Fig 17 shows a mild steel bracket used to support a glass shelf in a retail display unit. The bracket is L-shaped with two screw holes drilled through each ...
Question 1 Report
Fig 17 shows a mild steel bracket used to support a glass shelf in a retail display unit. The bracket is L-shaped with two screw holes drilled through each arm. The bracket has been powder-coated in white to match the shop interior.
(a) State one property of mild steel that makes it suitable for this bracket. [1]
(b) Give one reason why the bracket is powder-coated rather than left unfinished. [1]
(c) Name the type of drill bit used to drill the screw holes in the mild steel bracket. [1]
[Total: 3 marks]
Answer Details
(a) One property of mild steel that makes it suitable for this shelf bracket: mild steel is strong and rigid, so it can support the weight of the glass shelf and the displayed products without bending or deforming permanently. [1] Mild steel also has good toughness, meaning it will not snap suddenly under load, and it is ductile enough to be bent into the L-shape during manufacture.
(b) One reason why the bracket is powder-coated rather than left unfinished: powder coating protects the mild steel from corrosion (rust), which would otherwise develop when the uncoated steel is exposed to moisture in the air. [1] The white powder-coated finish also provides an attractive appearance that matches the shop interior, making the bracket visually unobtrusive on the display wall.
(c) The type of drill bit used to drill the screw holes in the mild steel bracket is an HSS (high-speed steel) twist drill bit. [1] HSS retains its hardness at the elevated temperatures generated by friction when drilling through metal, allowing it to cut cleanly without the cutting edges softening or dulling prematurely.
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