A center punch is a tool used to punch a small indent in a material to mark a location, drill center, or to stop the drill from walking. You strike the top of the punch with a hammer to drive it into the workpiece.
Timeline:
A center punch is a tool so there are not many other uses for the object in its current state other than to dent stuff. The steel in a center punch is very high quality and will hold an edge so some people recycle them by making knives. The picture above is a knife made out of punches. The picture below is a hanger for coats or hats that is forged out of a center punch.
Sources:
Center punch picture: https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/86412277
Knife made from punches: http://www.sageblades.com/afterlife-accessories/
Hook: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/148900331400357201
The product life cycle process: Mrs. Zienty
Center punch picture: https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/86412277
Knife made from punches: http://www.sageblades.com/afterlife-accessories/
Hook: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/148900331400357201
The product life cycle process: Mrs. Zienty
First the product must be taken out of the ground, this stage is called raise and extract. In this stage, all consumer products begin their life cycle with a dependence on the natural environment. Some form of energy is always required to extract the natural resources from the earth or its atmosphere. For the center punch, chromium, vanadium, coal, and other materials used to make the steel are mined.
The second stage is called the process stage. This is when the raw materials are processed or refined. More energy is required for the processing and refining. In this stage all of the raw materials listed above are brought to a steel mill, here they are ground up finely and put into a large pot to be melted down. The pot pours the steel to make ingots and then the ingots are rolled in a rolling mill to create rods.This particular steel is a form of powder metal.
The third stage is the manufacturing stage, where additional energy is required as the processed or refined materials move through the manufacturing and assembly process. Here the rods are precisely ground, put on a lathe, turned to their final diameter, and knurled with a knurling tool. The punch has been created.
The fourth stage is called the use stage. In this stage consumer products are transported to stores (consuming additional energy) and are ready for purchase. Products remain at this stage as long as they are usable or repairable. Here the punches are shipped to a warehouse, stored until a order for them arrives, then shipped to the user.
The fith and final stage of the product life cycle is called the dispose stage. This stage occurs when we no longer have a use for the product and we dispose of it. After the user uses up the punch`s life, they throw it in the trash, sell it for scrap steel, make something out of it, or let it sit in their toolbox to collect dust.
The second stage is called the process stage. This is when the raw materials are processed or refined. More energy is required for the processing and refining. In this stage all of the raw materials listed above are brought to a steel mill, here they are ground up finely and put into a large pot to be melted down. The pot pours the steel to make ingots and then the ingots are rolled in a rolling mill to create rods.This particular steel is a form of powder metal.
The third stage is the manufacturing stage, where additional energy is required as the processed or refined materials move through the manufacturing and assembly process. Here the rods are precisely ground, put on a lathe, turned to their final diameter, and knurled with a knurling tool. The punch has been created.
The fourth stage is called the use stage. In this stage consumer products are transported to stores (consuming additional energy) and are ready for purchase. Products remain at this stage as long as they are usable or repairable. Here the punches are shipped to a warehouse, stored until a order for them arrives, then shipped to the user.
The fith and final stage of the product life cycle is called the dispose stage. This stage occurs when we no longer have a use for the product and we dispose of it. After the user uses up the punch`s life, they throw it in the trash, sell it for scrap steel, make something out of it, or let it sit in their toolbox to collect dust.
Product life cycle is the cycle a product goes through from the materials to make it being extracted out of the ground to the end of its life. Its life can end when recycled or when just disposed of in another form. Depending on the product I feel it is the company`s responsibility to ensure the product is environmentally sustainable, whether that is using renewable resources or finding better and cleaner ways to manufacture it would make it sustainable. I would not change a thing about the center punch, over hundreds of years craftsmen far more accomplished than I am have used and refined this tool to reach the pinnacle of what this tool can accomplish. It is time tested and proven. The possibility of obsolescence over time is there but I dont see this hand tool ever fully disappearing from a craftsman`s hands. A human has amazing skill and feel that a robot can and will never posses. A trade off is when a lesser wanted quality is excepted so another more sought quality can be had. A trade off on the Starrett center punch above is the knurling for grip. While it would be great to have a center punch molded to the user`s hand that cant be done so knurling is used to get a better grip. It is important to recycle so we dont have piles of waste accumulating all over the world. Designers play a role in recycling by choosing the material a product is made of. They can choose to use a material that is recyclable or not. Society really does most of the work when it comes to recylcing, society chooses to create recycling centers and to actually bring the used products to the centers. I can help the recycling effort by recycling waste that would otherwise go to the landfill and re purpose used things.