3D Printing Rugby Kicking Tee - Prototype

 

Challenge: To produce a useable kicking tee for use in rugby.

Background: This task came about from a student recognising that they could take a current item, in this case a kicking tee and replicate it using Tinkercad and then personalise it.   There is a copy of a similar type item in the Tinkercad interface although it is a kicking tee for American Football.

The first stage of the testing was to take the existing design, to start to modify it and then test it using a regular rugby ball.  The students found that the tee held the ball a particular way easily however they were interested in modifying it so that it would be easier to adjust the degree that the ball was leaning.

The personalisation of the item was very straight forward.   The student put the name of his club on one side of the design and the other side of the design they put their name so that they had an individualised item.

Since the first version shown above the student has already reworked the various lettering and wording around the outside of the design.

Resources used to complete this print: iPad, Tinkercad, regular PLA, Bambu H2D.

Level of Difficulty: Medium: this print started as a regular design found from the main Tinkercad interface search page.   As it was originally from an American Football design the students needed to modify it to ensure suitable for a ruby union football which has slightly different dimensions.   This requires some reworking and adaption of the base design.  The students also are now completing some testing to ensure it can travel and be kicked like a regular tee.

Size: The print currently measures 120mm long and is 93mm wide.   The print is 34mm high mid point.  With revision of the design there will be obviously be some adjustments.

Cost/Price: The print as it stands uses 120g of PLA to complete the print and this currently have a price point of $1.87.

Timeframe: The print as it stands takes two and a half hours to complete including warm up time of six minutes.

What we would do differently/Next steps for the students: The students have really enjoyed the process of getting involved with something that will help with a sport that they are very enthusiastic about.   We have also considered that we might want to complete the print using another form of plastic for the printer to make it more robust such as PETG.