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Funknetz Soccer Net

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Specification

In spring 2005, a friend asked me to improve on an existing portable soccer net design in order to reduce cost. I set out to perform this task and the end result is documented here.

The net was to be:
-Portable
-Durable
-Easy to assemble
-Low in cost

Design

Once I had decided upon a material to use for the soccer net, I was able to search for standardized parts with which to build the item. The original net used a white drainage pipe. In order to reduce cost, PVC tubing was used. Although ABS would have been much cheaper, it would be too brittle and prone to fracture. The PVC allowed for one specific feature: flexibility. The design of the original soccer net was such that the net had shock absorbers integrated into the frame. Due to the flexibility of the PVC, less material could be used, yet the same degree of flexibility could be achieved. This allowed for a lower overall cost. 3d Modeling was performed to ensure a perfect fit of the many pieces. Modifications to angles and material amounts were performed to compensate for the change in material.



Purchasing

Once the design of all parts was completed, the purchasing process began. By searching through many suppliers, I was able to find the materials at a price low enough to justify the efforts of redesign.


Construction

Construction was a short process due to the planning that was performed near the beginning of the project. Parts were cut in sequence using a Mitre Saw. Parts were assembled quickly in an organized fashion.