Hello – This mini project related in part to your ALESSI project work that you are currently working on. This work is for each DT lesson from now until the end of term. Alessi manufactured items are made to a high standard and have a good finish. Some of the cheaper ones are generally manufactured from THERMOPLASTICS, others (which tend to be a bit pricier) use a variety of metals. It is the plastics that we will be focusing on in this investigation. This will be a 3 lesson (plus a homework) Research and Investigation project – so 4 hours in total. You will need to research the following : How plastic high quality plastic products are made – please see the following video links https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1U9W4iNDiQ An animation of the process of injection moulding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMjtmsr3CqA&t=188s A very good explanation plus some history. I would like to see a step by step illustrated or image based guide showing and explaining the process of injection moulding. Show the process using labelled diagrams, pictures, and / or screenshots please. Explain how the raw plastic that is used in a high quality injection moulding process is made and where it comes from (I am obviously not looking for the name of the shop here!). How does the raw material need to be prepared before it can be put into the machine for use? (hint – look up chipping and drying of thermoplastics) – maybe find pictures of this and use them as part of your explanations Explain what the arrows and letters (normally arrows with letters 1-6 in the middle) mean that you find moulded into many plastic items. What is the difference between thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics? Which type can be recycled easily? Your task…… is to investigate the injection moulding process and thermoplastics and produce a presentation explaining and including the points above.. Any descriptions must be in your own words and NOT COPIED please. Please think carefully about layout – use appropriate graphics – colour – photos – add images of Alessi or other products that are made with injection moulded plastics. Remember – THIS MUST BE IN YOUR OWN WORDS!! Extension work, for those that are feeling ambitious! Now compare the process of injection moulding with compression moulding I would like you to research compression moulding which is a process that is undertaken with THERMOSETTING PLASTIC Explain the process What types of items are made with thermosetting plastics? Why? Research one item that is made from thermosetting plastics using this compression moulding technique. Maybe find a video on YouTube and using screenshots explain what is going on. remember to include the differences between the two processes with reasons
