Making Boomerangs

Making Boomerangs
For the past week or so in Creative Tech/Wood tech, we have been designing and creating boomerangs. Using grid paper we first measured out and drew a box the shape the same size as the piece of timber we were using. 

We then looked at photos of other boomerangs and came up with a design. From their we drew our design onto the wood and cut it out using a band saw, before using files and sand paper to smooth the edges and make sure it was the right shape.

From their we drew our design onto the wood, and cut it out using a band saw, before using files and sand paper to smooth the edges and make sure it was the right shape.

Mu Torere

For the start of this term in technology, we have been making a Māori strategy game called Mu Torere. We started by creatng our design, and then proceeded to draw it onto a piece of timber. Using a 6mm drill, we then drilled nine holes in the timber and glued another piece underneath using wood glue. Then using a sand belt, we made the sides of our timber even and used sandpaper to get rid of the rough design of our game, and draw the final one. We 3D printed eight pegs, four white four grey, for our game and put them in the board. Here is what my Mu Torere game looks like so far:

The objective of this game is to move your pieces in order to stop the other player from moving. You can only move one space, and the first person to move can only use one of the pieces on the outside.

Three Piece Puzzle

Three Piece Puzzle

For the past few weeks in tech, we've been working on creating a three piece 3D puzzle out of timber. We started off by copying a plan twice that our tech teacher printed for us. 

After drawing a plan on paper, we copied this plan onto our three pieces of timber. The lines on our timber had to be as straight as possible so that we could find the centre easily. We used both a ruler and a try square to make sure our lines were straight.

Once we had copied our plan onto all three pieces, we used some type of saw to cut out two of the pieces of timber (the one shaped like a T and the one that is sort of shaped like a cross), and used a drill to cut out the piece in the other one. We then used a chisel to get rid of any bumps in the timber that stopped the three pieces from fitting together.

We then sanded it and coated the puzzle piece in polyurethane. Here is what it looked like in the end, along with photos showing how to put it together.

3D Printing

3D Printing

This term in technology, we have been working on 3D printing. We started off by looking at a website called Tinkercad, where you can create 3D models of pretty much anything. I started by making a name tag. We also learnt how to import a photo from online using an online file converting website onto Tinkercad and modify it, how to export the model, group it together and send it to be printed. If the model didn't fit on the 3D printer (which it usually did), it would be scaled down, which would cause some of the detail to look less detailed.

After this we looked at another website called Thingiverse. This website allowed you to look at other 3D printed objects that people of made, and import them onto Tinkercad. From here we would then modify and personalise the models and print them. 

Using acetone, we found we could also melt some of the plastic back into place if it had been slightly messed up in the printer. I also designed and made a 3D printed piano.