Virtual Lathe - Sacred Heart College
Brief
Students were given the task of designing and making a keypad operated safe for a client. They would make the hinges and a knob or handle for the door. Francois expected them to learn the skills of using a centre, parting, drilling, turning and knurling on the lathe. They had to negotiate their own client from the Sacred Heart College staff.
Students were given instruction sheets which guided them step by step through the different stages in the technological process. Their first task was to identify and interview their clients. After obtaining the client's needs and preferences through an interview, they had to write a design brief with specifications. Students were able to use this to work towards Achievement Standard (AS) 90620.
Francois imposed some constraints on the projects, such as the budget - $60 for electronic parts. Materials used had to be those available in the school workshop - mild steel, sheet metal and a range of timbers and plastics. The use of a centre lathe during the manufacturing process was compulsory as was evidence they had used the Virtual Lathe.
Students did most of the research through accessing the internet as well as looking at safes commercially available. Most of the class used Google SketchUp to draw a number of concept ideas and working drawings of their final design. This software proved to be very popular amongst the students due to its ease of use.
