Design and Technology key terms

A metal added to a joint during joining; in brazing it melts while the parent metals remain solid.

The final surface coating or condition of a product, chosen for its appearance, protection or both.

A material or energy source with a limited supply that is not replenished as quickly as it is consumed.

A textile whose fibres or chemical treatment help it resist ignition or slow burning.

The extent to which a product or system meets the requirements of its intended use.

A treatment or additive that reduces how readily a material ignites or burns.

The ability of a material or structure to bend or flex without breaking.

An interconnected collection of adaptable, computer-controlled manufacturing machines that can change between products or tasks.

A process in which solder on PCB contact pads is heated until it melts and flows, then cools to form joints connecting surface-mounted components to the board.

A substance used during brazing or soldering to limit oxidation or help clean surfaces so that molten filler flows and bonds effectively.

A rigid, lightweight sheet made from a foam middle between two smooth outer sheets, used for models and displays.

A small group of target users brought together to discuss and give feedback on a problem, product or design idea.

Board laminated with aluminium foil to reflect heat and provide resistance to water and oil, commonly used for food packaging.

Bending paper or card so that one part changes direction relative to another.

A component that stays in contact with a cam and moves as the cam rotates.

A shaped support over or around which material is formed.

A natural fuel, such as coal, oil or natural gas, formed over millions of years from the remains of living organisms.

Separation of a mixture such as crude oil into fractions using differences in boiling point.

Drawing by hand without formal drawing aids, used to record and explore ideas quickly.

A table showing how many times each answer, category or value occurs.

The Forest Stewardship Council: an organisation whose certification supports responsible forestry and checks forest-based material supply chains against its standards.

A force-sensitive resistor: a component whose resistance decreases as the force pressing on it increases.

The pivot about which a lever turns.

The ability of a product or system to perform its intended tasks.

What a product or part must do, which determines the properties its materials and components need.

A characteristic affecting how a product performs in use, such as resistance to moisture, stains or wear.

A 3D-printing method in which thermoplastic filament is heated and extruded through a nozzle to build an object in layers.