E-Fabrication · Unit 03
Reliability Test
Motion + Mechanisms · Low tech
Today’s challenge
Run the mechanism five times, find the failure pattern, and improve it.
Grade 3 focusBuild and name one mechanism, then tune it through observation.
Grade 5 focusCombine mechanisms, measure reliability, and explain cause-and-effect failures.
Success example · inspiration, not a design to copy
Look closely. What makes this successful?
The mechanism works repeatedly, not just once, after a focused adjustment.
What to do
- Understand. Read the challenge. Circle the important need, rule, or safety limit.
- Plan. Use the thinking spaces below before you begin making.
- Make. Build, model, code, practice, or investigate carefully with your team.
- Check. Use evidence—not guesses—to decide what worked.
- Improve or explain. Make one useful change or share your strongest conclusion.
Engineer’s thinking
1. What will you keep the same?
2. What one thing will you test or change?
3. Record the result with a number, tally, or clear observation.
4. What should you improve next?
Evidence check
Show what you learned.
Your teacher will look for: A reliability tally and a revision note connecting the change to the results.
My evidence
My next step
Exit reflection
Today I learned that because .
Next time I will .
How independently did I work?□ I needed coaching□ I worked with my team□ I can teach this skill