Week fourteen is going, going...gone! Thus ends the week before Thanksgiving Break. All students are ultimately looking forward to a much needed rest from school (teachers, too). However, this week was full of exciting work, too. Monday watching the show Modern Marvels: Aluminum. This video gave all students an overview on the history, properties, and value of aluminum in modern society. I was assisting someone on Tuesday, and was not present. Thursday involved using AutoCAD to make a base/trailer for the cabin itself. I was called once more for a meeting in the office, therefore I didn't get very far. I also got assigned to a companion project: Fire Pits!
This week's essential question was: what makes aluminum so special?
Aluminum is a very light metal with many varying uses and applications. It has a relatively melting point and can be easily compressed into thin sheets . It can be used for the outer shell of cars, crumpling easy for increased driver protection. It is also very lightweight, thus increasing mileage on vehicles. It can also be used as aluminum foil, to keep microbes and germs out of food and keep it fresh for extended periods of time.
This week in AutoCAD, we students have began our lessons in building teardrop trailers, though they don't have to be teardrops. All work was CAD work, as the first two days of the week were holidays (Veteran's Day and the Marine Corps birthday, y'know). Wednesday was the first stage of planning, with reviewing what types of trailers there were out there and what kinds appealed to us. Thursday was further research, examining dimensions and both interiors and exteriors. Needless to say, it was a fun experience.
The reader may note that this post has been typed a week AFTER the aforementioned week. This is because I was called for a meeting in the middle of class, so I could not finish it that day. Thus, my hand has been forced to do it now.
There was no essential question this week.
Thus, 3 months of school have concluded! This week, we students have participated in the tasks of watching a "Modern Marvels" episode on the production of metals, 3-D AutoCAD, and further work on the CNC Router and MIG Welder. As the Metals is part of the essential question, I will refrain from addressing that until the conclusion of the post.
First off, the class worked with our teacher to make a small, 3-D part in AutoCAD. This involved using the 3-D tab to make objects become three-dimensional. Since this was my first time using it, I was a little behind in making the part and using functions, but I got through. Another useful tool was being able to turn the 3-D objects to either Wireframe or Shaded, or Sketched, and so on. This gives the creator a preferred look to his work.
Next, I have been working on a CNC Router project. I used Quickpart to formulate a design for my piece, and brought some of my own red spray paint to colour the wood. I decided on making a United States Marine Corps themed piece for November 10th, the USMC birthday. It will be given to my father.
Lastly is the essential question: What metal that humans have produced has had the most effect on our life?
This point can be argued many ways. For me, I prefer aluminum. However, I shall give a small list on the pros and cons of each metal mentioned in the video, as to address each point of view.
Copper: Highly conductive and malleable, can be easily turned into wiring for machinery. Used in many modern products such as phones, computers, and basically anything that uses electricity.
Bronze: An alloy. Much stronger than copper alone, fused with tin. Was made for weapons and practical pieces in the Bronze Age. Now used for mostly aesthetics. Malleable and light.
Iron: Much stronger and heavier than bronze, not to mention much more widely available. Easily able to rust. Used in many modern applications, including axes, pick-axes, hoes, and other gardening or heavy working tools
Gold: Never rusts, very ductile and malleable, and pretty. Was used in currencies for hundreds of years, now used in wiring or microchip components. Since it is much weaker than most other metals, it is not used for tools.
Steel: Strong, durable, and reliable. It is used in skyscraper frames, car frames, and literally every modern tool or kitchen utensil to date. Ships, cars, trains, tanks, trucks, and everything in between has steel somewhere. Slightly expensive to manufacture.
Aluminum: Very malleable, lightweight, and strong. It is very recent, easy to manufacture, and available for practical and aesthetic applications. It is used for kitchen wrap to keep foods fresh, to the outside framing for cars. Less strong than steel and crumples easy.
