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Lesson 6 of 12
  • Year 11

Deforming manufacturing processes for polymers

I can explain and compare small-scale and industrial deforming processes.

Lesson 6 of 12
New
New
  • Year 11

Deforming manufacturing processes for polymers

I can explain and compare small-scale and industrial deforming processes.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Deforming involves using force to change the shape of a material.
  2. Small-scale production methods can be used to deform materials.
  3. Deforming materials on a larger scale require different techniques.

Keywords

  • Deform - a change in the shape of materials when they are put under physical pressure or stress

  • Force - a push or pull that can affect the movement, direction, or shape of an object

  • Automation - use of technology to perform tasks

  • Former - a solid object that a material is manipulated around to create a specific shape

  • Bending jig - a tool used to guide and control the shape of a material as it is bent

Common misconception

The same tools and methods are used for both small-scale and industrial manufacturing.

The scale of production heavily influences tool choice, speed, accuracy, and repeatability.


To help you plan your year 11 design and technology lesson on: Deforming manufacturing processes for polymers, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Try to organise a small practical based on any of the processes mentioned in this lesson to fully embed learning.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Put these materials in order from most flexible to least flexible.

1 - rubber
2 - steel
3 - glass

Q2.
Which of the following is a working/mechanical property of a material?

colour
Correct answer: hardness
density
transparency

Q3.
What does 'industrial' typically refer to in manufacturing?

small, handcrafted products made by a single person
Correct answer: large-scale production using machinery and technology
purely artistic or sculptural items
activities done at home by a hobbyist

Q4.
True or false? Machine tools make production faster and more consistent than hand tools.

Correct answer: true
false

Q5.
The ability of a material to resist breaking when a force is applied is called .

Correct Answer: tough, toughness

Q6.
Match each material with its primary working/mechanical property:

Correct Answer:rubber,elasticity

elasticity

Correct Answer:steel,toughness

toughness

Correct Answer:copper,electrical conductivity

electrical conductivity

Correct Answer:glass,hardness

hardness

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Shaping materials using a force is called .

Correct Answer: deforming, deform

Q2.
What is 'automation' in manufacturing?

the use of recycled materials in production
Correct answer: the use of machines or technology to perform tasks
the process of making products by hand only
the design of mass-produced goods

Q3.
Match the action to its force:

Correct Answer:opening a jar lid,torque (twist)

torque (twist)

Correct Answer:sliding a box across the floor,push

push

Correct Answer:tugging on a rope,pull

pull

Q4.
A is a solid shape over which material is formed or shaped.

Correct Answer: former, form

Q5.
Match the process to the description:

Correct Answer:vacuum forming,sheet is softened and pulled tightly over a former using suction

sheet is softened and pulled tightly over a former using suction

Correct Answer:calendering,passed through rollers to produce thin, flat sheets or films

passed through rollers to produce thin, flat sheets or films

Correct Answer:compression moulding,industrial process for thermosetting polymers to shape into mould

industrial process for thermosetting polymers to shape into mould

Correct Answer:press moulding,a small-scale process used to create a desired shape between a mould

a small-scale process used to create a desired shape between a mould

Correct Answer:drape forming,a small-scale process using a former rather than a mould

a small-scale process using a former rather than a mould

Correct Answer:line bending,used to heat and bend a straight line

used to heat and bend a straight line

Q6.
Sort the stages of vacuum forming into the correct order:

1 - Former is placed in the bottom of the vacuum former.
2 - Polymer sheet is heated.
3 - Polymer sheet becomes flexible. Former is moved up.
4 - Air is sucked out.
5 - Hollow product produced.