Sindy Wu
Baby Cot
Botany Downs Secondary College
Year 12 Multi-Materials Technology, full-year unit
Teacher: Dip Achary
Sindy designed and built a cot for her key stakeholder, her baby brother. Their mother, her client, wanted a bigger cot with a higher drop side, which he could use until he was three.
Cost was a key factor. After investigating the properties of various softwoods, Sindy decided on pine to suit her budget. She discussed her work with a technologist, who suggested that cheaper wood be used for the painted part, and decided to make the storage drawer her client had requested in custom board.
Sindy modelled her design by making a small wooden mock-up, as a result of which she made some changes to her initial design. For ease of movement she decided that the drawer should wheel (on castor wheels) rather than slide. To check that the teething rail for the drop side would work, Sindy used computer-aided design program Pro/DESKTOP which allowed her to see how the pieces would all fit together. She then made a wooden model to test the locking system.
A one-off solution doesn't have to conform to legal safety requirements, but, with her brother's welfare at stake, Sindy thoroughly researched both ergonomic and safety issues. She read about the risk factors for cot death, one of which is insufficient air circulation under the mattress, so drilled holes (in a teddy bear shape) in the plywood base. Her brother was brought in on the testing process, as Sindy ensured the width of the bars was spaced to prevent his fingers, limbs or head being trapped.
Aesthetics was also a high priority for her client. Sindy had to consider how the cot would fit into the specific location in the bedroom, and match the existing decor. After investigating paints and stains she decided stain was more cost effective and the effect fitted her client's taste. The drawer was painted white and handles attached; she notes that in a different space a user could access the drawer from the end of the cot instead. Because she had designed the cot to complement an adult's bedroom, Sindy decided to add some effects to appeal to a child – a name plate and a painting of Sponge Bob Square-pants.
Her client wanted a mosquito net on the cot and Sindy researched styles and suitable fabrics; however time constraints meant she purchased a ready-made net.
Sindy's mother was pleased with the final outcome and said that she had successfully covered all the required aspects.
Teacher comment
Health and safety was an extremely important key factor in Sindy's technological practice, and is reflected in her final outcome. She was extremely thorough with her research, problem solving, testing and trialling, and functional modelling, in order to ensure that her outcome was comparable, and even better, than what was available in the market.
