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Below is a list (presented in topics) of specialist D&T vocabulary that would be very helpful to use when answering examination questions.
Design Process and Development
Design Process and Development
Ideation: The process of generating and developing ideas.
User-Centered Design (UCD): Design that focuses on the needs and behaviors of the end user.
Iterative Design: A cyclical process of prototyping, testing, analyzing, and refining a product.
Brief: A written description of the problem or task to be addressed.
Specification: A detailed list of design requirements.
Ergonomics: Designing products to fit human use comfortably and efficiently.
Anthropometrics: The measurement of human body dimensions for design.
Prototyping: Creating a working model to test a concept or design.
CAD (Computer-Aided Design): Software used for designing products digitally.
Materials and Properties
Materials and Properties
Thermoplastic: Plastic that becomes mouldable when heated and solidifies when cooled.
Thermosetting Plastic: Plastic that hardens permanently after being moulded.
Composite Materials: Materials made from two or more constituent materials with different properties.
Alloy: A metal made by combining two or more metallic elements.
Tensile Strength: The resistance of a material to breaking under tension.
Hardness: The ability of a material to resist scratching or abrasion.
Malleability: The ability of a material to be shaped without breaking.
Brittle: A material that breaks without significant deformation.
Biodegradable Materials: Materials that can break down naturally over time.
Manufacturing Processes
Manufacturing Processes
Injection Moulding: A process of forming products by injecting molten material into a mould.
3D Printing: Additive manufacturing technology that creates objects layer by layer.
Laser Cutting: Using a laser to cut materials with precision.
Vacuum Forming: Shaping plastic sheets by heating and pressing them onto a mould.
Casting: Pouring liquid material into a mould to solidify into shape.
Lamination: Bonding layers of material together.
Milling: Machining process that removes material using rotating cutting tools.
Welding: Joining materials, typically metals, by using heat or pressure.
Sustainability and Ethics
Sustainability and Ethics
Lifecycle Analysis (LCA): Assessment of the environmental impact of a product over its lifetime.
Upcycling: Reusing waste materials to create new products of higher value.
Carbon Footprint: The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by a product or activity.
Planned Obsolescence: Designing products with a limited lifespan to encourage replacement.
Sustainable Design: Designing with minimal environmental impact in mind.
Fair Trade: Ensuring ethical treatment and fair payment for workers in the supply chain.
Technical Drawing and Communication
Technical Drawing and Communication
Orthographic Projection: A method of representing three-dimensional objects in two dimensions.
Isometric Drawing: A 3D representation where all axes are at 120° angles and the angles are typically 30 / 60°.
Exploded View: A drawing showing the components of an object separated but aligned.
Tolerances: The permissible limits of variation in a physical dimension.
Annotations: Notes added to drawings to explain details.
Electronics and Systems
Electronics and Systems
Circuit Diagram: A representation of an electrical circuit using symbols.
PCB (Printed Circuit Board): A board used to mechanically support and electrically connect components.
Microcontroller: A compact integrated circuit designed to govern a specific operation in an embedded system.
Sensor: A device that detects and responds to physical inputs like heat, light, or pressure.
Actuator: A device that converts energy into motion.
Evaluation and Testing
Evaluation and Testing
Stress Testing: Testing a product under extreme conditions to assess durability.
User Trials: Testing a product with potential users to gather feedback.
Market Analysis: Researching market trends and consumer needs.
Benchmarking: Comparing a product to competitors or standards.
Quality Assurance (QA): Ensuring products meet specified requirements during production.
FMEA (Failure Mode and Effect Analysis): Identifying potential failures in a product and their impact.
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