Gumball Machine
Overview
The 8th grade manufacturing project (typically the gumball machine) was designed to reinforce the use of machines such as the belt sander, drill press, router table, jointer, miter saw, planer, and table saw. This manufacturing project uses the same skills as the 7th grade project, including the designed specifically to enhance students ability to follow directions, measure correctly, read technical drawing, use a variety of common woodworking machines and tools, and to introduce students to manufacturing processes (assembling, casting & molding, conditioning, finishing, forming, and separating). In addition to this project, students will make one manufacturing project using an injection molder and one requiring students to melt pewter and pour it into a mold. Plans and the grading rubric for this project can be viewed below. Also, to see common sanding and finishing issues, click here.
Timeline
Day 1: Lockers, jobs, calculations
Day 2: Prepare 4" lumber
Day 3: Layout and cut levels A and C, layout and drill hole in level C
Day 4: Layout and cut level B pieces and subassembly
Day 5: Sand subassembly to flatten sides and remove flaws
Day 6: Layout, cut, and rout base
Day 7: Sand faces on all parts with palm sander and edges and ends by hand to remove flaws
Day 8: Assemble gumball machine body, layout and cut slide
Day 9: Layout and drill holes in slide, sand to remove flaws
Day 10: Initial coat of finish, injection molding
Day 11: Scuff, second coat of finish, injection molding
Day 12: Scuff, third coat of finish, injection molding
Day 13: Self-assessment
Working Drawing
Assembly Drawing
Grading Rubric
Step-By-Step Directions