Lesson video

Hello, thank you for joining me for your Design & Technology lesson.

My name is Mrs. Conway, and I will be guiding you through your learning today.

So today's lesson outcome is, I can use 3D computer-aided design to develop ideas.

And our keywords are virtual modelling, CAD, development, and testing.

I'll go through each one of these in turn in a little bit more detail as we work through the lesson.

So we're going to start by looking at the benefits of virtual modelling.

Now, the modelling of design ideas does not always mean a physical model, like the example shown in the photo.

Virtual modelling is an alternative, and it's an alternative to physical modelling that brings different benefits to the designer.

Virtual modelling is the creation of a digital 3D representation of objects or your designs.

And virtual modelling uses CAD.

Here's an example of a CAD drawing.

CAD stands for computer-aided design.

And CAD enables designers to create drawings, design, and models digitally.

And when connected to a compatible machine, it can then be used with CAM, and CAM is computer-aided manufacturing.

Okay, let's just do a quick check for understanding on that then.

What does CAD stand for? Is it A, computer-aided directions, B, calculated area design, C, computer-aided development, or D, computer-aided design? Feel free to pause the video here just to take a moment to think about your answer.

And the correct answer was D.

So CAD stands for computer-aided design.

Well done if you got that right.

So virtual modelling using CAD has benefits over physical modelling.

So some of these benefits are then, it's faster to design using virtual modelling.

You can create and change your ideas quickly on a computer.

It can also be very accurate as well.

CAD lets you measure things exactly, with no guesswork involved.

It's also really easy to fix mistakes and also to iterate as well.

You don't have to start from scratch, so if you make a mistake, you can just correct it a couple of steps.

And also, if you wanna make a change, you can just go in and change those small elements you might want to do.

And it also, of course, saves money.

You don't need to buy the materials for those early versions.

So, obviously with physical modelling, you need to actually purchase those materials to make the model.

But if you're using CAD, you don't have any of those costs.

You're also able to test your design as well, so you can see how it might work before building it.

You can also share your work.

It's really easy to send your design to your user to review or give you feedback, but also other designers that you are working with, and that can work on a global scale as well.

And there's less waste, so you don't use up materials just for the testing out of ideas.

Obviously from a sustainable point of view, that's a really good thing.

Okay, so let's just do a quick check for understanding on those benefits then.

Which of these are benefits of virtual modelling compared to physical modelling? A, you can share your work, B, it's easier to do, C, there's less waste, or D, it's a longer process.

Feel free to pause the video just to take a moment to think about your answer.

And the correct answer was, there were two correct answers there, so you can either have A, share your work, but also C, less waste.

So those are some benefits of virtual modelling compared to physical modelling.

So when we move our ideas on and start our developing and iterating of our design ideas, there are, again, more benefits to using virtual modelling.

So just like I mentioned before, it's faster design than physical modelling.

That's really, really helpful for developing and iterating your ideas.

Once you've learnt how to use the CAD application, the ideas can be drawn quite quickly, and so adapted and developed quickly as well.

This, of course, makes them easier to iterate.

Your existing ideas can be adapted really easily and quickly rather than having to make a whole new physical model or just damaging it to tweak parts.

And of course, I mentioned this one before, testing your design.

And testing is really important for developing.

So the virtual models can be tested for things such as movement, size, and dimensions, and these are all really good benefits to development.

Okay, it's gonna be over to you now to do a couple of tasks.

The first task I'd like you to do then is I'd like you to explain three benefits of using virtual modelling, or CAD, instead of physical modelling during the design process.

The second task I'd like you to do then is using 3D CAD, I'd like you to draw at least one, feel free to draw more if you have time, but at least one virtual model of your design ideas for the context of student living.

Feel free to pause the video here to crack on with these tasks, and good luck.

Okay, hope you got on okay with those tasks.

We'll look at some examples for each one, and you can just compare your answer.

So the first one then, your answer could include some of these kind of points: Virtual modelling using CAD allows designers to make quick changes to a design, which saves time compared to rebuilding a physical model.

It also enables accurate testing of the product, such as checking how parts fit or move together, helping to spot problems early on in the process.

Additionally, CAD files can be easily shared with users or team members, which helps gather feedback and make improvements before anything is made physically.

So just compare your answer to the example I've shown you there.

Not only has the point been made about what the actual benefit is, but that benefit has been explained as to why it's a benefit.

So you always wanna make a point and back it up with a why when you're doing a written kind of answer like this.

Okay, let's look at the second task then.

So a virtual model created for Andeep's design brief is the example I'm going to show you, and I'm just gonna quickly remind you of what Andeep's design brief was.

His was: Design a storage solution for arts and crafts supplies that is compact and transportable.

The product needs to help save space, and the solution must appeal to university-aged students and be able to be manufactured at an affordable price for students.

So, this is Andeep's CAD 3D model of his design.

Now of course, yours is gonna be completely different as you will have a different design brief.

So just have a little review of your CAD model.

How did you get on with that? Okay, next then, we're gonna look at using virtual modelling to test ideas.

So virtual modelling using CAD can be extremely useful for testing ideas, and I mentioned this before.

When we test, we are trying something out to see if it works well.

And designers test their ideas in lots of different ways, and they do this to find out what works, what doesn't, and how to make them better before then going on to create the final version.

And it's important that we do that to make sure that our final idea is going to work in the best way and be the best idea that we can get.

The testing can lead the development of your design ideas as well.

Now, just to remind ourselves, development is when the designer improves and builds on design ideas to make them better in some way.

So, what things do you think can be tested with virtual modelling? Feel free to pause the video just to take a moment to think about that question.

Okay, let's look at some of those then.

So Sam here suggested, "I could test the size and dimensions of the design." Absolutely.

In CAD, you can test the size and the dimensions of a design by typing in the exact measurements you want whilst you create it, and you can also go back in and then check those measurements and dimensions as well.

What that means is that you can make sure every part of your design is the right length, width, and height and will fit its purpose.

So that's really helpful testing.

Now, proportions and dimensions could also be tested quickly and efficiently using CAD using parametric modelling.

So parametric modelling allows you to easily change the dimensions of designs, and you can update these live in the virtual model to see the changes.

So if you're using parametric CAD, that is the most useful CAD to use when you're doing this kind of testing.

The proportions of this design have been altered, so you can see there's a slight difference to the other version I showed you that Andeep drew.

And they've done this just to see what that design would look like being a little bit wider but also shallower in design.

That's a really helpful form of testing and trialling.

Okay, let's just do a quick check for understanding on that purpose of testing then.

So what is the purpose of testing? Is it A, to finish the product faster, B, to find out what works and develop the design, or C, to avoid creating any drawings? Feel free to pause the video just to take a moment to think about your answer.

And the correct answer, it was of course B.

So the purpose of testing is to find out what works and also to develop the design.

Well done if got that right.

So let's look at some more ways that we can test our product in virtual modelling.

So Jun here has suggested, "I could also test that the product will function in the way that it is meant to." In some CAD applications, the function of a product can be tested by using tools that actually simulate how it would work in real life.

So for example, if you're designing a door hinge, CAD can show you how the parts move when the door opens and closes.

This really helps you to see if the parts fit and move correctly without getting stuck or breaking.

Now, compared to a physical model, which would be in card and wouldn't really closely replicate how that hinge would actually work, this is a massive benefit to testing in virtual modelling as an alternative.

Laura's also suggested another way it can be tested as well, "I could test things like stress points and the strength of my product." Again, in some CAD applications, your design can be tested in a simulation, and those simulations can test things such as stress testing, structural buckling, thermal stress, or even be able to tell you how things such as how to make your designs lighter without compromising any strength.

So they can do a lot.

Here are some examples of CAD models being tested in those simulations.

Okay, another quick check for understanding.

Which of these would not be classed as a model of a design? Is it A, B, or C? Again, feel free to pause the video if you'd like to take a moment just to think about your answer.

And the correct answer, it was C, so that is your sketched drawing.

So despite the fact that A is actually virtual, it is still considered to be a model and a form of modelling.

It's just virtual modelling.

Well done if you got that right.

Okay, so Aisha has also recommended another way that she can test her model in virtual modelling, "So I could test out different materials, finishes, and also colours for my design as well." So here's an example of that design that Andeep drew but in different colours and different materials.

So by modelling in CAD, you can make really quick changes and test different materials and finishes, usually by clicking something called render.

Most CAD applications allow you to render your designs quickly in a variety of materials.

You can usually select things such as glass, polymers, metals, textiles, and timbers, and lots of variations of all of those, which makes it incredibly handy just to see the aesthetics of your product and how those could alter.

Okay, it's going to be over to you now to do a couple more tasks.

The first task then I'd like you to do is I'd like you to use virtual tests to develop at least two iterations of your designs using CAD.

Again, feel free to do more if you would like to do so.

So you're going to develop that CAD drawing that you did in task A.

You're going to improve it in some way and iterate it, but your virtual testing is going to lead that development.

The second part of this task then is I'd like you then to evaluate and explain your new iterations.

Remember, if we're evaluating, we're saying what we really like about the designs, but also even possible more improvements that you can do and whether you think it's going to meet the needs of the clients, for example.

Okay, pause the video here to crack on with this task, and good luck.

How did you get on? Two tasks there then.

The first task was you to do two iterations of your CAD idea.

And those iterations were going to be developed and led by some testing that you were going to carry out.

Now, you can see here the example I'm showing you is Andeep's testing of his idea that he did by testing out an alternative material.

I also asked you to evaluate your ideas as well and just explain them a little.

So Andeep's done the same, "I tested alternative materials and examined how they would look and function using timber rather than a polymer.

The timber is aesthetically pleasing but is less lightweight and transportable than a polymer.

I also need to consider how to finish it to best protect it from bangs and scuffs whilst it is being carried." So he's explained how he's tested out this material that he really likes the look of, but it does pull up other issues, such as the weight of the product as it is meant to be transportable, and also the protection of that product.

If you're banging and kind of scuffing a polymer, it's not really going to get damaged in the same way that a wood might.

He also needs to think about the weather if it's being carried around outside as well, so he's made some really good points here.

I did ask you to do two iterations, so I'll show you a different example here again.

So Andeep has also tested his idea by looking at the different dimensions and proportions, and this is another one that I showed you from before.

Again, there was an evaluation that needed to go with this.

So Andeep has said, "I also tested by altering the proportions so that it was shallower but wider, allowing it to fit onto a desk more easily.

I think this could be useful for space saving and sitting at the back of the desk.

Paint brushes could also be kept horizontally along the width of the drawers so products would still fit nicely." Again, he's made some really good points there, and there was actually no kind of improvements that he's thinking.

He actually really likes the idea and the change of the proportions of the dimensions.

If you don't think there are any improvements or things that you could do differently, then don't feel you have to include them.

It's absolutely fine to just mention the positives.

So again, yours are gonna be very different to Andeep's answers, but just compare your models and also your evaluations, and have a look at your models as well.

Are you really happy with those? Are you happy with the way that you kind of tested them and trialled them? Have they even given you more ideas of what you could do differently even still? Well done.

Those were big tasks that you've completed today.

So let's just summarise our lesson.

Today, we've been looking at design development with CAD.

Now, the modelling of design ideas does not always mean physical modelling.

Virtual modelling is an alternative to physical modelling that brings different benefits to the designer.

And virtual modelling is the creation of digital 3D representations of objects or designs.

Virtual modelling using CAD can be extremely useful for testing ideas, and we've looked at lots of different ways that they are useful.

Now, designers test their designs to find out what works, what doesn't, and how to make them better before then going on to create the final version.

And we discussed why that's so important.

The testing can also then lead to the development of your design ideas, so that testing can actually lead the design process and move it forward.

Okay, well done for all of your hard work today.

Thank you so much for joining me, and I will see you soon.