The document outlines the design process for a coffee table, including research, initial designs, development, and planning for manufacture. Research included analyzing existing products, materials, and their properties. Key considerations were providing storage, suitability for first-time home buyers, and the retail environment. Initial designs incorporated feedback on size, color, and functionality. Plans for manufacture using CAD/CAM aimed to ensure the design could be suitable for commercial production. The design process demonstrated thorough research, development, and planning to meet the given design brief.

1. GCSE Resistant Materials
‘A’ Grade
Task: 11-Coffee Table

2. 1.Context and Design Brief
10.Final Specification
2.Analysis of Context
11.Initial Designs
3.Research into Existing
Products
12.Development
13.Final Design Proposal
4.Product Analysis of
PRIMARY Research
5.Materials and their
properties
14.Modelling and Testing
15.Evidence of CAD/CAM
16.Cutting List
6.Materials and Finishes
Testing
17.Plan of Making – flow chart
7.Other relevant research
18.Manufacturing Diary
8.User Profile
19.Evaluation
9.Analysis of Research

3. A major high street retailer wishes to market a
multipurpose, modern style small coffee table aimed at
the first time buyer. The product could include some
storage space. Design and make a coffee table for this
market.
I am going to design and make a Modern style coffee table that
is suitable for the first time buyer. It will be suitable to put in a flat
as most first time home owners live in flats or apartments. It will
be able to store various things. It will be multipurpose. The
coffee table will be designed for IKEA the high street retailer and
it will be sold their. My product will be suitable for batch
production. I will use materials that have been used before to
make my projects more environmentally friendly.

4. What will the product need to store/how will it function?
The product I am designing will have to have some storage facilities, also it will have to be able to be used as a coffee table that is
suitable for multipurpose jobs. Indents in the table will stop any mugs/cups from sliding around the table, also a drawer underneath
that will be able to store magazines.
What environment will the product be designed for and how will this affect the overall design?
The product is aimed at the first time buyer so they will be most likely to be living in a flat of apartment. The coffee table will be
suitable for different rooms whilst still being used as a regular coffee table. This means that my product would have to have certain
components eg, feet so that the surface isn't scratched. A flat surface is also needed so that any coffee cups don’t slide off a spill. The
legs must be the same length so that the table doesn’t rock and anything on it fall of or over.
What materials will the product be made from and how can you consider environment issues when selecting these?
My product will have to be made from materials that aren't easily scratched. Also the materials will have to look good as it may be
stored in a living area. I the materials I choose must be Semi-Permeable so that if something is spilt on it the liquid wont be
absorbed and it can be wiped off easily. I will use materials that can be recycled so that I am contributing towards a better
environment.
How will you assemble the materials?
My coffee table will be assembled using Mortise and Tenon joints to attach my table legs to the table top. I will use this as it is easy to
do and will give a good finish as it is not easily noticeable. I will use various components also on my table so that it will be fitted
together well. I will have to use Adhesives, nuts and bolts so I can put my various materials together.
How will you ensure your product is suitable for commercial production?
I will use CAD/CAM to produce most of my product so that is it was commercially produced it would be easy to assemble. This
would also make the product more accurate and look professional.
Are their any cost restrictions that will influence your design and why?
The product will be restricted by cost as it will be designed with IKEA in mind; which limits the cost due to furniture being sold
at affordable prices. This means I cant spend to much on it as I wouldn’t get as much as I profit that I could.
What sort of shop/retail outlet could you see your product being sold in?
I could see my product being sold in a highly renown retail store like IKEA. This is because it is the type of multi-purpose
item that could be sold their. Also it would have a good quality finish and a good appearance, this is because it will be
mostly designed and made using CAD/Cam.

5. I have chosen this product
as I think the design is
unique and I would like to
interpret something like this
into my design.
This product doesn’t have any type of
finish but will have wood protection
on it, on my product I want to use a
finish on it to brighten the product
and make it stand out more.
This product will have be made using
CAD/CAM as it is the cheapest and
easiest way to make it, my product will
be mainly made using CAD/CAM with
some hand skills included.
My personal opinion on this product
is that I like the unique design and it
would fit in well int. a household, this
is because no colour scheme is really
present in this product.
In this product the legs are made from wood and
the table top from glass, they may have used glass
on this as it can be recycled after use, but on the
other hand the glass will have to be melted at a
higher temperature than plastic so it will be worse.,
I would like to use these same material choices but
I am not able to use glass on my product.
This is a bench but I thought I would
be able incorporate this design into
my coffee table. I liked design of
having a table top and wood around
This product will be made from
the edges and then I could place a
fully recycled wood. This means
drawer underneath to store items in
that the bench will not have had
it.
a large environmental impact
This product has been designed so that it
when getting the materials to
is good for the environment, this means
make the bench.
that when built I will not have been made
all be machines and all materials with be
fully recyclable so that when it isn't
needed anymore you can recycle it and
look after the environment.
As this product will be used
outside the wood will have
been treated to make it
waterproof but other than
that to reduce the impact on
environment no other
refinishes will have been
used.
This product has a plain black
colour scheme , I am thinking
about using a dark colour on my
product so that other colours
would stand out more and it
would make it look more
aesthetically pleasing.
I like this product as it is
a simple design but still
looks good. This would
be a good design as it is
easy to make using
CAD/CAM.
This product will have
been made using
CAD/CAM as it has a
simple design.
This product will have
been made using some
sort of plywood as this is
one of the only woods
that could bend and still
be strong enough to hold
weight and not break.
This coffee table has a
wooden plank fitted under the
main table, this can be used
to place magazines and other
items could also be stored
there.
I like this product as
it is had a traditional
look. Also the
pattern that has
been engraved on
the table top.
This table has been
made using wood and
will have be coated with
a wood protective paint
on it.
This product will have been
made using CAD/CAM and
some hand skills used to
fully assemble the product.

6. These children's tables have
been designed with a target
audience in mind. This gave
them a clear indication of
what they would have to look
like.
There is a basic shape of the table
with four stable legs to prevent
collapse’s, the wood will also have
had a finish that will make it more
water resistant to the table isn't
damaged
The table tops have been
finished with bright, bold colours
to make them more appealing to
children. No sharp edges are
present, this prevents any
injuries as small children will be
using them.
I chose to use this table as I
think I may be able to bring
some if its design into my
own. The small glass ledge
I am not able to use
under the table top will be
useful for putting things on glass in my product but
I would be able to
e.g. Magazines.
replace the glass with
acrylic plastic and it
would still work.
When manufacturing this they would
have taken into account the affects it
would have on the environment. The
glass if better for the environment
than plastic as it can be recycled
where as plastic cant, but they would
have to burn more fuels to get a
higher temperature to melt the glass
down which I higher than plastic.
This table will have been
made using machines and
a work force, this is due to
the glass, machines would
no be able to place the
glass on the metal legs.
I have chose to include this
image as it has similar
aspects as I want my design
to have. I would like to
include the small desk
underneath the table top.
Not many finishes have been
place on this item of furniture
as it does not need anything
to be added to it. Think
sheets of plastic have been
placed on the edges.
This table has been made of a
man made board with sheets of
wood glued around the main
board. They are held up buy
tubes of plastic that have been
glued to each panel of wood.
This table is using black as a
single block. This colour
choice makes it able to be
put in any room as the colour
black will go with any colour
you want It too.
This table will be made with
metal and will have been
produced on a production
line by machines. The
reason for this choice is that
it will be cheaper, easier and
faster to make than if you
had people doing it.
This table has a unique style with
only using three legs unlike most
tables with have 4. The edges are all
curved off to give it a better look.
This table has a simple
but smart design. Where
the legs join the table to
holes have been cut into
the table top so that you
can put mugs in.

7. Pine wood
I have chosen pine wood as a material I could use as it is a natural wood and is better for the environment
than man made wood are. Pine wood is relatively cheap so I can use it for my table. Pine is easy to cut
and shape, this would make my job easier and save time meaning I can concentrate on getting a better
overall grade rather than just getting the shape I want. Pine is an easy wood to get a nice smooth finish on.
Maple wood
I have chosen maple as a material I could use as it is another natural wood making my table better for the
environment. Maple is hard and strong this means that it wont be scratched easily. Maple is relatively easy
to cut making my job easier giving me more time to do other things. Maple can have a good finish if done
correctly, this will make my project look better. I could use this for the legs ion my design as it will have a
good finish due to its smooth consistency.
Polyvinyl chloride
(PVC)
I have chosen PVC as a material I can use because it is easy to shape and is available in a variety of
different colours. At the end of my tables life cycle I can recycle PVC making my project better for the
environment. With PVC is heated it can be bent into any shape so I could use it for many different uses.
If were to mass produce my project I could use this as it is easy to shape and easy to cut speeding up
my product time which saves money.
Acrylic
I have decided to use acrylic plastic on my product as it is easy to make by designing the shape on the
computer and using the laser cutter to cut it out. I also think that if I use light gathering acrylic it will give
my product a different aspect to it. I could also use this for my table top as it is waterproof and easy to
clean.
Glass
I could use glass on my project as a table top, I would use it for this purpose as it is impermeable so it is
waterproof. Also after someone was finished with the table they could recycle the glass making my table
better for the environment. Additionally I would not have to apply any finish on the glass I would only
have to clean it. If made in industry glass will probably be used for the top, however we do not have the
facilities to cut glass in school.

8. Varnish: I would use varnish on my
product as it is waterproof. Also if I
decide to make my product out of
natural timber it enhances the grain
and gives it a good finish lifting all
grains to improve the appearance.
Gloss: I would use gloss paint on
my table as it gives it a good
finish. Gloss paint can be washed
easily as, also it is waterproof and
any spills will be easy to clean up.
Bee’s Wax: I would use bee’s wax as it
would give my wood a good finish. When
bee's wax is applied it lifts the grain
bringing the colours out. I think I would
prefer using the varnish as it does have a
colour added to it which would also
enhance the grain.
Runners: I would use runners on my
table because if I have a drawer under
it I would nee to be able to slide lit out.
This would be good for my project as
It would as another element on my
work. If I was to mass product my
project it would be hard to use these
as a machine wouldn’t be able to fit
these.
I will use adhesive glue to glue my
different materials together as this
is easy to use, fast drying and very
strong. The only problem is it’s not
recyclable as it’s a thermosetting
plastic. I have chose to use this as
it will be the best type of glue to use
on wood and plastic.

9. Anthropometrics
Ergonomics is about
people and how they fit
into the items they have
around them, e.g. used
to make items like chair
so that they fit to the
human body.
Anthropometrics is the
human body and how it
works within the
environment around it,
e.g. measurements of
how to fit into the a chair.
274.32mm
Ergonomics
Under my desk I want to
have somewhere to put
magazines. I need to add
something so the
magazines don’t slide
around. For this I need to
get the dimensions of
magazines.
Depth: 7.62mm
Height: 274.32mm
Diameter: 210.82mm
210.82mm
82.55mm
Depth: 1539.74mm
Height:449.83mm
Diameter: 1539.74mm
In my desk I will put I a
little indent for the mug
to go in so it doesn’t
slide on the table. I will
have to make it so that
it will fit almost any
size mug.
449.83mm
95.25mm
Height: 95.25mm
Diameter: 82.55mm
1539.74mm
Here I have found
measurements for a few
tables and was able to
get a suitable size for my
project. I have had to
make my work to a
certain size so that it fits
into the area.

10. Name: Joseph James
Age: 21
Occupation: Designer
Interests: Creating new designs and ideas, socialising and meting new people in the area.
Location: Manchester, England
Thoughts: Original design, looks good in a household area. Table needs to be larger to get better use out of it.
Limitations: The table has a specific colour theme so it wont fit into some rooms if the colour scheme is not the
same.
Cost: £30-£40
Name: Wajeeha Qazi
Age: 25
Occupation: Designer/artist
Interests: Finding new inspiration for me to paint, going out with friends in the local area.
Location: Liverpool, England
Thoughts: A smart design that enables me to use the table for all purposes needed.
Limitations: The table is not large enough for me to use effectively as I cannot fit enough things onto the table
top.
Cost: £35-£45
Name: Frank Holloway
Age: 42
Occupation: Musician
Interests: Playing different musical instruments
Location: Warrington, England
Thoughts: A unique design that has a smart colour scheme.
Limitations: The table top needs increasing in size to get the maximum use. The rest of the table also needs
increasing in size so that it is taller.
Cost: £25-£40

11. In my research into existing products if
found that tables can cost from about £30£200. Tables are made from different
materials but most are wood, plastic or
glass. Certain tables are ready made so
they cant be disassembled but the cheaper
ones you normally have to put together
yourself. Most tables have plastic or some
material on the bottom to stop them from
scratching the floor. Most coffee table will
have four legs but some of the more artistic
ones will have three. They have drawer
under the table to prevent the table being
clustered with magazines and other items. I
will consider this when designing my table
and make sure my table included these
popular findings.
Whilst researching into existing materials I
found that there are lots of different
materials I could use to make my project
successful. I researched materials that I will
be able to use and that will look good when I
am finished. I found that the best material
for me to use on my project would be
flexible plywood as I will be able to make it
into any shape I would want and it will still
have a good visual affect.
On this slide I have researched into
ergonomics and anthropometrics, I
did this research so that it would give
me further help into how I will have to
make my design. I found the average
sizes of tables on the market today,
the size I will have to make my drawer
to fit the magazines and the size hole
I will have to make to fit in a mug. I
gave a brief description of what
ergonomics and anthropometrics are
also. I will make sure that my table
considers these measurements to
ensure all items fit neatly on the table.
On this slide I researched into some
finishes and components that I could
use for my project. I found that I would
be best using varnish on my project
as it has a good finish and Is
waterproof and also gives the wood a
little shine. I also found that if I want
my wood to have a good natural
colour on it I should rub bees wax into
it as it brings the grain out of the
wood. Either of these will do, although
I think the varnish will stand out more
giving it a shiny appearance.

12. My design must:
Reason:
Have a target audience from the age of 20-45.
To give my item a large area to sell in. I chose this age range as these are the main people that are buying new
homes and looking to furnish them.
Have a place to store items
To store items in so that the table doesn’t get filled with junk. This will also add an extra aspect to my project.
To do this I will add a draw or a shelf to place items on.
Not include any offensive language or images.
So that my item isn’t offensive to any religions or anyone else. Also I may not be able to make my project. To
make sure this doesn’t happen I will research into things that may be found offensive and not include them in
project.
Be a suitable size
So that it will fit into a house and be at the correct size for the proper use. 449.0mm in height, 153.9mm in depth
and 153.9mm in diameter, I found that this would be a suitable size for my coffee table to be.
Have a consistent house style
So that my item will have a good chance of selling and it wont look out of place. Also if it doesn’t have a
consistent colour it won't look right.
Be suitable to its environment
So that it wont look out of place and will fit properly indoors. Also if I put my item outdoors it will have to be
waterproofed. Additionally even if it is kept indoors my table top will have to be waterproof so that if anything is
spilled it wont be absorbed.
Have a low cost
So that I will be able to afford to make so that I am not restricted when making my product. Also if I am to sell
my item the cost to make will be have to be as low as possible so that I can make more profit of it when selling.
Be waterproof
So that if anything is spilled it would be absorbed. Also if it is moved outdoors and it rains the product wont be
completely ruined. I could do this by using plastic or if I use wood add a waterproof finish.
Have holes to place glasses/mugs in
So that they wont slide around on the table. This will also help to prevent spillages on the table. I will cut these
out using the laser cutter.
Use suitable Materials
For my table top I will use acrylic as it is already impermeable and for my legs I will use Plywood or MDF as it is
more stable than plastic and also cheaper when using to make.
Have a finish
I won’t have to finish my acrylic apart from cleaning it, I will use varnish on my wood legs so that is becomes
more waterproof and the aesthetics is improved by enhancing the grain.

13. To make this design I followed the design specification so that it will have everything that is needed. It has the basic table top that
will be made of MDF as it is easy to shape and after sanded down it will have a nice finish. On the corners I will use finger joints as
these will be the easiest to make using CAD/CAM. In these joints I will use PVA glue to make the hold stronger, this will prevent
the pieces from being taken apart. I will put a wood protector finish on it so that if anything is spilt on it the surface of the table will
not be damaged. This will also give my wood a darker colour improving the aesthetics. To make my design I will use a mixture of
CAD/CAM and hand work so that it will have the best possible appearance, using CAD/CAM will also speed up production time
and make the cuts more accurate than I could do by hand. For the base of my design I will also use MDF as it is the easiest wood
to work with and it has a low cost, I will also add small feet to the bottom with a layer of fabric to prevent the base from scratching
the floor. A bad point about this design is that it is a quite simple design that some people may not want to buy as it would not
stand out in a home. A good point about this design is that as it doesn’t have a specific colour scheme so it would fit into most
areas of a home.
This design is my favourite one as it has a unique style to the rest and looks the best. This design needs some more components
to it so that it will meet my specification, I will add a acrylic table top that will rest on the supports to make the project more suitable
another reason for me to use acrylic is that I wont need to add any type of finish to it, I will then add more plastic in-between each
support so that I could use the below bit as an area that I could store items in. I will make this out of a mixture of wood and plastics
as this is the easiest way for me to make each part more accurate. The table top and its supports will be made out of acrylic
plastic as it will be able to design them and cut them out using the laser cutter, this will make my pieces more accurate and they
will have a better fit. I will make the legs out of wood as this will be the most supportive thing to use if too many items are on the
table it wont collapse, also I will be able to cut these out using the router making each piece identical. I will use cross halving joint
to fit all of the acrylic supports together as this is the most stable and least complicated I will then add some tensol glue to make
the hold stronger. I will use the same type of joint cross halving joint on the legs but not as complex as there aren't as many pieces
to slot in, here I will add PVA glue to again make the hold stronger. To attach the acrylic top to the wooden bottom I will use
araldite glue.
I developed this design by looking at my specification and seeing what I needed to include too make my product successful. From
here I added different aspects to it as I went on to make sure that everything was covered. I would create this design completely
out of MDF as it would be the easiest to work with, I will be able to cut each side on the router to make them accurate. I would then
be able to add wood protector to give my wood a darker tint giving it a better look and help protect against spillages. I would use
finger joints on the corners to get the best possible fit and so that it is strong I would then add PVA glue to them to make them
stronger this will also prevent the pieces to be taken apart. I don’t particularly like this design as it is too plain without many different
components to it. On this I would have a flat base with two shelves cut out of the sides. I would then add small feet to the bottom
with felt on the bottom of the feet to prevent the floor from being scratched. It would have two holes cut out go the table top to place
mugs into to ensure they don’t slide around and spill, I will make these by including them in on my design on the computer and
then when I use the router to cut it out it will be done for me I will then sand these down to remove the sharp edges.

14. This design is the hardest out of them all for me to make as it has six draws and a shelf on it, this would
include too many things to do in the amount of time allocated. I also wouldn't be able to make this as it would
include too many components for me to buy and I wouldn’t be able to afford it. I would again make this all out
of wood as it would be too hard to use any plastic on this, also wood is more suitable for this as it is stronger
plus you could add a finish to wood to make it look better e.g. Bee’s wax. This design meets most of the
specification, the problem with this is that it has a common design therefore people would rather buy a
different design. I would use finger joints on the corners again to give it the best possible fit, this would be the
strongest one to use of the lot ,I will be able to make these fit perfectly buy designing the woods shape on the
computer and using the router to cut it out. In the finger joints I would include a drop of PVC glue to make the
fit even stronger and make it so the woods cant be taken apart.
Whilst I was drawing this design I made sure it was slightly different from the rest. I did this as some of them
where too similar and I didn’t have much of a choice between them as they where the same. On this I would
have to use flexible plywood to make sure the bend on the edges was stable, also this is the easiest wood to
bend as I can steam bend it. I have added a shelf and a draw to put items in so they don’t get lost or clog up the
table top. On this I would add a wood protector to make it waterproof. I would nail the pieces of wood together
and then use a gloss paint over the whole thing, this will give it a colour scheme and hide where the nails have
been put into place. I will place feet on my design to make sure that it doesn’t roll over, this will also prevent the
wood from scratching any floor if I add fabric to the bottom. I will cut each peace of wood out using CAD/Cam to
make it more accurate, this will improve the standard of my work.
I wouldn’t be able to make this idea as it involves things that I would not have the ability to do. I would make this
product out of a mixture of woods, I would do this so that it would have different aspects to it. I would use plywood
on the table top so I can add a nice finish at the end, I would also be able to make this waterproof by adding a
wood protector to it. I would use MDF for the legs as it is cheaper and easier to work with, this would also make it
easier to cut each section out at the side. Each part would be designed and cut out using CAD/CAM saving my
time but making it better overall. I will use dove tail joints on the corners to make the table stable and also make it
so the table cant be taken apart. I would add PVA glue to make the hold even stronger. To make this I will use
recycled woods, this will make my item more environmentally friendly but also the woods will have different shades
to them making the colours better. I like this piece because of the sides have a unique style.

15. I created this design so that it would fit into a garden environment and not look out of place. I would make this out of
Plywood, this is because if I used MDF the water would turn the wood back into mulch and would be completely ruined.
Also I would be able to add a gloss paint to the wood to give it a nice block colour and also to make the wood more water
resistant. I would cut most parts using the router but some parts like the leaf I would be able to cut out by hand using a
coping saw. I would glue each part together with PVA glue. The steam would attach to the black at the bottom using a
mortise and tenon joint, I would use this as it will give the best possible fit and also the most stable. This design does not
meet all of my specifacation therefore if I was to make this I would have to make some changes and add other aspects
to it.
I chose to draw this as it have something different than what any other design has. The Bars that will hold the table top
up will be make out of light gathering acrylic plastic, I chose this material as it doesn’t cost much and it will give my
project a really nice aspect, I will cut each one of these to the same length by designing them on the computer and just
copying each design every time. I will try to create a draw in this between the rods, I will do this by lining up each rod and
adding runners along them this is were I will attach the drawer. I will make the table top also out of acrylic as it is already
waterproof and I will be able to cut it out on the laser cutter, this will make my table more accurate. To glue each acrylic
rod together I would use a tensol glue.
To design this I used one of Allesi’s design to create the main shape. I will make the shapes out of wood using the router
as this would make my work more accurate. The hole in the centre of the shapes will be used to place magazines in for
storage, I will do this by getting a strip of plywood and bending it into a circle, I would then slot this in the holes to create a
tube shape. To make the table top I would design a acrylic plastic shape on the computer and cut it out on the laser cutter,
I have chosen acrylic as it is waterproof and it wont require a finish on it. Too attach each of the shapes together I will use
wooden dowel rods with PVA glue to hold them in place. I will use Araldite glue to attach the table top to the wooden
holders.
This was the first design I came up with. I designed this by looking online and looking at what most coffee table included.
From here I looked at my specification and what I needed to include. Here I added different aspects that I thought would
give my item more of a chance of being successful. In this I would have half the table top to open to store items in as well
as having the drawer to put other items in. I would make this out of MDF as it is the cheapest wood I can use and it is the
easiest wood to work. On the bottom of each leg I would put a fabric so it doesn’t scratch any floor that it is put onto. To
attach the legs to the table top I would mortise and tenon joints with PVA glue inside them. I would use these as they are
the easiest to make. To make the draw I would attract two runners the four legs and hang the draw off of that. I would
finish this off with paint to make it water and stain proof.

16. Materials
Finishes
I will be able to use acrylic plastic to
construct most of my table as it is
easier to work with than wood. I will
also use some plywood on the legs
so that it is more stable, also
plywood will look god with the
acrylic if the right colour is chosen.
I will not have to add any finishes to
the plastic. As it is already
impermeable, I will just have to
clean it. I have decided to use a
clear varnish on my plywood legs as
it will bring out the grain in the
wood, also this will make the wood
water resistant.
Joints and Components
I will use a cross halving joint to
attach my legs together as
these are easy to cut out using
a hand held jigsaw and will give
my wood a nice tight fit so they
wont come apart.
Adhesives
I will use tensol to glue my acrylic
supports to the table top. I will also use
PVA glue to glue my wooden legs
together. I will have to add some araldite
glue in the joint between the wood and
acrylic so that they wont come apart.
Social, moral and cultural
I will need to ensure that my design isn’t
offensive or that it seen to encourage
violence. I will have to make sure that
any designs are not offensive to a
particular religion. Finally will have to
make sure that my project is modern so
modern so that doesn’t impact anyone.
Ergonomics
I will have to ensure that my
design is ergonomically suitable,
for example I will have to make
sure it is at the right height to be
used properly rather than be too
tall or to small. I will also make
sure that I use a colour scheme
rather than just have random
colours dotted around my table.

17. For the supports for my table top I am
also going to use cross halving joints to
make them fit in the best possible way.
I will have to adapt two of the joints to
ensue the four shapes all fit together in
the centre. Within the cross halving
joint I will add tensol glue to make the
hold stronger. I will design these on 2D
design and use the laser cutter to cut
them out. This will ensure that they will
all fit together perfectly with much work
needed by me. This would be an
advantage if made in batch as few
workers would be needed making it
faster and cheaper.
This is my original design that I made
based on ‘Agave light’ by Diego Rossi.
From here I added legs to it to ensure it
is the correct height. I have decided to
use a cross halving joint on my product
as this is the easiest joint for me to make
and also a strong joint if PVA glue is
added to it. I will design this on 2D
design and use the box router to cut it
out, I have chosen this method as it is
the fastest and most accurate way for
me to cut these out. If my product was
mass produced it would be faster and
cheaper then getting people to cut them
out individually. Plus giving it a more
quality, aesthetic appeal.
The table top will be made using 3mm
thick acrylic which can be cut easily on
the laser cutter to give it a good quality
edge.
I will fit the legs together using
a cross halving joint as this is
the easiest joint to cut out that
will give me a strong fit, I will
also add PVA glue to further
improve the hold.
I will mark out the cutting lines
on my wood using my card
model and cut the legs out
using a hand held jigsaw, then
file and sand using wet and dry
paper.

18. Here is the original design for my table. I
will have develop this as it does not meet
all the requirements in my design
specification. I will need to add a new
table top and somewhere to store items.
This will be made out of a mixture of
plywood and acrylic plastic, I am using
acrylic as I can design this and cut these
shapes out using CAD/CAM.
Here I have added and changed
different aspects of my original
design. I have made these
changes so that my product will
meet my specification and also
so it is more suitable for a
household.
Added new table top as my originally
chosen design was not suitable as it
did not give enough room to use, also
there was no storage space. This
means that my product will better
match my design specification. I will
make this table top out of acrylic as it
is easy to design and cut using
CAD/CAM. I don’t actually like the
shape as it’s too plain and doesn’t do
the base justice. It hides all the key
features and is way too big.
Here I have changed the
shape of the table top as I
liked the idea but I felt being
used as coffee table the
corners on the table were too
dangerous if you were to walk
into it. This shows off the base
more and allows all joints to
be seen and appreciated as
I’d like them to be.

19. I made all of my card model using CAD/CAM. I used the 2D
Design programme and the laser cutter to cut all of my card
out and then stuck it together with tape. I decided to make
my card model using completely CAD/CAM as I knew this
would make my card model completely accurate.
After finishing my card model I have decided I will have to
make it 20mm taller in size so It can be used as a coffee
table. Other than this I feel that the size of other parts of the
table are all what they should be.
The table top has a radius of
250mm, this is the same
width as the bottom of the
table legs. Overall the table
is 320mm tall.
I feel my product has been mostly
successful as it works as it should do
but there are a few thing I need to add
to my product to ensure it meets my
initial specification. Below the table top
where the supports hold the table top I
will have to add something to use as
extra storage space.
In making this card model it has
shown me ways that it can be
improved but it has also shown me the
advantages of my design as it is easy
to move around and looks good in its
correct environment. Additionally it
could do with being slightly bigger
than this.

20. This is the main table top that will be used, I have made
two indents in the circular table to place cups/mugs in.
The table top will be made out of Acrylic as this will be
easy to design and cut out using CAD/CAM, also using
plastic is my product was made in batch production this
would be fast and cheap to build and at the end of its use
can be fully recycled.
400mm
I will make the table top supports
out of acrylic plastic, I have chosen
acrylic as it has a good look with
plywood if the right colour is
chosen,
Also
it
is
more
environmentally
friendly
then
glass. They will be designed and
cut out using CAD/CAM. This will
speed up the time of making my
product giving me more time to
focus on the harder, more time
consuming sections.
I decided to use a flat base for my table as I
felt that this would make it most stable. On a
table the items placed on can be heavy so a
flat base ill prevent any legs from snapping
or the table falling apart.
Cutting list
I decided to go with the conventional four
legged table as I feel this would make my table
the most stable preventing it from falling over.
The legs will be made from 12mm Plywood that
I will cut using a hand held jigsaw. I chose to
use plywood as it had a good final finish when
varnish is added to it also it if recyclable making
my product better for the environment. I will
add a clear varnish to my plywood to bring out
its grain making it more aesthetically pleasing.
As this is wood this is also fully recyclable
ensuring my table is good for the environment.
Plywood isn’t a hard material to
work with so if my product was
made in batch production it would
not take long to cut out and put
together.
To attach the legs together they will
be two long strips of plywood with
the shape needed on the end, in the
centre of both pieces I will use cross
halving joints to securely add the
legs together. I will also hand cut
these using a jigsaw.
Part
Material
Thickness
Size
Colour
Quantity
Finish to be
applied
Table top
Acrylic
3mm
200mm500mm
Frosted
blue
1
N/A
Legs
Plywood
12mm
200mm500mm
N/A
2
Clear Varnish
Table supports
Acrylic
3mm
500mm
Diameter
Frosted
blue
4
N/A

21. Start
Gather 12mm
plywood for
table legs
5 min
QC
Are both
shapes
the
same
Yes
No
Yes
No
Gather 3mm
thick acrylic
and place on
laser cutter,
5min
File and sand
wood to make
same size, smooth
all edges, 2hr
Draw around
template and
mark waste
lines, 10min
Design shape
on 2D design
for table top,
1hr
Attach legs to
the rest of the
table, 30min
Yes
No
Yes
No
QC
Are
markings
correct
QC
Is the
shape
correctly
cut
No
Yes
Mark out joints
on wood,
10min
QC
Are the
piece’s
correctly
attached
QC
Is the
shape
correctly
cut
No
Yes
Cut out shape
using hand held
jigsaw, 30min
Design shape
on 2D design
for table top
supports,
30min
Clamp plywood to
desk with
G-clamp, 1min
Attach the
supports to the
table top,
30min
Gather 3mm
thick acrylic
and place on
laser cutter,
5min
Yes
No
QC
Are
markings
correct
Yes
QC
Are the
legs
correctly
attached
QC
Is the
shape
correctly
cut
No
Buy clear
varnish finish.
10min
Apply finish to
plywood,
30min
No
QC
Is the
paint
good
enough.
Yes
Finish

22. Settings:
Speed- 1.7%, Power 100%
On my product I have used CAD/CAM to
design and make my table top and
supports. To design my product I will use
2D design to design the shapes and then
will cut them out on the laser cutter. This
will make my cutting out more accurate and
it will be faster rather than me cutting it out
by hand.
Here is the laser cutter cutting out
These are some of my designs that I
some of my shapes. I used the laser
designed on 2D design so that they
cutter as this made making my acrylic
could be cut out on the laser cutter. I
shapes faster and also more
used 2D design as it is easy to make
accurate.
my designs and get them cut out on
the laser cutter.
Over the years CAD/CAM has been used more in the
manufacture of products. This helps speed up batch
production lowering the cost to make a product. Also less
workforce is needed as machines do most of the work
increasing the money made by a company. Some
disadvantages of CAD/CAM are that it is less
environmentally friendly as the machines are run using
electricity which is burning more fossil fuels and creating
atmospheric pollution.
If my product was made in batch
production CAD/CAM would be used in
a similar way but on a larger scale. It
would be designed on a computer
before hand and then be used to cut out
the shapes on a machine.

23. Whilst making my project I took pictures of each major process; I did this so I could show how I constructed each part of my project.
Here I am cutting the
legs of my table. I
used the jigsaw so
that I could get the
best possible cut in
the fastest time. I
clamped the plywood
to the desk with a GClamp so the wood
would not move.
Here I am using wire wool
after each coat of varnish.
I am doing this so that in
the end the finish will be
better, after each coat the
wire wool removed any
access that became stuck
to the wood from in the
air. This made sure it had
a nice smooth finish which
had no lumps and bumps
on the surface.
Here is my wood after
it was cut. Here I
checked it against my
card model to ensure it
was the correct size. I
made a card model
first so that I could
ensure all parts of my
table were the correct
size.
Here I am sanding
my wood, I used
three different pieces
of sand paper to give
me the best possible
finish. I did this as it
was cut a millimetre
to large and also so I
could get a smooth
edge.
Here I am using 2D design to
design the acrylic parts for my
table. I used 2D design as this
means I can now use the laser
cutter to cut out my acrylic
shapes, this will make my
work more accurate and be
completed in a faster time.
This also helps my product as
if it was made on a factory line
it would speed up the process
and save money. I made sure
all settings were correct and
they were nested together to
save materials and money.
Here I have attached the
upper part of my card
model to my plywood
legs. I did this to see
how I could find a way to
attach the two pieces
together.
Here are my acrylic
shapes being cut out
on the laser cutter. I
am using CAD/CAM on
my project as this
mean I could easily cut
out and assemble my
projects.
Here are my table
legs ready to be
varnished. I had to set
up in a ventilated area
and wear a mask to
help stop breathing in
the fumes off of the
varnish.
Here I have cut out
my plastic shapes on
the laser cutter. I
used the laser cutter
so I could get the best
possible cut.
Here I am varnishing my
plywood. I decided to use
varnish as this would bring out
the grain on my plywood to give
a good finish. I tried to get the
varnish with the least amount of
VOC’s so that it would be better
for the environment and my
lungs!
Here the laser cuter
incorrectly cut out my
acrylic circles out wrong.
I had to redesign my
shape so that it would
be cut out right.
Here are the joints for my
table top supports. I cut
all these part out on the
laser cutter so they
would fit perfectly
together. I used liquid
solvent cement to glue
these together, this gave
me the strongest hold
leaving the least amount
of marks. I made sure I
applied this with a fine
paintbrush to avoid any
stains on the surface.

24. 1
4
2
5
3
6
Here are six different designs of what combination of wood and acrylic I could use for the section between my table legs and table top supports. I
have spaced out the different pieces of acrylic in different patterns to see what other think / feel about the design before finally gluing it together. I
gathered the view of others before making a final decision:
Miss Quinn
I prefer idea 3 because I like the way each light gathering blue piece of acrylic is separated evenly helping the light to shine through them all more
evenly. This also makes it look more symmetrical and I prefer this controlled aesthetic appeal. Definitely choose this option!
Karen Keating
Idea 5 is good because of the staggered finish. I like the way the LG blue pieces go in and back out again in a staggered style. I think the light
shines through this better and you can see the blue colour more than the others.
Daniel Brownbill
I prefer number 5. I like this idea as it will make the table more unique as these circles are used in a unique way.
After careful consideration, I decided I agreed with Miss Quinn, although it was difficult to decide between this and idea 5 because they both allow
equal amounts of light through the design. I glued all acrylic pieces together with tensol for a strong, long lasting finish.

25. After looking at my original specification, I feel that the table meets Most Points given. This is because I worked hard to make sure that
all aspects were made correctly and safely to avoid mistakes and waste of materials, this was done by having quality control checks at
each stage of the making process and constantly looking at my folder work to remind me what I set out to do..
My design must:
Reason:
Have a target audience from the age of 20-45.
To give my item a large area to sell in. I chose this age range as these are the main people that are buying
new homes and looking to furnish them.
Have a place to store items
To store items in so that the table doesn’t get filled with junk. This will also add an extra aspect to my project.
To do this I will add a draw or a shelf to place items on.
Not include any offensive language or images.
So that my item isn’t offensive to any religions or anyone else. Also I may not be able to make my project. To
make sure this doesn’t happen I will research into things that may be found offensive and not include them in
project.
Be a suitable size
So that it will fit into a house and be at the correct size for the proper use. 449.0mm in height, 153.9mm in
depth and 153.9mm in diameter, I found that this would be a suitable size for my coffee table to be.
Have a consistent house style
So that my item will have a good chance of selling and it wont look out of place. Also if it doesn’t have a
consistent colour it won't look right.
Be suitable to its environment
So that it wont look out of place and will fit properly indoors. Also if I put my item outdoors it will have to be
waterproofed. Additionally even if it is kept indoors my table top will have to be waterproof so that if anything
is spilled it wont be absorbed.
Have a low cost
So that I will be able to afford to make so that I am not restricted when making my product. Also if I am to sell
my item the cost to make will be have to be as low as possible so that I can make more profit of it when
selling.
Be waterproof
So that if anything is spilled it would be absorbed. Also if it is moved outdoors and it rains the product wont be
completely ruined. I could do this by using plastic or if I use wood add a waterproof finish.
Have holes to place glasses/mugs in
So that they wont slide around on the table. This will also help to prevent spillages on the table. I will cut
these out using the laser cutter.
Use suitable Materials
For my table top I will use acrylic as it is already impermeable and for my legs I will use Plywood or MDF as it
is more stable than plastic and also cheaper when using to make.
Have a finish
I wont have to finish my acrylic apart from cleaning it, I will use varnish on my wood legs so that is becomes
more waterproof and the aesthetics is improved.

26. The task I was set was to design a modern styled coffee table aimed at the first time buyer for a high street
retailer. I chose this task as I already had Ideas that I could use that were original and modern.
I feel I met this specification for my coffee table well. I ensured that the specification was met by referring back
to it when creating my ideas and when developing my idea, this made sure all points in my specification were
met.
I feel that my product is easy to use as I have designed it so it will do all of its intended purposes. When
designing and creating my product I always thought of the consumer making sure each part was easy to use, I
tested various different ways to create my product so that I could get the best possible design with the easiest
useable functions. One difficulty may be that my table top is not glued on, this could make the table hard to
use as this can slide around and be knocked off. If made in industry this would be made out of glass and there
would be rubber stoppers to hold it in place. The acrylic is too thin to add rubber stoppers at this stage so I
cannot include them.
I have tested the table with various items that would be used on a table and I feel that the table works the way it should. This is because the
techniques I used were difficult but they made it easy to create a table that is easy for the consumer to use.
When creating my product I tried to be as environmentally friendly as I possibly could. I used materials that could all be recycled. The plywood I
used had already been recycled from another product and taken from the eco bins in school and I tried to use varnish with the lowest VOC’s to
have less impact on the environment.
I have asked some people that are within my target audience and the majority of people thought that my
product was a good modern style with a smart colour scheme.
‘The way all components of the table fit together work well as this could have easily made the table
become unappealing, I would pay £20-£30’
‘The tables colour scheme makes it easy to fit in most parts of my house, I would pay around £25’
‘To get the best possible use out of the table I feel it will need to increase in size, £40 would be to top
possible price.’
‘An advantage of this product are
that it will be hard to find anything
else like it on the market, this
makes it a unique table.’
‘The only disadvantage of this
table is its size. it needs to be
much bigger to make an impact
and so it us useable in a modern
day household’.

27. If I was to make my product again I would ensure that I had larger equipment so that I could make it bigger overall, I feel that the size of
my coffee table was held back due to the lack of facilities available to me. If I had a larger laser cutter and Boxford router in my school to
use for my CAD/CAM my table may have been a more suitable size.
Throughout the process of my designing and creating I had to make numerous changes to ensure that my table worked well, these
changes ranged from changing the colour scheme to changing an entire section of my design. These changes made me really think about
my product and how it would work. If I was to make another product I would have to do a lot more planning before I started making to
prevent drastic changes being made in the middle of creating the product.
If I was to remake my product I would try and find other ways of making it so that I could be more environmentally friendly. I would try to
use a different finish that had less harmful chemicals in it. I would try and use more recycled materials so that nothing useful was wasted.
Here is a small splinter on my plywood. If I was to make my product
again I would ensure not splinters were present on my table. To make
sure of this would use machines to cut out my plywood so that the wood
didn’t need sanding preventing any splinters from occurring. I could use
the Boxford router to create a high quality finish.
In this image you can see a small gap in my product. If I was to make my
product again I would ensure that nothing like this was present. To fix any
problems like this I would have to re-cut out the acrylic on the laser cutter, I
was not able to do this as I did have much time left to complete my product
and it would waste too much acrylic. Therefore if this was made again, I
would make sure the design was 2mm higher on the shorter side to make
sure the table top rested perfectly.

28. Here are the images of my final table.
I took photos of my table from as many angles as I could. I am happy with my
final product as I think it met all of my aims I set and it met my design brief
and specification apart from I decided not to have holes for the mugs as this
would limit where people could place their mugs and also get germs in
causing bacteria and dirt. I have evaluated my product in the previous slide
and shown what improvement have to be made if I was to make it again.
When designing my product I took into account designs that I could use for
inspiration and the opinions of the consumer, this has helped me to achieve
the best possible product I could that successfully meets all of the criteria
apart from one explained above.
Here is my
table in use

29. •The plywood for
my table starts out
its life as a simple
tree.
•This will then be
cut down and
collected.
• The recycled
wood is sent to
another factory
and cut down
into wood
chippings.
•Here it is turned
into MDF. Then it
goes back to
suppliers and
schools for more
manufacture.
•In the factory the wood
is cut down into sheets.
•From here to plywood
is sent off for the wood
to be used.
•The plywood is sent to my school
workshop
•The wood I used was an off cut of the
original sheet of plywood.
•The plywood from
my table can be
recycled at the end
of its useful lifecycle.
•The plywood has been used to
make the table legs.
•This should last for a few years
before it breaks.

30. •The oil is extracted
from the ground
using an oil rig.
•In the factory the oil is
broken down and
separated.
•Here it is made into
the acrylic plastic
• The recycled
acrylic is sent to
another factory
and melted .
•Here it is used
to make other
plastics e.g.
plastic bottles.
•The acrylic is sent to my school workshop
•One of the sheets of acrylic I used was an
off cut so I was being more environmentally
friendly.
•The acrylic from my
table can be recycled
at the end of its
useful lifecycle.
•The acrylic plastic was used to
make the upper part of the table.
•This should last for a few years
before it breaks.