Timber: Processing & Seasoning

Processing and Conversion Timber

It is important to understand how timbers are processed, seasoned (drying wood so the moisture content is reduced), converted and how composites are made.

Processing

Timber conversions start with the tree being cut down (felled).
The tree is then debarked. This is the removal of bark.
It is then converted into planks. This has to be done carefully so that there is little waste.

Tessellation

Tessellation (the arrangement of shapes without any overlaps or gaps) is important so that many forms can be cut from a log.
The timber forms are then planed all round (PAR) or rough sawn.

Illustrative background for PAR ?? "content

PAR

Planed all round (PAR) is a process which involves using a planer or thicknesser to reduced the size and achieve a smooth finish that is easy to work with.

Rough sawn

Rough sawn is when the timber has not been planed and it is rough to the touch.

PAR vs rough sawn

Both types have their uses but rough sawn is essentially cheaper because that particular process takes time.
PAR timber is used for internal joinery and can take varnish and finishes well as it does not absorb as much liquid.

Seasoning Timber

It is important to understand how timbers are processed, seasoned (drying wood so the moisture content is reduced), converted and how composites are made.

Seasoning

Seasoning is the term for wood that is dried so it can be used for different applications.
There are two methods of seasoning:
- Air drying.
- Kiln drying.

Air-drying

Air-drying is when air is circulated around the timber.
This can take about one year.

Kiln drying

Kiln drying is a much faster process and uses heat and pressure to reduce the moisture of the wood.
It also kills bacteria and insects that can still cause damage to the wood.

Moisture content

The moisture content of wood can typically be over 50% when it is first felled.
This has to be reduced considerably depending on what the wood is going to be used for.

Moisture content for different uses

The moisture content of timber should be:
- 20% for exterior use.
- 15% for indoor use.
- 10% for interior use that uses a lot of heat.

Kiln drying & storage

With kiln drying, the temperature of the wood is increased greater than standard drying techniques which also means that the wood does not have to be stored for very long.

1Core Technical Principles

1.1New & Emerging Technologies

1.1.1Industry

1.1.2Enterprise

1.1.3Sustainability

1.1.4People

1.1.5Culture & Society

1.1.6Environment

1.1.7Production Techniques & Systems

1.1.8Emerging Technologies & Design

1.1.9End of Topic Test - New & Emerging Technologies

1.1.10Exam-Style Questions - Emerging Technologies

1.2Energy Generation & Storage

1.2.1Fossil Fuels & Nuclear

1.2.2Renewable Energy

1.2.3Energy Storage Systems

1.3Developments in New Materials

1.3.1Modern Materials

1.3.2Smart Materials

1.3.3Exam-Style Questions - Smart Materials

1.3.4Composite Materials

1.3.5Technical Textiles

1.4Systems Approach to Designing

1.4.1Inputs

1.4.2Processes

1.4.3Outputs

1.4.4Looped Systems

1.5Mechanical Devices

1.5.1Types of Movement

1.5.2Levers

1.5.3Linkages

1.5.4Rotary Systems

1.5.5End of Topic Test - Designing & Mechanical Devices

1.6Materials Categories

1.6.1Timbers

1.6.2Metals & Alloys

1.6.3Metals & Alloys 2

1.6.4Polymers

1.6.5Polymer Types

1.6.6Textiles

1.6.7Textile Types: Fibres

1.6.8Textile Types: Weave

1.6.9Paper & Boards

1.7Material Properties

1.7.1Physical & Working Properties

1.7.2End of Topic Test - Materials

1.7.3Exam-Style Questions - Materials

2Paper & Board: Specialist Technical Principles

2.1Selection of Materials

2.1.1Paper & Boards

2.1.2Working with Paper & Boards

2.2Paper & Board: Forces & Stresses

2.2.1Paper & Board: Forces & Stresses

2.2.2Cardboard & Paper

2.3Paper & Board: Ecological & Social Footprint

2.3.1Paper & Board: Ecological & Social Footprint

2.3.2Paper & Board: The Six Rs

2.3.3Social Issues

2.4Paper & Board: Sources & Origins

2.4.1Paper & Board

2.4.2End of Topic Test - Paper & Board

2.5Paper & Board: Using Materials

2.5.1Paper & Board: Properties of Materials

2.5.2Paper & Board: Modification of Materials

2.5.3Paper & Board: Shape & Form

2.6Paper & Board: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

2.6.1Paper & Board: Forms

2.6.2Paper & Board: Types

2.6.3Paper & Board: Sizes

2.6.4Paper & Board: Standards Components

2.7Paper & Board: Scales of Production

2.7.1Paper & Board: Scales of Production

2.7.2Exam-Style Questions - Scales of Production

2.8Paper & Board: Specialist Techniques & Processes

2.8.1Paper & Board: Techniques & Processes

2.8.2Paper & Board: Quality Control

2.9Paper & Board: Surface Treatments & Finishes

2.9.1Paper & Board: Surface Treatments & Finishes

2.9.2End of Topic Test - Specialist Techniques

3Timber: Specialist Technical Principles

3.1Timber: Selection of Materials

3.1.1Timber Based Materials

3.1.2Timber: Environment & Ethics

3.2Timber: Forces & Stresses

3.2.1Timber: Forces & Stresses

3.2.2Timber

3.3Timber: Ecological & Social Footprint

3.3.1Timber: Ecological & Social Footprint

3.3.2Timber: The Six Rs

3.3.3Timber: Social Issues

3.3.4Exam-Style Questions - Timber

3.4Timber: Sources & Origins

3.4.1Timber

3.4.2Timber: Processing & Seasoning

3.4.3Manufactured Board

3.4.4End of Topic Test - Timber

3.5Timber: Using Materials

3.5.1Timber: Properties of Materials

3.5.2Timber: Modification of Materials

3.5.3Timber: Shape & Form

3.5.4Timber: Shape & Form 2

3.6Timber: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

3.6.1Timber: Stock Forms, Types & Sizes

3.7Timber: Scales of Production

3.7.1Timber: Scales of Production

3.8Timber: Specialist Techniques & Processes

3.8.1Timber: Tools, Equipment & Processes

3.8.2Timber: Tools, Equipment & Processes 2

3.8.3Timber: Quality Control

3.9Timber: Surface Treatments & Finishes

3.9.1Timber: Surface Treatments

3.9.2Timber: Finishes

3.9.3End of Topic Test - Specialist Techniques

4Metal: Specialist Technical Principles

4.1Metals: Selection of Materials

4.1.1Metal-Based Materials

4.1.2Ferrous Metals

4.1.3Non-Ferrous Metals

4.1.4Alloys

4.1.5Metals: Environment & Ethics

4.2Metals: Forces & Stresses

4.2.1Metals: Forces & Stresses

4.3Metals: Ecological & Social Footprint

4.3.1Metals: Ecological Footprint

4.3.2Metals: Social Footprint

4.3.3Metals: The Six R's

4.3.4Metals: Social Issues

4.4Metals: Sources & Origins

4.4.1Origins of Metal

4.4.2Processing Metals

4.5Metals: Alloy-Based Materials

4.5.1Types of Metal Alloys

4.5.2Alloying Elements

4.5.3Properties & Benefits

4.5.4Processing & Fabrication

4.5.5Applications of Alloys

4.5.6Metal Alloys in Industry

4.5.7Applications of Metal Alloys

4.6Metals: Using Materials

4.6.1Properties of Metals

4.6.2Modification of Metals

4.6.3Metals: Shape & Form

4.7Metals: Scales of Production

4.7.1Metals: Scales of Production

4.8Metals: Specialist Techniques & Processes

4.8.1Metals: Tools

4.8.2Metals: Tools & Equipment

4.8.3Metals: Cutting, Forming & Machining Processes

4.8.4Metals: Joining, Casting & Heat Treatment Process

4.9Metals: Quality Control

4.9.1Metals: Quality Control

4.9.2Metals: Quality Control Processes

4.10Metals: Surface Treatments & Finishes

4.10.1Metals: Surface Treatments

4.10.2Metals: Surface Treatments for Metals

4.10.3Metals: Finishes

4.10.4Metals: Finishing Techniques for Metals

5Polymers: Specialist Technical Principles

5.1Polymers

5.1.1Polymers: Functionality & Aesthetics

5.1.2Polymers: Environment & Ethics

5.1.3Polymers: Sources, Origins & Properties

5.1.4Polymers: Forces & Stresses

5.1.5Polymers: Ecological & Social Footprint

5.1.6Polymers: The Six R's

5.2Polymer Categories

5.2.1Categories of Polymers

5.2.2Thermoforming Polymers

5.2.3Thermosetting Polymers

5.3Polymer Forms

5.3.1Polymers: Stock Forms

5.3.2Polymers: Shape & Form

5.4Polymer Production, Techniques & Quality Control

5.4.1Polymers: Scales of Production

5.4.2Polymers: Specialist Techniques & Processes

5.4.3Polymers: Quality Control Systems: Tolerance

5.4.4Polymers: Finishes

6Textiles: Specialist Technical Principles

6.1Textile Materials

6.1.1Origin of Textiles

6.1.2Textile Industry

6.2Selection of Materials

6.2.1Natural Fibres

6.2.2Synthetic Fibres

6.2.3Environmental Concerns

6.2.4Environmental Impact

6.2.5Ethical Challenges

6.3Forces & Stresses

6.3.1Forces & Stresses

6.4Ecological & Social Footprint

6.4.1Ecological Footprint

6.4.2Social Footprint

6.4.3Addressing Ecological & Social Footprints

6.4.4The Six R's

6.4.5Labour Conditions

6.4.6Social Issues

6.4.7Addressing Social Issues

7Designing & Making Principles

7.1Investigation & Data

7.1.1Iterative Design

7.1.2Primary & Secondary Data

7.1.3Market Research

7.1.4Ergonomics

7.1.5Specifications

7.1.6End of Topic Test - Investigation & Data

7.1.7Exam-Style Questions - Specifications

7.2Environmental, Social & Economic Challenges

7.2.1Challenges

7.2.2Your Research

7.3The Work of Others

7.3.1Designers

7.3.2Architects

7.3.3Product Design

7.3.4Industrial Designers

7.3.5Product Design Companies

7.3.6Textile Design Companies

7.3.7End of Topic Test - The Work of Others

7.4Design Strategies

7.4.1Design Strategies

7.5Communication of Design Ideas

7.5.1Design Communication

7.6Prototype Development

7.6.1Prototype Development

7.7Selection of Materials

7.7.1Materials

7.8Tolerances

7.8.1Tolerances

7.9Material Management

7.9.1Managing Material

7.9.2Tools

7.10Specialist Equipment

7.10.1Health & Safety

7.11Specialist Techniques & Processes

7.11.1Specialist Techniques & Processes

7.11.2Surface Finishes

7.11.3End of Topic Test - Designing & Making

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