Trialling of Materials and Production

How many marks is this bit worth? 4
How many pages should it occupy? Maximum 3

In the development stage you will work out exactly how you are going to progress from an idea on paper to something that actually exists. As a result of testing and trialling you will select materials, components and manufacturing methods, giving reasons for your choice.

You should use this section as an opportunity to carry out tests on materials and components.

Example 1: Your specification states that the finished product may come into contact with cosmetics and detergents. Take a sample of the proposed material, drop various cosmetics and detergents on it and write down your observations.

Example 2: Your specification states that the finished product should be weather resistant. Take a sample or samples of different materials and devise a test that simulates the product being exposed to a range of weather conditions.

Example 3: Your specification states that the finished product should be resistant to wear. Take a sample or samples of different materials and devise a test that produces the effects of wear over a short period of time.

You should also experiment with different methods of construction to work out which one is going to give you the required blend of ease, strength and appearance. Again, your teacher will provide you with some scrap materials and the equipment that you might require, and allow you to practice. None of this work will be worth any marks unless the evidence is recorded in your design folder.

Your design folder should include:

Evidence, including photographs, of test rigs and trial methods
Written analysis, based on testing, of the materials and components that you are going to use
Information on the likely cost of the materials and components used on your product and how these are likely to change for batch production.