll catch up with them in a few weeks to see how they are getting on. But for now here's a little something technology related.

4th Year Technology

CNC Puzzle

This is a chance for 4th year technology students to present some of their work. Designing and making an interlocking puzzle using 2D shapes was the challenge students have been working on recently. Their end products were designed using CAD software and processed using the CNC router as shown below.

Villiers Sumo Robots 2015

Irish Sumo Robot Championships 2015

 

 

LC Technology

Irish Mini Sumo Robotic Championship

A great day was had at the Irish Mini Sumo Robotic Championships held in Galway last Friday, May 1st. Over 400 students and 109 robots took part in the competition which sees it going from strenght to strenght and tougher each year. Having already designed, manufactured and programmed each robot, the Villiers teams were confident going into the competition that their robots would perform very well, and they did.  Five teams brought their robots and three successfully made it to the quaterfinals, while one (The Black Mamba team: Conor Ryan and Patrick Higgins) went on to battle it out in the semifinal. It was tense and nailbiting stuff but unfortunately we were beaten by the robot that went on to win the final and clench the title for 2015. Congratulations to all the students on doing very well and coming so close. We will be back next year for a bite at the cherry again, who knows!!

Junior Technology

Desktop Lamps

The Task: 'To design and make a compact and modern desktop Lamp. Research should inform a unique design for a Desktop Lamp inspired by a theme, using bent acrylic and a wooden base'.

Students began by researching various themes for inspiration and having analysed lamp design, a lot of students chose elements of nature in their designs. They played around with various shapes for their base and stands as they developed their ideas. Some were very creative in their designs but others decided that contemporary was the way to go. They all did a great job nonetheless.

LC Technology

Sumo Robots

Its coming around to that time of year again when 5th year students look forward to battling it out in the Irish National Mini-Sumo Robot competition. Having researched mini sumo robot design and analysed past student's robots, the students began in teams of 2 designing and making their robots with the hope of winning this years competition. A lot of factors are considered and lots of interesting ideas emerged from the students in how they could gain the smallest advantage: sensor blockers, electro-magnets and sticky wheels but to name a few. Due to competition restrictions on design and components used, the key however in past competitions seems to ultimately be the micro-controllers programme. Lets see if they can do one better this year.

TY Technology

MP3 Speaker

Transition year students have been busy working over the last number of weeks on their speaker projects. They learnt many of the key skills, i.e circuit population, vacuum forming and processing HIP plastic along with finishing of their speaker casing with custom vinyl stickers. They all produced some wonderful projects. Below are some of the key stages involved and a few of the finished speaker projects.

LC Technology

Runaway Alarm Clock

Students always seem to come up with great ideas that make you smile. When a student asked me could he make an alarm clock that would 'runaway' when the alarm activates I was truly inspired. Integrating an alarm clock with a microcontroller was the way forward but certain challenges were faced on the way. We were able to reuse an old clock radio and use the alarm speaker as an input on the microcontrol board (Genie E18) to make the motors function. The student gained inspiration for his design from a landrover but with caterpillar tracks. The body was vacuum formed which allowed for the components to be housed inside the vehicle. A digital sensor was placed on the front to detect obstacles in its path. Check out the video below.

1st Year Technology

Bridge Project

After settling in and learning about structures, our first year students set about designing and making a lightweight bridge. There were certain criteria however they had to design within. It had to span 600mm, be capable of sustaining a mass of 5kg and be made only from 6 one meter lengths of MDF, 6mm square in section. After great effort and excitement the bridge construction got under way and were tested to their limits. Two teams came out on top both capable of holding 14kg. Well done to all!

Bridge Design and Construction

Finished Bridges

Testing