Category: Technology

How It’s Made – 7th Grade Tech

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For the past couple of weeks, as well as working on our projects, we’ve been learning about physical properties.

After watching a video on how marbles are made from the “How It’s Made” YouTube channel, I observed a couple of things about glass’s ductility and moldability and how those properties can be affected by temperature.

To make a marble, you need to melt glass. I observed that when the glass came straight out of the furnace, it was very ductile. You could apply tensile strength to it and it would deform, it would stretch, but it wouldn’t break. I also observed that it could be easily molded into a shape that would hold.

This video not only taught me how marbles are made, or how glass is very ductile and moldable, but also how a physical property of an object can change depending on the temperature. When glass is not melted, it’s not ductile or moldable at all. However, when it is melted, that’s a different story.

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Building My Drawer – 7th Grade Tech

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Earlier this week, we began to build our projects! We were given bags with all the necessary tools, opened up our 3D models on our iPads, and then got to work!

I was handed 3 planks of balsa wood to start off. First, to make the bottom face of the drawer, I cut a 10 and 1/2 inch piece from one of the planks using the mini saw because I was cutting across the grain. To double layer it, I cut another 10 and 1/2 inch piece from the plank. Before gluing them together, I needed to make one of the 10 and 1/2 inch pieces 1/8 of an inch shorter in order to make the rabbet joint. Just as I was about to cut 1/8 of an inch off, the bell rang. That meant we had two minutes left, so we had to start cleaning up. We didn’t have much time to start building, but I think I made pretty good progress.

I can’t wait for tomorrow! We’ll probably continue!

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3D Project Model – 7th Grade Tech

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Last week, we made a 3D model of our projects on Tinkercad. It was a really cool experience!

Tinkercad is amazing! I was able to make the drawer exactly how I wanted it. My design had the same dimensions and everything. At first, I thought it was going to be pretty challenging, but it turned out, it’s not as hard as it seems. Anyone can design anything they want!

I started off using 4 boxes to make the bottom face of my outer box. I changed their length, width, and height to mimic the balsa wood planks. To make the rabbet joint, I took 2 of my planks and made them 1/8 of an inch shorter. Then I grouped the larger planks with the shorter ones. After that, I attached both groupings using the joint. I still wasn’t done with that face yet, though. I needed it to be 7 inches long. It was 6. So, I made one of the shorter planks another 1/8 of an inch shorter. I used 2 more boxes to make the 1 inch long grouping and made one of the planks 1/8 of an inch shorter. I then attached that new grouping with the other one. Now I finished that face! To make the top face, I just duplicated the bottom one and raised it 5 inches. To make the front, back, and sides, I used the same procedure, and then did the whole thing over again to make my inner box. Now it was time for the finishing touch. To make the handle, I used 1 more box, made it much thinner and longer, and then attached it to the front face of my inner box.

I loved using Tinkercad and thought it was a great way to plan out our projects, especially the joints. I’m looking forward to building my drawer after break!

Here is my design:

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Project Diagram – 7th Grade Tech

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Yesterday, we planned out our projects and made a diagram. Our projects have to be made out of balsa wood, so I chose to make a drawer. In the diagram, we have to include the dimensions, types of wood joints, and how many 36” long x 3” tall wood planks we’re planning on using.

My drawer is going to be 7” long, 10.5” wide, and 5” tall. I’m going to use rabbet joints, and I’m planning on using 7 planks of balsa wood.

Here is my project diagram:

 

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Sawing – 7th Grade Tech

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A little over a week ago, in tech, we used slice precision cutters to cut through balsa wood. You use them to cut with the grain. These tools don’t cut fully through the wood though, we’d have to snap the piece into two like a Kit Kat. This was just so that we learned how to use them.

Last Tuesday, we used mini saws instead of slice precision cutters. Unlike the slice precision cutters, these saws have over two hundred teeth, can cut fully through the wood, and you use them to cut against the grain. At first, I used the saw like a knife and pressed down on it, but when using this type of saw, you’re not supposed to do that. You move it back and forth, letting the teeth do the job. When I tried this, it was much easier and the saw cut through the wood smoothly.

I really liked testing these two tools out and I’m excited to start using them for projects!

Slice precision cutter:

Mini saw:

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Timber Harvest – 7th Grade Tech

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Back in 1947, we didn’t have the technology we have today. Many steps in the process of harvesting timber were done manually. In the second and third videos, which were about how it’s done currently, almost every step was accomplished using machines.

I learned a lot about redwood from the first video. I was surprised, I didn’t know that they’re so big, and that they can live for so many years! Coast redwood can live up to 2000 years, grow up to 300 feet, and have up to a 20 foot base! The video also mentions another type of redwood that’s bigger and can live even longer! Redwood trees are really incredible.

Something that I found interesting was that it looks like the types of trees we used changed over time. In the first video, redwood trees were used, but it looks like in the second and third videos, smaller and thinner types of trees were used.

These videos showed me the evolution of harvesting timber.

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