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Junior Certificate Technology - Classroom Projectwork

Bird Feeder

Design Task

1. Introduction

This project is a bird house which includes a feeding area containing bird seed. The seed is

housed securely and access is available by opening the lid which is controlled by an electric

circuit. The control switch may be located on the bird house or at a remote location. The

three key focus areas of this project are:

1. The successful operation of a rack and pinion mechanism

2. The successful operation and mounting of limit switches

3. Designing and making an aesthetically pleasing structure that incorporates the

mechanism & circuit housing.

2. Year Group/Term

This project would be suitable for the second or third term of second year or the first term

of third year.

3. Syllabus Topics & Learning Outcomes

The project covers elements of the following syllabus areas:

Design: Designing a range of solutions to the bird feeder which can

accommodate the mechanism and circuit.

Communication: Using a variety of communication techniques to communicate bird

feeder design ideas.

Materials: Developing skills in marking out, assembly & finish in wood & acrylic

to produce the bird feeder.

Mechanisms: Understanding the operation and practical applications of a rack &

pinion mechanism.

Electric Circuits: Developing soldering and assembly skills through constructing, testing

& integrating a forward and reverse motor circuit with limit

switches.

Design and make a feeding station for small

birds which allows controlled access to the

food.

See

Powerpoint

on Resource

DVD

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Aims

To introduce the students to the rack & pinion mechanism, its operation and

applications

To develop the understanding of limit switches when used in conjunction with a

forward and reverse motorised circuit

To encourage creativity in design while working with time and structural constraints

imposed by the brief.

Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to communicate design ideas through the execution,

reading and interpretation of simple sketches and working drawings

Students should be able to build and test a working model of a rack & pinion

mechanism

Students should be able to build a forward and reverse motor circuit with limit

switches and integrate it successfully within the bird feeder structure.

4. Prerequisite Knowledge

Students should have acquired skills in working with a range of materials including

wood and acrylic as well as basic soldering skills

Students need to understand the operation of a forward and reverse motor circuit

with limit switches

Students would also require an understanding of the operation of a range of

mechanisms including the rack and pinion.

(These last two topics may however be developed in conjunction with the practical

element of this project.)

5. Specific Equipment/tools required

Technology room tools & equipment. Sides of wood for housing may be assembled with the

aid of a biscuit joiner if available.

6. Materials required:

Housing may be manufactured in wood (plywood, softwood, hardwood) or plastic (acrylic).

Appendix 1 includes a detailed material list.

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7. Suggested methodology

There are a number of approaches to this project depending on the ability of the students

and the time available.

Option 1

Present students with the entire solution and focus on researching appropriate circuits.

(This element may be made more challenging by including sensors if required – see section

on alternatives below.)

Option 2

Present students with the solution for the food storage element and mechanism and allow

them to design overall external shape. The teacher may impose specific material/size

restrictions on students depending on available resources.

A suitable circuit may be presented by the teacher or researched by the students depending

on the time available.

Option 3 (most difficult, most time required)

Present students with an open ended brief for a bird feeder which has restricted access to

the food area.

8. Procedure/instructions/ information.

See attached sketches in Appendix 2 and attached photos in Appendix 3 for some suggested

construction/assembly details.

9. Health & Safety

The standard Technology room Health & Safety rules and regulations apply.

Hazards specific to this project include the following:

The sides of the bird feeder have a groove to accommodate the rack & pinion. This may be

cut for the students by the class teacher on a table saw or using a router. Alternatively the

students could use narrow moulding/strips of U shaped plastic glued to the sides to achive a

groove.

10. Alternatives

Simpler Solutions

Omit the limit switches and control motor with master on/off switch only.

Omit the mechanism and allow access to the food by manually sliding the top cover.

More challenging solutions

Construct a remote control panel housing the switch so that the operator can open

the food compartment from a remote location.

Specify that access to the food is required in daylight hours only. This requires the

inclusion of an LDR sensor and relay into the circuit.

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11. Assessment/Evaluation

Students should be encouraged to test and evaluate their final product and complete

an assessment sheet (See Appendix viii)

Students could also be given one section of the Junior Cerftificate portfolio to

complete during construction of project. This allows them an opportunity to practice

elements of this third year requirement (Suggestions - Analysis/Research/Design

ideas)

The functionality, quality and finish of the final product could be assessed by the

class teacher.

12. Suggested Resource Material

T4 Resource CD/Resources by Topic/Core: Gears,

Intro to Structures & Mechanisms, etc.

Focus on mechanisms CD

T4 Junior Certificate Technology Resource: Energy & Electricity

Useful Websites: www.t4.ie

www.technologystudent.com

www.flyingpig.com

www.examinations.ie

www.mutr.co.uk

Note: Template for design folio may be found on www.t4.ie

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Appendix 1

Suggested Materials List

Bird Feeder

Material Length(mm)

Width(mm) Thick.(mm) No. Req. Part Name

Plywood 200 65 12 2 Sides

Plywood 120 50 12 3 Front, Back & Division

Plywood 200 144 6 1 Base

Pineboard 300 144 9 1 Back

Acrylic 200 130 5 1 Top of housing

Acrylic 250 140 5 1 Top of house

Wood 35 30 25 1 Motor support

Moulding 15 10 10 2 Trigger for limit switches

Component No. Req

Motor 1

Toggle switch 1

LED 1

Resistor (Size) 1

1.5v battery holder 1

Rack 1

Pinion 1

Limit switches 1

Also required: Wood Glue,

Biscuits for joiner - optional

Screw cups,

Solder,

Exterior Paint/varnish

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Appendix 2 – Sketches

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Appendix 3 - Photos of one completed solution

View from front of bird feeder

Acrylic roof attached with brass

screws and screw cups

On/off switch

Groove to allow rack and pinion to

move

Acrylic cover

View from back of bird feeder

Hole drilled in back

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Storage area for bird seed

Grooves to allow cover to slide

View from under the bird feeder

Plastic rack glued to lid

Base can be removed to allow

access to circuit or mechanism

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Small blocks of wooden moulding to

activate lever switches View from under bird feeder

Slots give the moulding block

space to move when

activating the switch