Specialist Techniques And Processes

Two students make the same box. One cuts all the parts, sands them, applies two coats of lacquer, and then discovers that the joints will not close because the lacquer has built up inside them. The other cuts the parts, dry assembles them, fits the lid to the box rather than to a number, glues up, and finishes last, masking the joint surfaces beforehand. Neither is more skilful. One of them wrote down the order of operations before starting.

This is the making topic. It asks how to select and use specialist techniques and processes appropriate for the material and the task, and to use them to the required level of accuracy in order to complete quality outcomes; how to use them safely to shape, fabricate and construct a high quality prototype, including wastage, addition and shaping; and how to prepare a material for a treatment or finish and apply an appropriate one. The specialist technical principles told you what the processes and finishes are; this topic is about carrying them out on the one object you are actually making. It is designing and making principles content, examined in Section C of Paper 1, and it is the topic criterion E of the design and make task, worth 30 marks, is written around.