Metal manufacturing techniques
A collection of resources curated for GCSE Design and Technology, to support the teaching of metal manufacturing techniques.
Why cast it?
In this activity, on outline is given of the casting process and the reasons why it is used to make products. Learners then carry out a practical activity to reinforce their understanding of why casting is used to manufacture some products rather than subtractive (wasting processes). This activity involves the use of moulding materials to simulate manufacture using two process types, for comparison: a moulding/casting process and manual wasting.
Manufacturing
Produced by the Technology Enhancement Programme (TEP), these images are useful for adding to documents, presentations or for use with an interactive whiteboard. Mainly simple line drawings, they can be cut and pasted into documents and image processing applications.
The images in this resource are related to the topic of manufacturing and include:
• Axe moulds
• Axle
• Blow mould
• Bottle mould
• Carton
• Casting
• Chuck
• Extrusion moulding
• Compression moulding
• Lathe
• Metal presses
• Injection moulding
• Rivet
• Rollers
• Stamp
• Vacuum forming
Aluminium
A Catalyst article about aluminium, a shiny silvery metal, which is extracted from its ore by electrolysis. Further addition of other metallic elements results in an alloy, which can be cast into various shapes using moulds. The article looks at the processes of extraction, casting, patterns, moulds and finishing.
Automated machines at Brompton
This film looks at why automated machines, such as a CNC machine, are used in the production of Brompton bicycles. The need for space has resulted in the manufacture of some parts being sub-contracted, which can create quality control issues.
