D & T A N D E N G I N E E R I N G W O R K S H O P S U P P L E M E N T
Continued from page 12 Creating a
future-proof D&T
workshop
Innovative new D&T accommodation We installed an innovative
mobile bench system which has
the following features: l Astandard size of perimeter bench unit, which can be
exchanged as we wish; l Each bench ensures that we always have the recommended machinery spacing (a free-standing ‘spacer bench’ is
always used); l The benches connect easily via a ‘commando’ type socket on the wall-mounted connection points. This means that all machinery is automatically connected to the room’s emergency stop system and it
complies with BS4163; l Each bench holding ‘dusty’ machinery has its own self-contained dust extraction
system which comes on automatically when
needed.As well as a standard machine-only emergency stop button, our old system had separate buttons meaning that we had to remind students constantly to switch on
the extraction units; l The benches are very substantial and so, when in the right position, the feet are lowered and the bench becomes locked and immovable – this again complies with B4163.
Looking to the future After only twelve weeks of
use, we are very pleased with the result.We think that the rooms look very good, as well as providing us with practical, safe and versatile accommodation for designing and making.We have additional portable benches stored in the materials prep room which means that we can swap things around as we wish. It also means that the electronics/ graphics room can also be used for working with materials when
we need to.We find that we don’t move the benches around very often, but we have the flexibility to do so when necessary.We are moving towards all students’ project work being smaller and lighter, which means that we can store it more easily – we have lots of CAMequipment, which helps in
this.Asacrifice that we have had to make to get down to two rooms from three was that we don’t have a heat-treatment room.We do, however, have a portable heat-treatment facility, enabling us to braze/weld and cast pewter so we can do most things we would want to.We hadn’t cast aluminium for many years and our room is brighter and cleaner and, perhaps, less intimidating. All in all the new build has
made us keener to move towards product design GCSE to replace resistant materials and graphic products, as our rooms now resemble a modern design studio and this will fit in with ourAL offering.
If you would like to visit us ’
and see our approach to D&T accommodation, then please get in touch with HarisAli, subject leader for D&T, William Brookes School, Shropshire
ali.h@shropshirelg.net
Circle No.E11 Technology in Education No.180 January/February 2011 26 Check out our website:
www.technology-in-education.co.uk
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