2018 HSC Timber paper

D

B

B

C

D

Router (with a bearing-guided rebating bit).

Memorise pack: T15

• Identifies the most appropriate power tool 1

NESA sample answer

Router.

Measure both diagonals from corner to corner with a tape measure. If the diagonals are equal (and opposite sides are equal), the frame is square; if not, adjust the cramps until they are.

Memorise pack: T15

• Provides a clear outline of a method used for checking a rectangular
 2
 frame for square
• Provides some relevant information 1

NESA sample answer

Use a tape measure to check diagonals across frame. When measurements are the same, it
is square, as long as opposing sides are equal.

HMR (high moisture resistant) melamine-faced particleboard is suitable. It is made with moisture-resistant resin, so it resists swelling in the humid bathroom. It is dimensionally stable, and its melamine surface is waterproof and easy to clean. With the edges sealed by edge banding, it lasts well at low cost. (Marine or exterior plywood would also be justified because of its water-resistant glue.)

Memorise pack: T5

• Provides a clear justification of the suitability of an appropriate
 3
 manufactured board
• Provides information about a suitable manufactured board 2
• Identifies a suitable manufactured board 1

NESA sample answer

Suitable manufactured boards could include marine ply, exterior ply and HMR particle board.
These offer dimensional stability to resist movement in moist environments. They also use
water resistant adhesives to resist damage due to water.
NESA 2018 HSC Industrial Technology – Timber Products and Furniture Technologies Marking Guidelines

A strip inlay can be set using a router. Cut the inlay strip accurately to width and thickness on a saw. Set a router with a straight bit the same width as the inlay and a fence, and test the depth on scrap. Rout a trench parallel to the edge, square the ends of the trench with a chisel, and cut the inlay ends square. Glue the strip in, cramp, and when it is dry plane or scrape it flush. The technique is accurate and repeatable, and it adds a decorative contrasting feature that increases the value of the piece.

Memorise pack: notes 3.8

• Provides detailed description of one technique of inlaying timber including
 4
 benefits of this technique
• Provides description of one technique of inlaying timber and/or a benefit 3
• Provides main features of one technique of inlaying timber and/or a
 2
 benefit
• Demonstrates basic understanding of inlaying timber 1

NESA sample answer

Inlaying timber requires accurate measuring and cutting to ensure that there are no gaps.
One technique would be to cut the timber to be inlayed on a sliding panel saw. This will
ensure that it is cut accurately to the desired size. The timber to be removed for the inlay
could be done with a router which has the same size straight bit as the width of the inlay. The
router would be used with a fence to enable the trench to be cut consistently and parallel to
the edge of the timber. Experimenting prior to cutting on the desired timber should be done to
get the correct depth. Once this is completed the ends of the trench would be cut square with
a chisel, and the ends of the inlay cut square with a drop saw.

Full-extension metal runners carry heavy loads smoothly on ball bearings and let the drawer open fully, so the whole drawer is accessible. They are fast to install with templates in mass production, and the drawer can be removed without unscrewing the runner. Timber runners are cheap to make from offcuts and can be custom-made for any drawer size. With kickers and side guides they control sideways and tipping movement, and they are easy to replace when worn. They also suit traditional furniture.

Memorise pack: notes 3.5

• Provides detailed description of TWO advantages for each drawer runner
 5
 shown
• Provides description of TWO advantages of each of the drawer runners
 3–4
 shown
• Provides a characteristic OR feature of ONE advantage of each of the
 drawer runners shown
OR 2
• Provides a basic understanding of TWO advantages of one or both
 runners
• Provides a basic understanding of ONE advantage of the drawer runner/s
 1
 shown

NESA sample answer

Full extension runners provide ease of assembly in mass production settings and offer
superior strength and weight holding while allowing for full extension from the furniture unit.
This full extension allows for easier access to the contents of the whole drawer. Full
extension runners can be installed easily with the aid of templates and the drawers can be
fully removed from the cabinet without the need to unscrew the runner from the drawer or
cabinet.
Timber runners are very cheap to produce and can provide full access to the rear of the
drawer in the configuration shown with a top runner installed. Timber runners can be
customised and built to accommodate specific sized drawers. Sideways movement of the
drawer can be minimised with the addition of the edge rails shown. Timber runners are very
easily replaced at any time if they wear out.
NESA 2018 HSC Industrial Technology – Timber Products and Furniture Technologies Marking Guidelines
Section III

Land costs and availability: land near Sydney is expensive, while regional land (e.g. near mills in Oberon or Tumut) is cheaper and allows larger factories and storage yards.

Transport facilities: timber products are bulky and heavy, so access to highways, rail and ports cuts freight costs and emissions. A site near the sawmill reduces raw material transport, while a site near the city reduces delivery costs and time to customers. The business must weigh cheaper land against higher distribution costs.

For example, a dining furniture maker in Sydney pays high land costs or rent but has short delivery trips to customers. A factory near the mills in Oberon pays less for land and raw-material freight but more to deliver bulky finished products to the city. Whichever balance gives the lower total cost per product improves the business's viability.

Memorise pack: S8

• Provides an explanation of how land costs and transportation facilities
 affect the viability of a business in the timber products and furniture 5
 industry
• Shows a sound understanding of how land costs and transportation
 facilities affect the viability of a business in the timber products and 4
 furniture industry and provides some explanation
• Shows some understanding of how land costs and/or transportation
 2–3
 facilities affect businesses
• Provides some relevant information 1

NESA sample answer

The timber industry commonly has large and/or heavy products to distribute. This has
significant effects on land and transportation within the industry. For example, a business
that manufactures dining room tables and chairs needs to evaluate the benefits of more
expensive land costs closer to the city and weigh this up against the cost of transportation of
delivery of products due to shorter delivery distances. The closer the land to the target
market (city) the greater the costs, however, a reduction in delivery costs includes time.

Answers could include

• Cause and effect > expensive inner city land > cheaper transportation due to closeness
 for delivery.
• Cheaper land close to saw mills in rural NSW would be financially better in regards to land
 costs and transport. Closer to saw mill > cheaper land > cheaper transportation of raw
 materials to factory > outweighs greater distribution transport costs of final products.
• Cost of leasing / cost of maintaining loan.
NESA 2018 HSC Industrial Technology – Timber Products and Furniture Technologies Marking Guidelines

Resource management is the management of all of a business's resources: materials, equipment, energy, people, waste and administration. Changes in each have had a largely positive effect on the timber and furniture industry, although they need significant investment.

Resource management: CNC beam saws and computerised stock and administration systems track materials accurately and reduce over-ordering, waste and labour. A paperless office and efficient truck routing reduce resource use further.

The value of a CNC beam saw or nesting router is high: it costs a lot to buy, but it produces components faster and more accurately than workers, so labour and material costs per unit fall and profits rise.

Sustainable materials: buying FSC or Responsible Wood certified, plantation or recycled timber protects native forests and meets the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act. This also attracts environmentally aware customers, although certified timber can cost more and supply can be limited.

Waste minimisation: CAD/CAM nesting software and economical cutting lists reduce offcuts. Sawdust and shavings can be sold for particleboard, animal bedding or burnt in a biomass boiler to heat kilns. This reduces landfill and saves money, but nesting software and CNC machines need large up-front investment.

Changes in managing native forest resources have also affected the industry. Victoria and Western Australia ended native forest logging from 1 January 2024, forcing manufacturers to use plantation, imported or recycled timber. This was positive for forests but costly for mills and their workers.

Energy: installing rooftop solar with batteries, LED lighting, efficient motors and running energy-hungry kilns off-peak cut greenhouse emissions and power bills. The payback period may be several years.

Overall, changes in resource management have been highly valuable. They have reduced waste and costs, improved sustainability and made businesses more competitive, although small firms find the up-front costs hard to meet.

Memorise pack: S9, S5, S7

• Provides detailed evaluation of changes that have taken place in resource
 10
 management with a clear determined value
• Provides a sound evaluation of changes that have taken place in
 8–9
 resource management with a clear determined value
• Provides assessment of changes that have taken place in resource
 management with valued outcomes
OR 5–7
• Provides an evaluation of a change that has taken place in resource
 management with clear determined value(s)
• Provides some explanation of change(s) in resource management and
 3–4
 its/their effect(s)
• Provides some relevant information about resource management 1–2

Answers could include

Resource management has undergone significant changes in the timber industry.
• Resource management is the management of all resources, equipment, tools, people,
 waste, materials, buildings and administration.
• In the timber industry, equipment used to convert planks of timber into furniture has
 changed significantly. CNC machinery is now used extensively to convert the raw material
 into furniture components.
• The value of CNC machinery is that although it is initially expensive regarding set-up costs
 (purchasing and installation of equipment, eg $200 000) it leads to significantly cheaper
 costs of producing timber components. This is because a CNC machine, for example a
 CNC beam saw, is able to produce components significantly faster and as accurately as
 workers in the industry. This means significant savings in labour costs, yet a higher
 production rate which therefore produces greater profits for the business.
• Resource management of administration within the industry has undergone significant
 changes. All administration such as invoicing, payments, pay, equipment auditing,
 material auditing, can now be done on one computer in the business office.
• By having all the data for all areas on one computer it means just one person can manage
 all the administration in one place. This has changed from previous years and methods,
 as it allows all these different administrative areas to be covered by just one person in one
 place. This has brought significant savings in labour costs which means the business has
 greater profits.
NESA 2018 HSC Industrial Technology – Timber Products and Furniture Technologies Marking Guidelines
2018 HSC Industrial Technology
Timber Products and Furniture Technologies