OCR A level Design and Technology:
Product design
Q&A
Injection Moulding - answer-Highly accurate, complex shapes, high quality finish. Draw angles,
ejection pin marks, sprue marks, split lines. ABS, polypropylene, polythene, polystyrene.
Rotational Moulding - answer-Hollow, uniform wall thickness, high quality surface finish,
imprinted details such as logos/text. LDPE, polypropylene, nylon.
Vacuum Forming - answer-Thin wall thickness, patterns or textures imprinted, tapered edges,
rounded corners, thinning at corners. ABS, acrylic, polythene, PVC.
Extrusion - answer-Uniform wall thickness, cross section, highly accurate and complex shapes.
Polythene, PVC, polypropylene.
Centre Lathe Turning - answer-Cylindrical products, can be carried out using a variety of metals
and plastics.
Die Casting - answer-High accuracy and quality surface finish, complex shapes, tapered edges,
ejection pin marks, runner marks, split lines. Low melting point alloys I.e. zinc, magnesium,
aluminium.
Sand Casting - answer-Rough in appearance, tapered sides, rounded corners, runner and riser
marks. Low melting point alloys I.e. brass, bronze, cast iron.
Press Forming - answer-Sharp bends, deep draws, flanges, ribs, pierced shapes. Sheet metal
I.e. steels, aluminium.
Piercing & Blanking - answer-Sheared surfaces which show areas of deformation or fracture.
Sheet and strip metal.
Drop Forging - answer-Products which require tensile or compressive force to be used I.e. tools,
cutlery. Most metal alloys.
,Scots Pine - answer-Softwood - straight grained, quite strong, easy to work, white/yellowish
brown colour
Red Pine - answer-Softwood - straight grained, strong and quite easy to work, red/orange colour
Cedar - answer-Softwood - straight grained, very light but durable, quite soft, orangey colour
Oak - answer-Hardwood - hard, tough, heavy, durable, light brown/golden colour
Mahogany - answer-Hardwood - medium weight, quite strong, easy to work, durable, warps
easily, red/brown colour
Ash - answer-Hardwood - flexible, tough, bends well, varnishes well, light in colour
Beech - answer-Hardwood - hard, tough, strong, tends to warp but bends well, mid-brown
colour
Teak - answer-Hardwood - coarse, uneven texture, oily, straight or wavy grain, expensive,
golden to dark brown colour
MDF - answer-Manufactured Board - high strength, easily machined, shapes and paints well.
Tightly compressed wood fibres.
Plywood - answer-Manufactured Board - very strong, stable and easy to work/machine. Thin
sheets glued together; grain of each layer goes in a different direction
Blockboard - answer-Manufactured Board - very strong, heavy, rigid, good load bearing
capabilities. Parallel strips of timber with veneer glued either side; grains running crosswise
, Chipboard - answer-Manufactured Board - heavy, strength dependent on density of wood chips.
Wood chips mixed with bonding mixture and compressed
Acrylic - answer-Thermoplastic - stiff, hard, durable, scratches easily, brittle. Can be made
opaque, transparent or translucent. Good substitute for glass.
ABS - answer-Thermoplastic - strong, light, durable, scratch resistant, chemical resistant. Toys,
kitchenware, plastic furniture, crash helmets.
LDPE (low density polyethylene) - answer-Thermoplastic - soft, flexible, good electrical
insulator. Bags, plastic bottles, cable covers.
HDPE (High density polyethylene) - answer-Thermoplastic - durable, tough, chemical resistant.
Wheelie bins, buckets, bowls, detergent bottles.
Nylon - answer-Thermoplastic - very hard wearing, durable, rigid. Gears, ropes, bearings,
clothing, upholstery.
Polystyrene - answer-Thermoplastic - light, stiff, water resistant. Food packaging, containers,
games/DVD cases.
Polypropylene - answer-Thermoplastic - light, rigid, chemical resistant. Films, medical
equipment, ropes, kitchenware.
Melamine Formaldehyde - answer-Thermosetting Plastic - waterproof, resistant to some
chemicals, hard wearing, scratch resistant. Laminated worktops, tableware, buttons, electrical
insulation.
Urea Formaldehyde - answer-Thermosetting Plastic - good adhesive qualities, stiff, strong, hard,
brittle, good electrical insulator. Electrical fittings I.e. sockets, plug casings, door handles,
adhesives.
Product design
Q&A
Injection Moulding - answer-Highly accurate, complex shapes, high quality finish. Draw angles,
ejection pin marks, sprue marks, split lines. ABS, polypropylene, polythene, polystyrene.
Rotational Moulding - answer-Hollow, uniform wall thickness, high quality surface finish,
imprinted details such as logos/text. LDPE, polypropylene, nylon.
Vacuum Forming - answer-Thin wall thickness, patterns or textures imprinted, tapered edges,
rounded corners, thinning at corners. ABS, acrylic, polythene, PVC.
Extrusion - answer-Uniform wall thickness, cross section, highly accurate and complex shapes.
Polythene, PVC, polypropylene.
Centre Lathe Turning - answer-Cylindrical products, can be carried out using a variety of metals
and plastics.
Die Casting - answer-High accuracy and quality surface finish, complex shapes, tapered edges,
ejection pin marks, runner marks, split lines. Low melting point alloys I.e. zinc, magnesium,
aluminium.
Sand Casting - answer-Rough in appearance, tapered sides, rounded corners, runner and riser
marks. Low melting point alloys I.e. brass, bronze, cast iron.
Press Forming - answer-Sharp bends, deep draws, flanges, ribs, pierced shapes. Sheet metal
I.e. steels, aluminium.
Piercing & Blanking - answer-Sheared surfaces which show areas of deformation or fracture.
Sheet and strip metal.
Drop Forging - answer-Products which require tensile or compressive force to be used I.e. tools,
cutlery. Most metal alloys.
,Scots Pine - answer-Softwood - straight grained, quite strong, easy to work, white/yellowish
brown colour
Red Pine - answer-Softwood - straight grained, strong and quite easy to work, red/orange colour
Cedar - answer-Softwood - straight grained, very light but durable, quite soft, orangey colour
Oak - answer-Hardwood - hard, tough, heavy, durable, light brown/golden colour
Mahogany - answer-Hardwood - medium weight, quite strong, easy to work, durable, warps
easily, red/brown colour
Ash - answer-Hardwood - flexible, tough, bends well, varnishes well, light in colour
Beech - answer-Hardwood - hard, tough, strong, tends to warp but bends well, mid-brown
colour
Teak - answer-Hardwood - coarse, uneven texture, oily, straight or wavy grain, expensive,
golden to dark brown colour
MDF - answer-Manufactured Board - high strength, easily machined, shapes and paints well.
Tightly compressed wood fibres.
Plywood - answer-Manufactured Board - very strong, stable and easy to work/machine. Thin
sheets glued together; grain of each layer goes in a different direction
Blockboard - answer-Manufactured Board - very strong, heavy, rigid, good load bearing
capabilities. Parallel strips of timber with veneer glued either side; grains running crosswise
, Chipboard - answer-Manufactured Board - heavy, strength dependent on density of wood chips.
Wood chips mixed with bonding mixture and compressed
Acrylic - answer-Thermoplastic - stiff, hard, durable, scratches easily, brittle. Can be made
opaque, transparent or translucent. Good substitute for glass.
ABS - answer-Thermoplastic - strong, light, durable, scratch resistant, chemical resistant. Toys,
kitchenware, plastic furniture, crash helmets.
LDPE (low density polyethylene) - answer-Thermoplastic - soft, flexible, good electrical
insulator. Bags, plastic bottles, cable covers.
HDPE (High density polyethylene) - answer-Thermoplastic - durable, tough, chemical resistant.
Wheelie bins, buckets, bowls, detergent bottles.
Nylon - answer-Thermoplastic - very hard wearing, durable, rigid. Gears, ropes, bearings,
clothing, upholstery.
Polystyrene - answer-Thermoplastic - light, stiff, water resistant. Food packaging, containers,
games/DVD cases.
Polypropylene - answer-Thermoplastic - light, rigid, chemical resistant. Films, medical
equipment, ropes, kitchenware.
Melamine Formaldehyde - answer-Thermosetting Plastic - waterproof, resistant to some
chemicals, hard wearing, scratch resistant. Laminated worktops, tableware, buttons, electrical
insulation.
Urea Formaldehyde - answer-Thermosetting Plastic - good adhesive qualities, stiff, strong, hard,
brittle, good electrical insulator. Electrical fittings I.e. sockets, plug casings, door handles,
adhesives.
