Speaking of a good project

Throughout the last term, my Year 9 classes have been designing and making Bluetooth speakers.

The actual receiver and speakers were bought, at a relatively inexpensive price, from a local supplier in Beijing.

It was originally intended that students would make the full project from acrylic, however, after a mix up with our overseas order, we ended up with a huge quantity of HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene), hence the ‘bowl-shaped’ back piece on the speakers.

The bowl sits tightly, without the use of any adhesive, inside of a lip on the back of the speaker, allowing access to change the batteries.Throughout the project, students learned about CAD & CAM, as well as how to use the vinyl cutter and laser cutter.

The origins of Bluetooth and other wireless communication methods. The unit of work also included small scale and industrial thermoforming forming process, as well as touching upon the very basics of soldering.