Boxford Resources System

The rocking dog is another example of trying to one buck a trend, i.e. why does it always have to be a horse. Secondly you get a change to see how I used the laser cutter to prototype the project and it made a number of design aspects obviously in need of improvement.

It is an example at all keystage's of design being able to cope with user abuse. It is a little known fact that for a screwdriver to be up to British Standards the tip must be tempered to the point that you can pry a paint tin lid off without or breaking or bending. This is what is called expected user abuse. I.E. It is part of what a user should expect from the tool. Many British Standards have abusive sections detail additional qualities that a product must display.

On the rocking dog just like any ride on toy it is assumed that a grandparent or parent may sit on the toy cradling an infant, the unit must be able to easily handle the stress and weight.

It is worth reminding you that the EEC passed a law that no child's toy can produce a dangerous spike even if broken. This means that screws have effectively been outlawed at all keystage's. All out pupils are minors and therefore any product we produce has to be by nature a toy. If that toy has screws or nails and by whatever circumstance the nail or screw can be exposed, even if that exposure includes being broken we are liable as teachers being in the position of Loco Parents. Many schools are currently ignoring these rules by omission or ignorance but neither will mitigate at what would be a criminal trial.

The project is also intended to help pupils look at making three dimensional objects out of sheet. The tenancy is to make boxes but with effort we can make all types of shapes.

Making Of Plywood Canada

Making Of Plywood India

British Standards Explained

This project is intended as a starter point for a project covering rocking toys.

Once again the all wood project responds to the Brussels ruling that no child's toy can contain screws or nails anymore even if they are hidden, as the destruction of the toy could expose a dangerous point. These days toys must be safe under the most distressing conditions to be CE approved and schools are unfortunately not exempt from this legislation..

The design has also been made to assemble with light encouragement from a rubber hammer the interference fit that the 4mm cutter gives is enough to hold the project together without the need for cramps while the PVA glue dries, a big plus if you have a large class.

The dog was made in tree steps initially the design was sketched as a proportional work in 2D Draw.

Dog Sketch

From this each of the separate parts were extracted to make the first iteration.

Rocking Dog First

The first design was then reduced to 0.25 of is size and run on the laser in 3mm MDF.

The result was then assembled.

First Dog

Rocking Dog Head Closeup Rocking Dog Body Closeup

It was thought that two improvements were necessary before launching this project. The first being that the head and handle were too low to make a comfortable ride and that the head would need to be raised. Secondly the seat rails had too larger gaps between them and should overhang the ends to make the barrel effect of the body work better.

The rails were widened by 3mm each side and then lengthened by 46mm each end thus making two necked down sections which also helps with location when assembling the dog. Doing this narrowed the gaps between the slats and gave the body a more barrel like feel.

Rocking Dog One