KS3 Design & Technology Key Terms & Vocabulary

ACCESSFM

an analysis checklist standing for Aesthetics, Cost, Customer, Environment, Size, Safety, Function and Materials.

Annotations

written notes added to a design drawing that explain features, materials or dimensions of the design.

Anthropometrics

measurements of the human body used to inform design.

Design briefs

usually kept short so that they leave room for creative interpretation by the designer.

Design context

the situation or environment in which a product will be used.

Design process

the sequence of steps used to take a problem through to a finished product.

Design specification

the document that sets out what a product must do and the requirements it must meet.

Working drawings

dimensioned so that the maker knows the exact sizes required to build the product accurately.

Ergonomics

the study of designing products for human use and comfort.

Exploded view

a diagram that shows the separate parts of a product pulled apart but lined up in their correct assembly positions.

Failed prototypes

valuable: reviewing why they failed shows what must be improved, so they should not be discarded without review.

Isometric drawing

a 3D drawing in which the receding lines are drawn at 30° from the horizontal and stay parallel (they do not converge).

Iteration

returning to earlier steps in the design process to refine and improve the design.

Iterative design

to test, refine and repeat, improving the product with each cycle.

One-point perspective

a drawing that uses a single vanishing point to give the impression of depth.

Primary data

information the designer collects first-hand, for example through a survey or interview.

Prototype

a small test version of a product made to try out a design.

Secondary data

existing information that someone else has already collected.

Sketch

a quick freehand drawing used to explore and record design ideas early in the process.

Specification

the list of specific requirements (such as size, cost, materials and function) that a product must meet.

Target market

the specific group of people a product is made for.

User-centred design

designing a product around the needs of the user.

User testing

important because it reveals problems that the designer cannot see for themselves.

CAD lets designers produce fast, accurate drawings that are easy to change and reuse, without redrawing from scratch.

CAD stands for computer-aided design: using computer software to create and edit design drawings.

CAM stands for computer-aided manufacture: using computers to control machines (such as laser cutters or 3D printers) that make a product.

A design journal (design folder) is a written and visual record of a designer's progress, decisions and testing.

The design process begins by identifying a need or problem to solve.

To evaluate a design means to check it against the specification and the needs of the user.

Evaluation can take place at every stage of the design process, not only at the end.

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Acrylic (PMMA)

used for signs and aquariums because it is transparent, weather-resistant and easy to laser-cut.

Alloy

a mixture of two or more metals (or a metal with another element).

Aluminium

used in aircraft because it is light, strong and resists corrosion.

Bioplastics

made from renewable plant sources, not from crude oil.

Brass

an alloy made of copper and zinc.

Copper

a non-ferrous metal commonly used in electrical wiring because it conducts electricity well.

Cotton

a natural fibre obtained from a plant.

Ferrous metal

a metal that contains iron.

Grain

the natural pattern in wood produced by the tree's growth rings.

Hardwood

wood from a deciduous tree (one that loses its leaves).

MDF (medium-density fibreboard)

a manufactured board made from compressed wood fibres glued together.

Melamine

a thermosetting polymer used for hard-wearing kitchen worktops.

Mild steel

a common ferrous metal widely used in construction and general fabrication.

Natural fibre

a fibre that comes from a plant or an animal.

Non-ferrous metal

a metal that does not contain iron.

Non-ferrous metals

generally not strongly attracted to magnets, because they contain no iron.

Oak

a hardwood commonly used for furniture.

PET

a thermoplastic commonly used to make drinks bottles.

Pine

a softwood commonly used in construction.

Plywood

a manufactured board made from layers of veneer glued together with the grain of each layer crossed for strength.

Polymer (plastic)

a long-chain molecule, most commonly made from crude oil.

Polymers

widely used in packaging because they are light, cheap, mouldable and waterproof.

Wood

seasoned (dried) before use to remove moisture so it does not warp.

Smart material

a material whose properties change in response to an input such as heat or light.

Softwood

wood from a coniferous (cone-bearing) tree.

Stainless steel

used for kitchen knives because it resists rust and holds a sharp edge.

Thermoplastic

a polymer that softens when heated and can be reshaped, and can be remelted again.

Varnish

a protective coating used to seal wood against moisture.

Wool

a natural fibre obtained from an animal (sheep).

Manufactured boards such as MDF and plywood are usually cheaper than solid hardwoods.

Showing 30 of 38. Practise the full Materials set →

Compression

a force that pushes or squeezes a material.

Fulcrum

the pivot point that a lever turns around.

I-beam

shaped to be strong against bending while saving material.

Mechanism

a device that changes one type of motion into another.

Microcontroller

a small programmable chip that runs (controls) an electronic system.

Moment

a turning force acting around a pivot.

Reciprocating motion

movement back and forth in a straight line.

Resistor

used in series with an LED to limit the current so the LED does not burn out.

Rotary motion

movement spinning around a central point.

Shear

the force that pushes one part of a material across another.

Structure

something built to support a load.

Strut

a structural member that is in compression.

Tension

a force that pulls or stretches a material.

Thermistor

a component whose resistance changes with temperature.

Tie

a structural member that is in tension.

Torsion

the force that twists an object.

Triangles

used in bridge and frame structures because the triangle is a rigid shape that resists deformation.

A cam converts rotary motion into reciprocating (up-and-down) motion.

A first-class lever has the fulcrum between the effort and the load (for example a seesaw).

The four types of motion are linear, rotary, reciprocating and oscillating.

Frame structures (such as scaffolding) are lighter than shell structures of the same size.

A fuse protects a circuit by breaking (blowing) the connection when the current gets too high.

A gear train transfers rotary motion and changes its speed (and the force it provides).

An input component senses or supplies a signal to the system — for example a push switch or a sensor.

LDR stands for light-dependent resistor — a sensor whose resistance changes with light level.

An LED only conducts and lights when current flows the correct way through it; it does not work the same in both directions.

Linkages can change the direction and the type of motion in a mechanism.

The micro:bit is a common educational microcontroller board used in UK schools.

An output component produces an effect — for example an LED, a buzzer or a motor.

A pulley system uses a belt running between two wheels of different sizes to transfer rotary motion; a chain does the same job using toothed sprockets.

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Casting

pouring liquid (molten) metal into a mould, where it cools and solidifies into shape.

Clamp

a temporary fastener that holds parts together during assembly (for example while glue sets).

Running between benches

unsafe in a workshop; you should always walk and watch where you are going.

One-off (job) production

making a single item, such as a prototype or bespoke product.

PVA glue

the sticky liquid adhesive commonly used to join wood permanently.

Risk assessment

thinking ahead about the dangers of an activity and how to control them before starting.

Wood

sanded before finishing to smooth the surface so paint or varnish goes on evenly.

3D printing is an additive manufacturing process that builds a part layer by layer, usually from plastic.

Batch production makes a set number of identical items as a group, not a single bespoke one-off.

CNC (computer numerical control) machining uses computer instructions to control the cutting tools.

A coping saw is best for cutting curves in thin wood or plastic because its thin blade can turn.

Powered workshop machinery should have an emergency stop button that instantly cuts the power.

Safety goggles should be worn when using machinery or cutting tools, to protect the eyes from flying debris.

Injection moulding forces molten polymer under pressure into a metal mould, where it cools and sets to shape.

Lacquer and varnish protect a finished surface and resist water.

In schools a laser cutter is used to cut and engrave materials such as wood, acrylic and card.

Line bending heats acrylic sheet along a single line so it can be folded to a clean angle along that line.

Guards fitted over the moving parts of workshop machinery must be kept in place while the machine is running, to keep hands and clothing away from dangerous parts.

Mass production lowers the unit cost because the fixed setup costs are spread across a very large number of products.

A mortise and tenon is a strong wood joint, where a projecting tenon fits into a matching slot (mortise).

A plane removes thin shavings of wood to smooth and flatten a surface.

PPE stands for personal protective equipment — items such as goggles, gloves and aprons worn to protect the user.

Damaged or faulty tools and machines must be reported to the teacher and not used until they have been repaired.

Soldering and brazing join metal permanently by melting a filler metal that flows into the joint and sets.

A tenon saw is used for accurate straight cuts in wood; its stiff back keeps the blade rigid.

Long hair should be tied back when using machinery so it cannot be caught in moving parts.

Vacuum forming heats a thermoplastic sheet until soft, then sucks it down over a mould so it takes the mould's shape.

Welding joins metals by melting them together using high heat so they fuse.

Bauhaus

a German design school (1919–1933) that championed simple, functional design with very little decoration.

Carbon footprint

the total amount of CO₂ (and other greenhouse gases) a product is responsible for.

Sourcing materials locally

more sustainable because it cuts transport emissions.

3D printing (additive manufacturing) builds an object by adding material layer by layer from a digital model, with little waste.

Automation and robotics use machines to carry out repetitive manufacturing tasks quickly, accurately and consistently.

Untreated natural materials such as wood and cardboard are among the most biodegradable, unlike plastics, acrylic or steel.

CAD/CAM links computer-aided design (CAD) directly to computer-aided manufacture (CAM), so a digital design can drive a computer-controlled machine.

Designing products so they can be repaired extends their life and reduces waste.

James Dyson built thousands of prototypes (around 5,127) before his bagless cyclone vacuum cleaner worked — a famous example of iterative design.

Charles and Ray Eames are best known for their moulded plywood furniture, including the Eames Lounge Chair.

Wood from responsibly managed forests carries the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification mark.

A life cycle assessment looks at a product's environmental impact from raw material extraction all the way to disposal.

William Morris led the Arts & Crafts movement, which valued traditional hand-craftsmanship and natural, patterned designs over mass-produced machine goods.

To "reduce" means to use less material or energy in the first place.

The 6 Rs of sustainability are Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refuse, Repair and Rethink.

A smart material reacts to a change in its environment (such as heat or light) and returns to its original state when the stimulus is removed.