10 essential school DT workshop equipment and machinery

Given the practical nature of design technology in schools, a wide range of tools, equipment, and machinery is necessary. These essential DT tools will ensure you can provide engaging and interactive lessons that contribute towards improved learning. We cover the 10 essential DT workshop equipment your school needs for enhanced DT learning.

1. Woodworking machinery

A school DT workshop with woodworking machinery

Woodwork is one of the most popular DT subjects. Not only is wood a relatively cheap material (compared to others), but it’s also extremely easy to mark out and cut to a particular shape. This allows students to easily turn their ideas into a fully realised product.

However, while wood is easy to cut, it does require certain machinery to make the job easier and the finish more professional. This can include machinery such as drills, scrollsaws, and bandfacers.

Typically, machine drills come in a variety of different sizes to suit your school design technology workshop needs. Bench drills are available that offer a more compact alternative, while larger floor drills are also available. Drills also come with different size drilling capacities and speed settings.

Scrollsaws are small pieces of machinery that are used to cut intricate curves into wood or other materials. Unlike hand tools, scrollsaws provide a much quicker and cleaner cut than coping saws or fretsaws.

Bandfacers are another essential machinery item for woodwork. These are high-quality sanding machines that can easily provide a smooth finish to wood and are an ideal piece of equipment for all finishing tasks.

Different phases are available, including single phase and three phase, as well as a range of designs. Antelope bandfacers are much larger and extraction mounted. Deer bandfacers are more compact and bench-mounted.

2. Woodwork tools

Just like the woodwork machinery detailed above, there’s a wide selection of woodwork tools that are also essential to DT workshops. While there is a variety of efficient and effective woodworking machinery, for certain activities a hand tool works best.

There is an extensive range of woodworking tools that can be beneficial in a DT workshop, including:

  • Saws (including rip saws, tenon saws, and coping saws for different cutting needs).
  • Marking knife (to create perfect lines ready for cutting).
  • Precision tools (including mitre squares and marking gauges for precise cutting).
  • Measuring tools (including measuring tapes and woodwork rulers).
  • Angle tools (including try squares and sliding bevel for cutting at angles).

3. Dust extraction

A dust extraction unit fitted to a piece of machinery in a DT workshop

Every DT workshop needs to include sufficient dust extraction systems to ensure student and staff safety. Given the amount of dust and particles that result from cutting materials, dust extraction is vital.

While some machinery, such as antelope bandfacers, come with dust extraction systems, additional dust extraction may be required. Certain self-contained dust extraction units are the perfect choice for light dust extraction.

A quality extraction system designed for education will ensure your school is compliant with relevant health and safety regulations and guidelines. They also take up little room and operate with a low noise level ideal for classroom use.

4. Metalwork machinery

Metalworking machinery in a school workshop with a pair of safety googles sitting on top

Alongside wood, metal is another popular material used in DT workshops. While some woodworking machinery is also suitable for working with metal, you may need to consider additional machinery. In particular, milling machines, polishers, and lathe machines are all specifically for metalwork.

Milling machines are used to cut, rough, or drill different solid materials. Metal is the most widely used material in milling machines. Many different milling cutters are available depending on the cutting needs.

Polishers are another type of metalwork machinery. Both polishers and grinders are ideal machines for smoothing, buffing, and polishing metal. This provides the material with a bright, lustred finish. Both single and 3-phase bench polishers are available.

Lathe machines are another type of metalwork machinery. This type of machinery is ideal for helping shape materials, such as wood and metal. It works via a stationary cutting tool that removes unwanted material from your workpiece by rotating the material on an axis.

It’s also important to ensure that you regularly maintain all DT workshop equipment, including woodwork and metalwork machinery. Proper DT machinery maintenance will ensure all machinery is in safe working order for use in the classroom. It also prolongs the life of the machinery and ensures you adhere to relevant regulations.

5. CAD/CAM machinery

CAD/CAM machinery is used for computer-aided design and manufacturing, and includes designing and manufacturing prototypes, product runs, or finalised products.

Most CAD/CAM activities in a DT workshop are carried out using a laser package. These machines provide the simplest way to transform a CAD drawing into the finished product. The lasers work quickly and have a large work area which means most CAD/CAM work can be set and cut during a lesson.

6. PPE

PPE (or personal protective equipment) is an essential piece of DT workshop equipment and can range from eye protection to gloves and aprons. Appropriate protective equipment should be readily available for every student when working on practical projects.

Not only does it ensure the safety of staff and students, but it’s also necessary to adhere to regulations and guidelines. There should be sufficient protective equipment for every student, and it should be located in a place that is easily accessible before starting any practical work.

Discover more about the health and safety considerations in DT workshops, including PPE

7. Clamps and vices

Another piece of equipment that is essential for school DT workshops is clamps and vices. Clamps are designed to secure a piece of material to the workbench and come in a range of different sizes, offering different clamping forces.

Vices are also used for securing material. However, unlike clamps, vices are typically fixed onto a workbench. Vice bodies are made from different materials, including cast iron and steel. Typically, vices work by using a screwing mechanism operated by a handle.

8. Cleaning equipment

Working with and cutting materials can cause a lot of dust, chippings, and shavings. While most machines will have extraction tools in place, this is not the case when using hand tools.

Given the hazards that dust and shavings can cause, an appropriate method is required for safely cleaning up. Large shavings can typically be cleaned up using a suitable dustpan and brush. However, finer dust requires a suitable workshop vacuum cleaner, such as an M-rated vacuum.

9. Glue and soldering equipment

One task often carried out in DT workshops is joining material together. There are two methods used for this; glue guns and soldering irons. Glue guns are typically used for strong adhesion of smaller materials, or holding wood joints. As the glue dries in minutes, it is ideal for use during short lesson times.

However, sometimes a stronger adhesion is required. This is where soldering comes in. Soldering irons is the ideal way to fix, build, or augment materials together. These devices use a small quantity of fusible metal alloy that is heated to high temperatures.

Once applied, the metal alloy cools down and hardens creating a strong conductive and fixed joint. Soldering requires the use of a soldering iron and tubes of solder. Glueing will require a glue gun and glue sticks.

10. Storage units

Storage units holding wood in a DT workshop

Storage units are another essential DT workshop item. Most large supplies of materials and equipment may be stored in a separate storage room. However, many of the daily tools and equipment will typically be kept in the workshop.

As a result, ideal and appropriate storage units are required to safely store the equipment and tools after usage. This ensures a safe working environment and reduces the risk of injury from a cluttered workspace.

Storage units are the most popular method of storing equipment used in a classroom. Many different size storage units are available, each with differing draw sizes. This allows for efficient storage of a wide range of workshop tools and equipment.

It’s also important to ensure you provide a safe location for students to store their bags and coats when entering a workshop. Cupboards under the workbench are the most ideal method for storing student belongings to minimise the risk of hazards during practical exercises.

By including a wide range of DT equipment, tools, and machinery, you can ensure your school workshops provide the ideal learning environment. However, the choice of your DT workshop tools, equipment, and machinery will depend on your teaching activities and curriculum. That way, you equip students with the best opportunities for developing and enhancing their learning.

Missing some of these essential equipment? Check out these reasons for upgrading your DT workshops