RM Materials

RM Materials

1. Woods

   • Softwoods
     • Pine
       • Softwoods: Grow quickly in cold climates. As a result they are cheaper and easier to get hold of. Typical uses include building joists, construction and furniture.
     • Cedar
     • Yew
   • Hardwoods
     • OAK
       • Hardwoods: Grow slowly but are very strong and dense. They are more expensive than softwoods due to their growing time and stronger material properties. Typical uses: High end furniture, musical instruments and ornaments.
     • Mahogany
     • Beech
   • Manufactured boards
     • MDF
       • Man made boards are very versatile and can be made in any size possible as they are not restricted by the tree trunk size (softwoods/hardwoods). Plywood is very strong due to being made up of thin layers at 90°, MDF is cheap but not particularly strong due to being made from compressed sawdust and PVA. Chipboard is found in IKEA furniture, is cheap but not aesthetically pleasing. Veneers are usually added to enhance the look.
     • Plywood
     • Chipboard

2. Metals

   • Ferrous
     • Steel
     • Iron
   • Non-Ferrous
     • Aluminium
     • Copper

3. PLASTICS

   • Thermosets
   • Tools
     • Line bender
     • Vacuum forming
   • Thermoplastics