Year 9

Technology Studies

Wooden Mechanical Toy Design Folio

Name: ___________________ Class Group: __________
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Design Brief:
Design and construct a wooden mechanical toy. Your toy must include at least 2
mechanisms. (1 Cam and 1 Friction Gear, 2 Cams or 2 friction gears)

Materials available.
You will construct the frame as per your teacher’s instructions, but the toy parts can be
constructed from any of the following materials.

Acrylic – various colours. 3mm thick

Plywood – 3mm, 6mm and 12mm plywood
Dowel – 6, 8, 10, 12, & 19 mm diameter.
A variety of hardwood off-cuts may be available.

Materials may be sourced from outside of the school. Obtain approval from your teacher to
ensure that collected materials are suitable.

The frame will be varnished.

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Research on Mechanisms.

Cams and Followers

The cam and follower is a device which can convert rotary motion (circular motion) into linear motion
(movement in a straight line).

There are several different types of cams but most of these can be placed into two groups, rotary and linear.
Rotary cams change rotary motion into reciprocating (backwards and forwards) motion. The cams come in
several shapes including egg-shaped and snail cams, these cams are called "lobed cams" because they have
additions to the circular shape known as lobes. As the cam rotates, the follower moves accordingly. The exact
distance it moves depends on the shape of the cam and this is known as the throw.

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Friction Gears

Friction gears are described as a mechanism where motion is transmitted through friction between two
surfaces in rolling contact.

Research

- Collect sample pictures of existing wooden mechanical toys and explain what you like and
dislike about each.

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Research - Paste examples of 2 wooden mechanical toys below and make comments about the 3 positive aspects and 3 critical aspects
about each design. Explain how each movement works, try using the correct terms for all parts.

Wooden Mechanical Toy Example 1

Positive
- very aesthetically appealing
towards younger children
- smooth and very well done
using all classes of sandpaper
- moveable hands adds a
childish and creative product
Critical
-very bland with no
attraction with
coloring but would
be better with colors
- focus more on
detail say around the
eyes add color or
different shades of
the wood
-only the use of
round gears in action
of a circular motion.

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Wooden Mechanical Toy Example 2

Positive Negative
- very appealing to the eye -bit long while toy example
with array of different bright 1 could fit in any place
colors while this need more space
- difficult process to make and - very long stick too move
makes a more technical appeal the toy up and down hard
which is great for older to put in a spare place
consumers.
-excess wood on the
- using a caterpillar will attract
attention more towards a child end of the toy not
eyes from the book The Very needed gives a bulky
Hungry Caterpillar. look and not appealing

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EXAMPLE OF DESIGN IDEA
The bone is connected to a set of frictions gears. The bone
will spin around when the crank is turned

The dog is connected to a dowel follower which rests on

an eccentric cam. When the crank is turned the Dog will
slowly rise up and down.

If I have time I will add a background of trees and grass.

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Design Idea 1 Try your hand at drawing at least 2 different design ideas. Add notes to your drawing to help
explain your idea use extra pages if you need more space. Use pencil only to draw your ideas

Untidy work will not be acc

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Design Idea 2 Try your hand at drawing at least 2 different design ideas. Add notes to your drawing to help
explain your idea use extra pages if you need more space. Use pencil only to draw your ideas

Untidy work will not be acc

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Final Design On this page draw out your mechanisms that will operate your best idea.
Be accurate and neat because this will form the basis of your construction in the workshop.

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Which Design Idea have you chosen to make and why. Why did you discard the
other designs? I have chosen my final design of a rugby ball travelling through
the goal posts, because I want to work on my tight bandsaw cutting and tight
sanding. So I improve on my skills for wood technology for my future. The other
designs however have very basic shapes and are not a challenge for me.

What is happening on top of your mechanical toy. Draw out the parts below.

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Final Design continued. More space to complete all your sketch work. No
construction can begin until the designs have been completed

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What parts do you need to make your project? Use the cgart below to list all of
the components
Size Required in
PARTS LIST millimetres (mm)
L W T
PART/COMPONENT MATERIAL / DESCRIPTION
Qty Lengt Widt Thickn
NAME OF PART
h h ess
Top 1 Hoop pine 200 66 66
Side 2 Hoop pine 200 66 18
Centre support 1 Hoop pine 200 66 11
Base 1 Hoop pine 200 66 66

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FINAL EVALUATION Use sentences and be descriptive

1. How did your final product turn out?

2. What were your strengths in completing the design process?

3. What things could you have improved?

4. What was your favourite part of the design brief?

5. What part did you not enjoy the most?

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