2. Problem
I have decided to focus my project on a skateboard deck, designed solely for ‘cruising’ as opposed to
performing tricks using it. The purpose of focusing on a deck came from my interest in skateboarding and an
attractive cruiser deck for use on the streets. Most decks of today are produced by injection moulding plastic
into the form of the board, whereas mine will be a different take on the conventional plastic cruiser and I will
be using a combination of woods instead. Using wood will make the board look more like a standard sized deck
and therefore suit the image I am hoping to achieve in regards to aesthetics.
If I produced this design, I believe that the marketing potential would be quite a niche amount and make the
product more of a collectors item than a conventional board. My product would be aimed at teenagers, mainly
boys and the general skating community (containing both males and females of all ages). As the cruiser
skateboarding scene is more common in the US, marketing there would make more sense and would possibly
make it more successful.
Design brief
To design and make a cruiser skateboard that will be developed to fit my clients’ needs and will be produced
within school.
Objectives
•
Investigate the potential for developing the product
•
Investigate the human factors involved
•
Develop my skills in designing and manufacturing a suitable product that suits the requirements of the
client
3.
4.
5. Creature Skateboards are a skateboard company based in the USA and is currently led by team captain Darren
Navarette.
The colouring on most Creature decks follow a house-style of greens and purple, with the odd board being
unconventionally coloured to direct a different image for the decks artwork to follow. The designs on the decks
are usually very detailed and contain various amounts of different images and styles throughout the numerous
graphical collections that Creature produce.
I am hoping to use graphics similar to the Creature ones, by producing detailed artwork for the base of the
deck and following a house-style through my deck logo, graphics and box-art.
6. Flip Skateboards are a skateboarding company from the USA, currently led by Jeremy Fox and Geoff Rowley.
The various decks in the new Flip collection showcase vast amounts of colour and numerous designs. The use of
colour throughout the decks is immaculate and the designs are really eye-catching alongside the colours used
within them. Although the artwork isn’t as detailed as the Creature skateboard decks, it has an original style
and use of colour.
I plan to follow a similar image of the Flip decks, by using a vast array of colours and detailed artwork
throughout the product – such as the logo, deck artwork and packaging.
7. NHS, Inc. is mainly known for their skateboard decks, wheels and snowboarding gear and is currently owned
and run by Rich Novak, Doug Haut and Jay Shuirman.
The Santa Cruz deck collection showcases the best art and use of colour between the 3 companies
(Creature, Flip and Santa Cruz). In my opinion, the art placed on these decks are very detailed and
unique, boasting large amounts of colour and accurate lining. The artwork and use of colour are very effective
and eye-catching and represents Santa Cruz Skateboards at their finest.
I would like to follow a similar image, using detailed artwork and a very elaborate use of colour throughout the
collection. My goal is to use these conventions throughout the deck, artwork and packaging, such as using the
logo that I will design in all of the different pieces.
8. Aesthetics – This deck is tapered in order to provide for a front and rear kick-tail for the skater to use for trick based skateboarding. The
artwork is laminated onto the base and follows the curvature and concave of the deck, meaning the art is not distort or disfigured when
applied. The imagery on this deck is very simple but effective, it is eye-catching and provides a strong statement – ‘No Gods’, which many
people could relate to in the skating scene as a way of enforcing their religion. The main colours of the artwork are gold, red and black
and are used throughout the imagery and text shown on the deck. Due to low use of colour, printing costs for the initial laminate print
will be small and of a low cost.
Cost – The initial cost for this deck is £56.50 and is quite highly priced in regards to a standard deck. Many decks are based on cost of
artwork or simply due to the brand that have distributed it – such as Flip, in this example.
As a standard deck, I highly doubt a beginner skater would pay such large amounts of money for an artwork based deck and due to the
fact that the imagery has no impact on the functionality of the board, the extra cost is simply based on its aesthetics. This seems to be
more of a ‘show’ deck, that could be used as decoration around the home, due to its artwork and general image.
Customer – Any skateboarder could use or buy this deck, due to its simple design and is the conventional deck to buy. Due to its price
and aesthetic appeal, many skaters would go for a lower priced, simpler deck to save money and sustain similar functionality.
Environment – This deck would be used indoors and outdoors, for competitive and/or street skating. It can be used worldwide, due to
the international appeal of skateboarding and the sport in general. Due its 7-ply Canadian maple body, the board is very strong and can
withstand extensive use indoors and outdoors, taking damage from simple stone chips and weight of the user. As some skateboarders
revolve their sport around trick based street-skating, lots of damage may occur due to the excessive use of the kick-tail and also from
grinding.
Size- This deck in particular is 203mm wide by 762 mm in length and is commonly used for people taller than 5’3” and is classed as a ‘fullsize’ deck. There are various other sizes – Mid-size, Mini and Micro, which vary in class based on the length and width of the deck.
Safety- The deck is safe in all aspects, all edges are rounded and means that no injury can occur when in use by the user. Due to the
nature of a standard skateboard deck, there are usually no sources of sharpness that could threaten the safety of the board.
Luckily, I will follow this conventional style and shape of the deck, therefore reducing unsafe features that may occur in other style decks
- such as longboards.
Function – The function of the deck that I am designing is for decorative and sport purposes. This deck will be solely designed with heavy
concentration on the aesthetic appeal of the board and can therefore be seen as a highly decorative deck, rather than one used entirely
for its sport purpose.
As the deck is designed around the conventional deck, including size and shape, the board can still be used for its traditional purpose and
can be used for commuting and travel, as well as street-skating and for performing tricks. Although my board is styled around a ‘Penny’
board (mini/micro deck) and also takes inspiration from the ‘Stereo Vinyl Cruiser’, the practical purpose for my deck is still present but is
heavily sold by the imagery and aesthetics.
Material – Potentially 7-ply maple or bamboo will be used as they are both durable, strong and versatile. Many decks are made from
standard 7-ply Canadian maple and as I would like to follow the conventional style, I would benefit from using this material on my
custom deck. Although, maple is expensive and hard to get hold of in the style I want it to be. Bamboo is potentially cheaper and just as
effective as maple so I will definitely have to decide on the better opinion before production, whether it’s bamboo or maple that I
choose.
9. Aesthetics – This deck is tapered at one end in order to create a rear kicktail for trick based skating and ease control when moving at
high speeds. The main selling point of a Penny is the customisation of colours that are available to the customer, including their choice of
wheels, the trucks and the deck. The only issue with a plastic deck is the expense of production, in order for the decks to have made a
considerable profit they must be sold for around £70. The vast amount of colours for customisation on the decks is pretty much
endless, allowing the customer to have a huge array of colours and shades to suit their specifications.
Cost – The usual cost for a complete Penny is £70 to £80, which includes the deck, trucks, wheels and bolts. Due to the extravagant
style and cost of a Penny board deck, I doubt a beginner skater would pay such large amounts of money for it, but due to the popularity
of the Penny franchise many people would pay more, simply because of the brand image. This is a more elaborate deck due to its bright
colour scheme and it is mainly used for ‘cruising’ and therefore supporting the ‘psychedelic’ colours of the surfing scheme.
Customer – Any skateboarder could use or buy this deck, due to its simple design and bright colours with huge customisation features.
Due to its popular brand name and image and well-known aesthetics. Although many skaters would prefer a lower priced deck - the
build and durability of this deck along with the popular Penny name, means that many customers will pay more than a standard deck or a
branded copy of the Original Penny board.
Environment – This deck could be used on indoor skate-parks or outdoors on the streets and it can be used worldwide, due to the
international recognition of the Penny board and cruising, alongside the skateboarding sport in general. The board itself is very strong
and can withstand extensive use from indoor and outdoor activities due to the secret plastic formula that Penny is known for. Lots of
skateboarders use their boards on the street and therefore the deck needs to withstand damage such as stone chips and excessive wear.
Size- This deck in particular is 152mm wide by 558.8mm in length and is commonly used for people than 5’2” and is categorised as a
Micro deck. The Penny series comes in various sizes, such as the standard Penny board at 22” and its predecessor – the Penny
Nickel, which comes in at 27”.
Safety- The deck is safe in all aspects, all edges are rounded and means that no injury can occur from the ergonomics of the deck. Due to
the nature of a Penny board, no injury can be inflicted on the user and therefore safety is not threatened. Luckily, I can replicate the
conventional style of this deck when producing my own board, therefore reducing unsafe features that may occur in other style of
decks, such as longboards.
Function – The function of the deck is for conventional use but is also designed with heavy concentration on its aesthetic appeal and will
therefore be mainly based around its image and colour scheming. As the deck is designed around the conventional micro board, it will be
used for its traditional purpose and is essentially built for commuting and ‘cruising’ as well as street skating. Although the board that I
intend on producing is based on this style deck, it also takes inspiration from various other branded micro decks and other old school
boards. The practicality of the deck is still present whichever the style but is definitely heavily influenced by its aesthetics.
Material – Although many standard decks are made from the traditional 7-ply maple or bamboo, the Penny board decks are made from
plastic with a secret formula created by the company themselves which allows flexibility but retains durability like any other deck on the
market. Although I would like to follow the same style as a conventional Penny deck, attempting to replicate the material used on the
boards would be too expensive. Using 7-ply maple would much better and would be a lot less expensive in comparison but it would also
retain the same shape achievable with plastic. Maple would be just as effective and as durable as a standard Penny deck and would be a
lot easier to produce the shape that I want, without the expense which comes with using plastic.
10. Aesthetics – This deck is shaped aerodynamically and every deck is individually handmade according to the customers foot size, weight and height. This
board is made to travel at high speeds and therefore the aerodynamics of the deck is of the upmost importance. As well as the shape, the weight of the
deck is highly important too and this specific model – the Stealth Division Mach 1, is made of carbon fibre. Wefunk make these to order so the
customers have a lot of choice of customisation, including picking their own wheels, trucks and bolts. The issue with this deck is that it is really
expensive to produce because of the choice of materials, but it is also very profitable due to the high selling price to cover labour costs and the custom
fit of the deck. This is one of the only decks on the planet to be a precise to measure as this and therefore each deck is worth around £162 without
customer measurements and around £250 to be custom fit. This deck includes no kicktail and is entirely flat, allowing the board to reach higher speeds
without the risk of drag from a simple body adaptation.
Cost – The cost of a usual deck is around £50 to £100 but the Mach 1 is in a league of its own, due to its ‘design to measure’ fit – meaning it costs
around £250 just for the deck alone, excluding cost of trucks and wheels. I highly doubt a beginner would buy this product due to the extremely high
price to pay at the risk of damaging it from newbie mistakes. The popularity of this deck is mostly brought through its elaborate style and high cost and
therefore drives attention to the brand name, meaning sales have increased since the deck was first introduced. The cost mainly comes from the choice
of material and the hard labour of making the deck by hand, meaning Wefunk cost so much more than the standard decks on the market.
Customer – Any skateboarder could use or buy the deck but they’d certainly need to be comfortable before spending the £250 price tag to have the
board. The deck is expensive but certainly has reasoning, Wefunk use the highest quality materials and make every deck by hand. Although many
skaters would prefer a lower priced deck - the build and durability of the deck is unique and alongside the Wefunk branding, customers will pay a lot
more than the normal price. This board is world famous for its choice of material and the way that it is manufactured, due to how unique it is against
the rest of the market and people who are very interested in the sport or who are very good at the sport will probably invest in the deck to try and
maximise their experience.
Environment – This deck could be used outdoors, mostly for downhill racing or cruising and it can be used worldwide due to its recognition for the build
and quality of the board. The board itself is very strong and can withstand excessive use from the outdoor activities because of the carbon fibre deck
that it is built from. Lots of skateboarders use their boards on the street and therefore the deck needs to withstand damage such as stone chips and
excessive wear. The Wefunk Mach 1 is extremely durable and is built for speed and also to withstand various inconveniences that may occur when the
skater is using the board at high speeds.
Size - This deck is 939.8mm in length and 246mm wide but will vary when customised to the customers measurements. The Stealth Division deck series
comes in various sizes and varies in price to compliment the use of different material and different sizes. Due to the customer customisation that
Wefunk allow, the deck can come in various sizes to compliment the buyers height, foot size and weight and therefore makes every deck unique.
Safety - The deck is safe in all aspects, most edges are round and therefore allows no injury to occur when in use. Due to the customisation options that
Wefunk give the buyer, it will ergonomically fit the customers stature and measurements which will further reduce injury as it will be built around the
person it is built for. If I wish to replicate this style of deck when producing my own it would be extremely hard due to the complexity of the shape of
the deck. Although there are sharp edges on the board, it is ergonomically build to reduce injury to the user.
Function – The function of the deck is for conventional use – downhill riding. Although it is designed with aesthetics in mind, it is mostly produced to
suit the user, allowing them the ability to customise it to their measurements and also picking from various different truck colours and bolt colours.
Customisation is slightly restricted as Wefunk want to maintain the recognisable image of the Mach 1 and not allow the buyer to completely change the
image of the board. Essentially, the deck is built for cruising and downhill ‘bombing’.
Material – Although the standard decks are made from the traditional 7-ply maple, the Mach 1 is made entirely from carbon fibre , making the deck
durable and strong but also extremely unique. Although I would like to replicate the body of the deck, the cost of copying the shape and style of the
board would be extremely expensive and even getting hold of the material to produce it would be difficult. Using 7-ply maple would be much better to
produce the deck at a cheaper rate, but the quality would not be as good and it wouldn’t be as durable and strong due to the length of the deck.
11. July/August
Identification of
problem
Brief and analysis
Meet with client
Research tasks
Initial specification
Initial and concept ideas
Development of ideas
Selection of ideas
Analysis of designs
Development of
product
Modelling of concepts
Working drawings
CAD/CAM drawings
Planning manufacture
Making
Testing and evaluation
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
12. Ergonomics
I will have to take into consideration the size
and weight of the materials available to me –
due to my product being solely made within
school, I only have the schools equipment at
hand. My skateboard and rack will be both
quite large and in regards to ergonomics, I
will have to check the ergonomic data book
to ensure that it is to suitable for use.
Materials
I will have to check which materials are
suitable for my deck and do research into
what is currently used in the skateboard
market. My product will have to be durable
to outdoor terrain, so seeing what is being
currently used will give me a good idea of
what material to use.
Health & Safety
I will need to check that the manufacturing
processes I will use are suitable and are safe.
Once my product is finished, I will also have
to check that it is safe and cannot cause risk
due to its production.
Aesthetics
I need to consider what kind of design I will
be engraving on the base of the design and
ensure that it fits the art-style and design of
decks currently on the market to give me a
rough idea of the style of illustration that
would expected to see. This way, I will know
what is and is not appealing to my target
audience and potential users of my product.
13. Age: The age of the user for my product will be 12 years plus. This is because the product is sport based and could
endanger the user if used improperly. By targeting my product at 12 year olds and above, their understanding of the
decks proper use should be present.
Gender: My product could be aimed at both males and females due to the versatility of the deck. Skateboarding is
stereotypically male based but the ‘cruising’ style of skating is often related to both genders due to its more universal
and diverse style.
Ability: As I plan for my product to be used by everyday skaters, my deck will have to be strong in order to withstand
weight without flexing or breaking. I can reduce this risk by using multiple layers of wood in order to strengthen the
deck (7-ply).
Needs and wants: The main needs for my deck is for it to be universally used as a skateboard, specifically produced for
‘cruising’. The deck will need to follow size guidelines in order to be ergonomic in relation to the user, this will allow the
skater the upmost comfort and relaxation when having the product in full use.
Ease of use: I plan to make the functions of the product easy to use, such as assembling the trucks and wheels onto the
deck. By preparing the deck for practical use in the real world, truck mounts will have to be integrated before it is
completed. This will allow the user to customise the deck to their choosing, without modifying the deck itself.
Corporate image: I would like to incorporate brand logo’s onto the deck or a colour scheme that I could follow, using
similar colours to the logo throughout the graphics on the deck.
14. Function
This skateboard is
designed to be used as
display or the
possibility of practical
use.
Target market
The target market for
my product is for
skateboarders aged
between 15/30 years
old.
Time scale
Safety
Reliability
My product will be
efficient in its use and
will provide a lifetime
warranty. The deck will
be made to be durable
and function as
expected.
Sustainability
The skateboard I am
producing will use
strong materials, in
order to be durable
and reliable
throughout its lifestyle.
Ergonomics
I need to ensure that all
of the sharp edges on the
product are smooth so
that the user is not at risk
when using the deck. I
will also need to clearly
label warning signs.
Size constraints
Throughout this
project, my product
must be within the
constraints of 60cm x
60cm x 60cm.
Materials
Cost
I am thinking of using 7ply wood for my final
product, as the material
is strong and highly
durable and will support
the weight of the user
effectively.
I am aiming to produce my
final product out of ply
wood, preferably 7-ply. I am
only planning on creating
one version of the product
after the prototype stage, in
order to keep cost at a
minimum.
Weight
The weight of my deck
must be lightweight in
order to ease the
mobility of the
product.
Performance
Conflict
I am aiming for my
product to perform like a
conventional skateboard
but also as a display piece
to be used as decoration
on walls or skateboard
racks.
I am sure that the deck
will not create conflict
with another product, as
the design is original and
none are identical on the
market, meaning there
will be no plagiarism.
QA/QC
QA using manual
methods and computer
based software.
QC using test-samples
and also the use of
correct tools.
The time scale for my
product is up until the
14th of April 2014. In this
time, I must completely
finish my final
product, along with all of
the design work.
Aesthetics
The deck will have a
basic colour
scheme, using
graphical prints and
vinyl stickers suiting to
the company housestyle.
My deck will be designed
to similar proportions of
the standard sized Penny
board and will measure
approximately 22 inches
in length, by 6 inches in
width.
Life in service
My deck will be made
with a lifetime
guarantee for display
and similarly for
practical use.
15. This skateboard is designed to be used as display or the possibility of practical use. Due to the simplicity of the deck, I plan to go into vast detail with the board graphics
and decoration in order to enhance its ability to display.
The target market for my product is for skateboarders aged between 15/30 years old, as this would be a suitable age for when young people begin to be interested in
the sport. People of many ages would also be interested in the sport and purchasing a deck of this style, whether as a deck for beginners or as a collectable, for display.
The time scale for my product is up until the 14th of April 2014. In this time, I must completely finish my final product, along with all of the design work, including initial
and concept ideas, along with my presentation work. I should have my final product completed – the deck and rack.
The deck will have a basic colour scheme, using graphical prints and vinyl stickers suiting to the company house-style. Alternatively, I may engrave the deck with a
graphical design to make it look more sophisticated – using this method would also help retain the design, rather than having the vinyl stickers peel away if they were not correctly
applied.
I need to ensure that all of the sharp edges on the product are smooth so that the user is not at risk when using the deck. I will also need to clearly label warning signs so that
risks of use are clear and therefore potential users will be aware of any damages.
My product will be efficient in its use and will provide a lifetime warranty to ensure that the user is guaranteed of the decks use. The deck will also be made to be durable
and function as expected, therefore providing the client with a lifetime warranty will further promote confidence in the product.
The skateboard I am producing will use strong materials, in order to be durable and reliable throughout its lifetime. I plan to use 7ply maple in order to ensure
sustainability and strength – which is usually the material of choice when producing the casual deck.
My deck will be designed to similar proportions of the standard sized Penny board and will measure approximately 22 inches in length, by 6 inches in width. This will
keep the deck within the size constraints for this project and will make it compact and enable easy mobility.
Throughout this project, my product must be within the constraints of 60cm x 60cm x 60cm. Luckily, my skateboard deck will stay within the size constraints and
will therefore cause no problems.
I am thinking of using 7-ply wood for my final product, as the material is strong and highly durable and will support the weight of the user effectively. This choice of
material will further help support the lifetime guarantee which comes alongside the product.
I am aiming to produce my final product out of ply wood, preferably 7-ply. I am only planning on creating one version of the product after the prototype stage, in order to keep
cost at a minimum.
The weight of my deck must be lightweight in order to ease the mobility of the product, this will also help ease storage. As long as the skateboard is of a minimal
weight, storage will be a sufficient even as a simple design.
I am aiming for my product to perform like a conventional skateboard but also as a display piece to be used as decoration on walls or skateboard racks which I will also
produce alongside the deck in order to show a potential form of presentation when showcasing the board as a form of display.
I am sure that the deck will not create conflict with another product, as the design is original and none are identical on the market, meaning there will be no plagiarism. The
design and all of its components are original and have been produced specifically for this deck.
QA using manual methods and computer based software. QC using test-samples and also the use of correct tools.
My deck will be made with a lifetime guarantee for display purposes, when used on shop floors or on promotional stands and other methods of display. When being
practically used to skate, the deck will not have a lifetime guarantee due to the nature of skateboarding.
16. I intend to design a skateboard deck that would be suitable for practical and display use. I will carry out research on
materials and methods of display to ensure that my product is practical at performing well, both indoor and outdoor. I
looked at various material choices to research into the most effective ones that I could use. I did this whilst doing my
concept ideas as I was able to see what different materials would look like on my designs. From my research, I have
decided on using plywood as it is commonly used on for skateboard decks. Plywood is also very cost efficient and easy
to get hold of, using this material allows me to paint it or engrave it with whatever design I plan to use.
I plan for my deck to be environmentally friendly, choosing to use materials that can be recycled and will also not harm
the environment.
I want my product to be innovative and one of a kind so I will have to do some research to see what is already on the
market. This will help me ensure that there are no copyright breaches on current products in the same market and
make sure that my design is completely original.
18. Simple flat pack design, made of pine similar to IKEA products in both design and material.
Flat packs designed by IKEA are usually made from man-made boards and are used in conjunction with
hardwood strips of materials, such as beech (where more structural strength is needed). The material
used in most of these units is MDF with a printed plastic laminate veneer and matching edging strip.
IKEA flat packs are usually supplied with knock-down fittings, an Allen key and a small quantity of start
screws and PVA glue in a sachet. A lot of the fixing kits often use common components that are used
across a range of products.
IKEA have production policies based on minimalizing waste, environmental designs and EU REACH
regulations.
19. The term "laminated" refers to furniture components where the veneer's grain is uni-directional. In
"formed plywood" the veneer's grain alternates. Curved components are created when multiple layers
of veneer and adhesive are assembled in molds and pressure is applied. A male and female mold is
typically used for production of larger quantities of laminated or formed-plywood parts. The mold is
constructed from identical layers of routed (or CNC machined) synthetic panel material bolted
together like a giant multi-layer sandwich held together with toothpicks.
20. Steam bending is a woodworking technique in which wood is heated with steam, using a steam box.
When heat is applied, moisture in the steam box makes the wood pliable enough to bend around a
mold, creating a shape.
The molding process is usually done by clamping the strips of wood to positive form, usually reinforced
with a metal band to prevent blowout. Steam bending is limited to the degree in which the wood can
bend, particularly for thick wood. The metal band helps the wood withstand these limitations to a
certain degree but the wood still weakens slightly and can leave stresses which can still cause
breakages or blowouts. The method has been used during the manufacturing process of a wooden
boat, when shaping the hull’s ribs and board. Other products can be made using this method, such as
violins and wooden furniture.
Steam bending uses low energy and is also an ecological and economical method of manipulating
wood.
21. Skateboard deck
Description of stage
and any problems
Mark out the dimensions
of the model - such as
length and width. These
need to be accurate and
correct to how I have
planned.
The balsa wood is difficult
to cut as the wood easily
frays and splits into fibres.
This makes the wood weak
and has broke on several
occasions.
To cut the wood, often
used a craft knife, to cut
away the layers of the
wood. Sometimes this
wasn’t effective and I had
to use a hack saw.
Materials & Tools
For this model I have used balsa wood due to its ease of
modification and strength. After producing this model, I left it
unfinished and diverted polishing it for a better finish as it is
only concept and I don’t feel a huge amount of effort needs to
be put into this model. As long as I have presented my original
idea efficiently then I feel I can benefit from making it to
understand any faults or problems that may occur.
Evaluation Comments
This concept model is an accurate representative of the deck I
will be producing, prior to it being steamed and flexed into the
conventional skateboarder shape.
The design on the base differs from what I have planned, but
was produced solely to show the colour scheme that I am
hoping to use if using vinyl to present my design.
Wall-mount rack
Description of stage
and any problems
I marked out the
dimensions of the wallmount rack on balsa wood
and cut it with a hack saw.
I then sanded down the
edges to reduce the
amount of fraying on the
edges that caused
splintering.
Once all of the parts had
been cut and sanded, I
assembled them according
to my original concept
design. I glued them
together with a hot glue
gun and sanded the
components down further
to hide the use of glue.
Materials & Tools
For this model I have also used balsa wood, this is due to its
durability and ease of use. It is easy to modify and especially
strong to use on a small model such as this. As this is just a
concept, I have not polished the model of for a better finish. I
used a sanding disc to sand down the rough edges and round
off all of the sharp corners of the model.
Evaluation Comments
This model has not been much help to me – it is inaccurate and
is not how I planned for it to look. The shape is different to my
initial idea and has not resulted in the finish that I aimed for.
The design also not function as intended and would be very
impractical.
26. Job
Description & Quality control
Material
1
I started my product by
drawing a few sketches to
generate ideas that would be
suitable for the idea that I
would like to follow. This gave
me a chance to produce
various ideas and cover a
range of different angles.
I drew my designs and ideas
on A3 paper with fine-writers
and coloured pencils for
shading.
•
•
•
•
•
I didn’t require any material
during this process.
No tools/equipment was
needed.
2
After analysing my designs, I
chose my favourite ideas to
develop into the modelling
process. In order to make this
decision, I analysed the ideas I
had produced, based on
aesthetics, function and ease
of production.
This took a matter of minutes,
as all I had to do was analyse
which idea I though was my
best design.
•
•
•
•
•
•
In total, this process took a
few hours.
3
Once I had chose my favourite
designs out of the ideas in
which I had previously
produced, I started my
concept modelling. This would
give me a realistic idea of what
the final product may
resemble.
No materials were required.
4
After finishing the models, I
decided on the idea I wanted
to producing as my final
product. I made the decision
based off of my interest in
making it, the aesthetics and
its function.
Balsa wood
Cardboard
Tools/Equipment
A3 paper
Fine-writer
Pencil
Ruler
Coloured pencils
Scissors
Craft knife
Glue gun
Pencil
No tools/equipment was
needed.
Time Taken
Generating ideas took a
couple of hours, before
deciding on which idea I
wanted to develop further.
Deciding on a final product
didn’t take too long, as I had
my models to help me decide.
Health & Safety
27. Job
Description & Quality control
Material
•
5
After deciding on my final
product design, I created a full
scale model of the deck. This
helped me visualise what the
final piece would look like and
allowed me to make
appropriate changes.
No materials were needed as I
was simply evaluating my
previous work.
No tools/equipment was
needed.
6
Once I had corrected all
mistakes on my deck, I began
production.
Firstly, starting by producing
the steam chest, in which the
deck would be place inside,
within a mould.
This took a matter of minutes
to decide on what task to do
first when beginning the
production of my final
product.
•
•
Bandsaw
7
I began producing my steam
chests sides and base using ply
– this material was easy to cut
accurately and is suitable for
its purpose in my product.
This process did not take long
at all and was around 20
minutes.
Once I had cut the pieces for
the chest, I began assembling
it using screws.
•
Ply
8
•
•
Screws
Screwdriver
This took around half an hour
in total to assemble the body
of the chest.
•
Ply
•
Bandsaw
9
All the chest needed now was
a top in which the steamer
would be clamped too. I
measured the area in which
the top would go and used the
bandsaw to cut it to the
measurements I had just
taken.
This took around an hour
overall, including measuring
the area in which the top
would go and cutting and
assembling it to fit.
Cardboard
Ply
Tools/Equipment
•
•
•
Craft knife
Pencil
Tri-square
Time Taken
This took around an hour to
produce.
Health & Safety
28. Job
Description & Quality control
•
Ply
•
•
Pencil
Ruler
This took around 5minutes, as
the task was straight forward
and simple.
10
Once the top was cut, I
needed to drill holes in the top
in order for the steam to go
through and gain access to the
ply.
I order to do this, I marked on
the areas that I would need to
drill using a pencil. I drew on
the area of the steaming pad
on the top of the chest and
drew the drill holes
accordingly.
Once I had marked all of the
holes in which I needed to
drill, I drilled them using a
14mm attachment.
•
Ply
•
•
Drill
14mm attachment
This took around 10 minutes
to complete, as I wanted to
take my time and retain
accuracy on the marks that I
had drawn prior to drilling.
The steam chest was complete
for now, so I started work on
the mould I would be using
the shape the deck.
In order to produce a male
and female part of the mould,
I needed quite a large piece of
wood – luckily I managed to
get hold of a roof joist and
used that.
Once I had obtained the wood,
I marked on the area that
needed to be cut. Then using a
bandsaw, I cut the shape out.
•
11
12
Material
Timber
Tools/Equipment
•
•
•
•
Bandsaw
Pencil
Ruler
Protractor
Time Taken
This process took around an
hour overall, marking the
decks concave and angles of
the kick-tails had to be
accurate so took a lot of time.
Cutting the wood was quicker
and did not require much
time.
Health & Safety
29. Job
13
14
15
16
Description & Quality control
Material
Tools/Equipment
Time Taken
Next, I began to produce the
actual skateboard deck. Using
Techsoft 2D, I designed a deck
to scale, using all of the
correct measurements.
•
None
•
Techsoft 2D Design
This took around 30 minutes
to do and I also learnt some
new things about the
software.
After I had produced the deck,
I decided on a design that I
wanted engraving into the
base of the board.
After designing a simple
silhouette on Adobe
Photoshop, I was able to
import it into Techsoft 2D
design and align it correctly on
the deck I had just designed.
•
None
•
•
Techsoft 2D Design
Adobe Photoshop
This took around 20 minutes
to do.
Once I had converted the work
to a DXF file, I was able to
launch the design in HPC Laser
System 5.3 in order to cut and
engrave my specified file.
After the cutting and
engraving had finished, I had
3 copies of the deck and 1
version of the engraved base.
•
Ply
•
•
•
HPC Laser System
Techsoft 2D Design
Laser cutter
This took around 1 hour in
total, as the cutting and
engraving areas were of a
large scale and took around 10
minutes per deck to cut and
around 30 minutes to engrave.
Health & Safety