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