Hand Drill Stand Project

Design Brief

Young children may have difficulty drilling holes which are truly Square to the surface (e.g. of a disc to make a wheel). A simple Jig can be made which supports a Hand Drill within a sliding frame to assist. In use, one child operates the drill and another holds the work-piece to be drilled.

Materials Available

All materials and sections commonly available in a secondary school D&T Department
Clips and fittings to hold the hand drill in position (e.g. plumbers' pipe clips)
Additional components as researched and identified (e.g. telescopic drawer slides)

Considerations/Research

Measure and examine commonly available Hand Drills.
Find out about the D&T Resources used in primary schools.
Visit local primary schools and discuss the problem of drilling holes Square into sheet materials.
Observe young children drilling small holes in sheet materials.
Find out about Linkages which may provide a suitable parallel motion (e.g. James Watt Parallel Motion Linkage).
Research Wood Joints as possible methods of creating the main structure.
Research components available which may assist.

Ideas

Try different Wood Joints to create a main structure
Explore how a slide can be built up using standard sections
Consider using components such as a 250mm drawer slide to guide the vertical motion.

Design Development and Construction

One solution with some typical dimensions is shown for guidance.
Consider other ways of supporting the vertical sliding block
Consider how the vertical sliding block can be fabricated - or substituted by a ready made slide.
Think about how the vertical motion can be provided by linkages rather than a slide.

Testing and Evaluation

Re-visit a local primary school and observe young children using your Hand Drill Stand
Does it help them drill holes Square to the surface of sheet materials
Are young children able to use it?
Do young children enjoy using it?
How much would it cost to manufacture?

Further Work

Consider how to design and make a simple Jig to hold the work whilst drilling discs to make wheels - ideally one which 'self-centres' the discs.
Research Iris Diaphram, as used in camera lens to change the aperture size, as a possible approach to a solution.