Using Machines

Health & Safety

When using any machine in the workshop there are a number of health and safety precautions that you should take:

Goggles, an apron and sturdy shoes should be worn at all times.
Heat resistant gloves should be worn is working with machines that use heat.
Loose clothing, long hair should be tied back/secured.
You should never wear jewellery when using a machine.
You should never use a machine without the teacher demonstrating how it works.
An area is marked around each machine with a yellow line. Only 1 person is allowed inside the yellow line at a time.
You should never distract, talk to or try to rush someone that is using a machine.
You should always take care to keep your hands away from moving parts.
You should be familiar with how the machine stops and where the nearest emergency stop button is.
You should ensure that the machine is safe to use, you work piece is held securely and where appropriate, all safety guards are closed in position.

Below are some of the machines found in the Technology workshop.

Pillar Drill The Pillar Drill is used for drilling holes through wood, plastic and metal. It is bolted to the floor so that it cannot be pushed over. This also allows larger pieces of material to be drilled safely.	Polisher Metal and plastic polishing, also termed buffing, is the process of smoothing materials and polishing to a bright, smooth mirror-like finish. The mop to the left is used to put the polish onto the plastic and other one is used to take it off again and give it a final shine. This is a similar process to polishing your shoes, the polish goes on with one brush and polished off with the other.	Oven The Oven is used in the workshop mainly for heating plastic. Once heated plastic becomes flexible and is able to be formed into various shapes. The plastic will hold it's formed shape once cooled.
Bobbin Sander A Bobbin Sander is a very useful piece of equipment to help you sand curves. A Bobbin Sander is a very basic machine that consists of a tabletop with a sanding drum protruding through a hole in the top. The drum is covered with a sleeve of sandpaper, and as well as rotating, it moves up and down to sand your material.	Bandsaw The band saw is a machine used for cutting mainly plastic and wood. It is commonly used for cutting material into irregular shapes. Please note: PUPILS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE THIS MACHINE.	Linisher The Linisher is a machine used to quickly sand down wood and other materials for finishing purposes. It consists of an electrical motor that turns a pair of drums on which a seamless loop of sandpaper is mounted. Some belt sanders can be either hand-held, where the sander is moved over the material, or stationary (fixed), where the material is moved to the sanding belt. The linisher used in school uses belts, which needs to be replaced on a regular basis.
Line Bender The Line bender is used to make simple bends in a sheet of plastic. Line bending involves heating the material along a line, using a heating element. The plastic softens as it heats, allowing it to be bent. Once heated and shaped the plastic should be held in position until it cools.	Vacuum Former The Vacuum Former is used to heat thin sheets of plastic called "HIPS" (High Impact Polystyrene). Once heated, a mold is pressed against the hot plastic and a vacuum is used to form the plastic around the mold.	Scroll Saw A scroll saw is a small electric saw used to cut intricate curves in wood or plastic. The fineness of its blade allows it to cut more intricate shapes.

Using Machines

Pillar Drill

The Pillar Drill is used for drilling holes through wood, plastic and metal. It is bolted to the floor so that it cannot be pushed over. This also allows larger pieces of material to be drilled safely.

Polisher

Oven

The Oven is used in the workshop mainly for heating plastic. Once heated plastic becomes flexible and is able to be formed into various shapes. The plastic will hold it's formed shape once cooled.

Bobbin Sander

Bandsaw

The band saw is a machine used for cutting mainly plastic and wood. It is commonly used for cutting material into irregular shapes. Please note: PUPILS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE THIS MACHINE.

Linisher

Line Bender

The Line bender is used to make simple bends in a sheet of plastic. Line bending involves heating the material along a line, using a heating element. The plastic softens as it heats, allowing it to be bent. Once heated and shaped the plastic should be held in position until it cools.

Vacuum Former

The Vacuum Former is used to heat thin sheets of plastic called "HIPS" (High Impact Polystyrene). Once heated, a mold is pressed against the hot plastic and a vacuum is used to form the plastic around the mold.

Scroll Saw

A scroll saw is a small electric saw used to cut intricate curves in wood or plastic. The fineness of its blade allows it to cut more intricate shapes.