Tools, equipment and processes
Production aids
A A form used to ensure other parts are made to match the form. can be used to help ensure that information is placed correctly. They are used to ensure the shape of your design is accurate and can be used repeatedly to ensure the same shape is produced each time. They can be drawn around or inside to help ensure that sketches are identical and that particular shapes are drawn as desired, such as a cricle or ellipse template. Other kinds of templates can be held up against a product to check the shape after manufacture.
A Repeated design or recurring sequence. is often used in the commercial manufacture of paper and boards. Patterns can be created by hand, but it is quicker and easier to use The process of creating a 2D or 3D design using computer software., and it can be more consistent. Wallpaper is a great example of the use of a pattern.
Measuring
There is a range of measuring equipment available to aid accurate drawing:
- a ruler - to measure distance and draw a straight line
- a protractor - to measure angles
- a set square - to draw lines at specific angles
- French curves - to draw curves of different sizes
Image caption, Ruler, protractor and set square
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Cutting
A range of tools can be used to cut paper or board accurately:
- guillotine (paper trimmer) - to cut a large number of paper sheets at once with a straight edge
- craft knife - to cut and score paper and cardboard, particularly useful when cutting internal shapes out of material
- compass cutter - to cut a circle or an A portion of the circumference of a circle. from paper or thin card
- rotary cutter - to cut a circle or an arc from thicker cardboard
- die cutter - to cut, A fold usually found on paper, card or cloth. and Pressing small holes into a material. paper and card at high speed and accuracy
- laser cutter - to perform the perfect Fine detail. cut to paper and card, if the speed and power are set correctly
Image caption, Compass cutter
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Coatings and surface alterations
Paper and board can be protected further by laminating, which gives a shiny, water-resistant surface. It creates a thick, The ability of a material to withstand wear, especially as a result of weathering. surface, often making the paper or board last longer. The paper or board is placed in a plastic sleeve, which is then heated and pulled through rollers, bonding the two surfaces of the film together and sealing the product.
Quite often paper and card are modified by the addition of chemicals or processes. Bleach is added to make the paper or card whiter, and varying amounts of bleach can be added so that the paper or card is the required colour.
Some papers are suitable for use with markers, as these papers do not allow the ink to bleed when they get wet from the marker ink. The addition of chemicals that are applied to paper to make the paper resistant to liquid. is the term used when a chemical is added to the paper to give it a protective glaze. This glaze prevents the paper from being An ability to hold a liquid. and makes it suitable for use with wet marker pens.
There are many other additions that can change the How materials behave in different environments when subjected to changing conditions, eg force or temperature changes. of the material. Clay can be added to card to make a paper plate, or a clear Ultraviolet light is a form of radiation that can come from the Sun, or is artificially produced by ultraviolet lamps and bulbs. sensitive liquid can be applied to card to give a high-gloss finish. A UV glossy coating is better for the environment as there is no laminated polymer to separate during the recycling process.
