Create mechanical effects
Overview
This Standard is about your ability to create mechanical effects, including the use of animatronics. It assumes you have the required knowledge to work in this area of mechanical engineering. It also assumes you have an understanding of physical special effects and the part mechanical engineering can play in this area of work. This Standard is for you if you create mechanical special effects.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
create mechanical effects in line with production breakdown and
budget constraints
- work in collaboration with relevant people from other key
departments to ensure that produced effects meet production
requirements
- use reliable information to interpret any designs or visualisations
provided by the production to create effects
- provide any designs or documentation for effects to relevant
people
- source materials appropriate for mechanical effects being
produced
maintain the health and safety of cast and crew at all times
confirm that all mechanical work meets existing safety protocols
and provide documentation to that effect
- demonstrate a wide range of techniques and methods to achieve
desired mechanical effects
- record and document tests in appropriate formats, providing these
to production for feedback
- provide alternative solutions and designs if the effects cannot be
produced within the original design, budget and schedule
- liaise with other departments to ensure any vehicles are prepared
in ways that minimise risk
- confirm that appropriate safety measures and necessary
documentation are in place when working with pressure vessels
and pipework valving
- document all aspects of risk assessment and risk management in
appropriate formats
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
script breakdown, budget, constraints and schedule for the
physical special effects
- how to use mechanical engineering to create production, props,
effects and stunts
- construction materials and a wide range of techniques, including
how to select appropriate fixing and attaching methods
traditional and innovative technologies for cutting and shaping
fluid mechanics
the calculation of forces
the design of various mechanisms
motors, drives, their proponent parts and how each is used to
produce effects
- how breakaways and release mechanisms work and the safety
protocols when employing them
a knowledge of projectiles and their trajectories
how mechanical effects are operated and react in different
environments, including under water
- how to operate mechanical effects within appropriate safety
protocols, adhering to current industry standards and legislation
- the legislation and safety measures which exist for working with
pressure vessels and regulated pipework valving
camera rigs and how they can be employed
how to use roll cages and vehicle preparation for stunts
current and emerging technologies and how these can be used to
create mechanical effects
- how Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided
Manufacture (CAM) and 3D printing can work together to design
and produce mechanical models
- the manufacturing processes used in mechanics, including coded
welding
- what can be achieved by post production and visual effects