project+enhancements

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Tips and Techniques > Homepage > __Project enhancements__

Welcome to the project enhancements page of the Digital Design & Technology Wiki. On this page you will find several ideas and techniques that can be employed to enhance new or existing projects. These techniques encorporate exsisting and new technologies with the aim of making projects more intertsting for pupils by engaging them in new ways of working that result in quality and professional end products. The aim of the this section is to provide information and resources in text, picture and video format that can be used for developing electronic projects or can be shown in the classroom to aid students in creating quality end electronic products.


 * Contents  **

1.0 Home
2.0 Housing Design 3.0 PCB Mounting 4.0 Battery Access/Mounting 5.0 Project enhancements  5.1 Overview 5.2 Vinyl cutting machine 5.3 Sublimation printing 5.4 Also see 5.5 References 5.6 External Links

**Overview**  This page exhibites a number of techniques that encorporate exsisting and new technologies with the aim of making projects more intertsting for pupils by engaging them in new ways of working that result in quality and professional end products. This page provides information and resources in text, picture and video format that can be used for developing electronic projects or can be shown in the classroom to aid students in creating quality end electronic products. 

**Vinyl cutting machine** __What is it?__ A Vinyl cutting machine is a machine that can be connected to any computer just like a printer, which professionally cuts vinyl in a design drawn using a number of common software drawing packages. __What does it do?__ The machine can produce professional cut vinyl such as vinyl logos, lettering etc (just like any sign maker) that can be applied to almost any surface. Pupils to add these to their project to professionally brand their products and add that finishing touch. __How can it improve projects?__ This technique can add a touch of professionalism to almost any project and can provide pupils with an additional learning experince which they value tremendously. How does it link to the KS3/KS4 Programmes of Study? __What equipment is needed?__ Any PC/Laptop with a graphics program A Vinyl cutting machine Self-adhesive vinyl __How much does it cost?__ An A4 vinyl cutting machine can be purchased from approximatley £215 + VAT Self adhesive vinyl cost from approximatley £2.40 + VAT m² __Where can I buy it from?__ denford ltd technology supplies amazon mdp supplies __Examples of vinyl cut graphics__ PICTURES HERE

VIDEO HERE OF PRINTER WORKING

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif">**Dye-Sublimation printing** <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif">__What is it?__ A printing process in which a specialist ink/dye is heated and converts into a gas, this gas can then be inpregnated into any polymer based material which permanently traps the gas as the image of the orginal dye. __What does it do?__ Sublimation printing allows pupils to design a graphic product uisng any software package on a PC and then using a adapted normal injet priter, print out the image onto a specialist paper. Using a heat press the image can now be pressed onto any polmer based material (e.g t-shirts containing polyester, HIPS plastic sheet) to provide a permanent transfer of the image. The image remains permanent because as the press heats the specialist ink/dye it turns into a gas at the same time the polymers of the material absorbing the ink/dye begin to open up and trap the gas within them. Therefore when the material cools the result is an image that is literaly 'trapped inside' the material. __How can it improve projects?__ Sublimation is a fantastic way to integrate graphics into a project. Pupils can use any number of graphic software packages to design a graphic product that enhances their project. This graphic product can then be inpregnated within their project material to give a long lasting professional finish. Sublimation printing is not only a fantastic aid in subject such as Textiles and Graphics within school, it can also be used on HIPS sheet prior to vac-forming resulting in patterned vac-formed plastic, great for adding zainy and wacky artwork to resistant materials projects. __What equipement is needed?__ Epson inkjet printer Dye sublimation inks Sublimation paper Heat press __How much does it cost?__ Epson inkjet printer from approximatley £70+VAT Dye sublimation inks from approximatley £199+VAT Sublimation paper from approximatley £ 13+VAT (100 sheets) Heat press from approximatley £400+VAT __Overview of Dye-Sublimation printing__

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<span style="COLOR: #0080ff; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif">**Also See** <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif"> Exemplar Projects <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif"> Project Gallery  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 80%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif">

<span style="COLOR: #0080ff; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif">**References**


 * <span style="COLOR: #0080ff; FONT-FAMILY: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif">External Links

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