Exciting engineering challenges with great prizes

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Commel Socket Design Challenge

We want you to find a unique design for Commel's extension socket casings while keeping costs low!

Most sockets look boring, conservative, and haven't changed much over the past few decades. People use power cords every day, but that doesn't mean they have to look ordinary!

Your new design should be worthy of the spotlight, not something to hide away from view. We want customers to be able to pick out your design for Commel in stores because nothing looks quite like it!

You should only design the external casing, no need for internal parts. However, the technical structure of the socket must remain the same and the external design cannot impede its function.

Since the main goal of the Commel product line is to offer a low price for its customers, you should be aware of the final cost of your socket and use materials and designs that are inexpensive to build.

Requirements

  • Only external design is required for standard Europlug.

  • Maximum dimensions:
    Lenght: 300 mm
    Width: 45 mm
    Height: 45 mm
    Weight: ~0.245 kg

  • Material is Polypropylene (PP).

  • Please build your design with 6 socket places.

    -----------------------------------------------

    Since Commel has many socket types, your design should be adjustable to arrangements of 3, 5, or 6 socket places. Note: dimensions are not a top priority because a creative outer design is the main goal and designs can be adjusted at a later time.

  • You must include IGES or STEP files and at least one rendering. Native CAD formats are optional but encouraged.

  • Include your estimated final cost in your project description. A bill of materials (BOM) is encouraged, but not required.

Rules

  • The competition is open to everyone. Multiple entries are acceptable. Team entries are welcome - prize will be transferred to team leader.

  • Tag your entry with “eurosocket” when uploading to GrabCAD. If you submit through the "Submit entry" button, this should be added automatically. Only entries with valid tag will participate.

  • The winning designs becomes the intellectual property (IP) of the Challenge sponsor.

  • Only entries uploaded to GrabCAD through the "Submit entry" button on this Challenge page will be considered an entry.

  • By entering this competition, you 1. Warrant that the work is your original work. 2. To the best of your knowledge, it is not, and has not been in production or otherwise previously published or exhibited. 3. Neither the work nor its use infringes the intellectual property rights (whether a patent, utility model, functional design right, aesthetic design right, trade mark, copyright or any other intellectual property right) of any other person.

    -----------------------------------------------

    If you think an entry may infringe on existing copyrighted materials, please email challenges@grabcad.com.

  • Applicants are not entitled to any compensation or reimbursement for any costs. The applicant’s participation shall not constitute employment, assignment or offer of employment or assignment.

  • Winning designs will be chosen based on the rules and requirements. This Challenge starts on July 22, 2013 and ends on August 21, 2013 (11:59pm UTC). Winners will be announced by September 21, 2013.

  • All cash prizes awarded through Paypal. Void where prohibited.

  • The sum of the Awards is the total gross amount of the reward. The awarded participant is solely liable for the payment of all taxes, duties and other similar measures if imposed on the reward pursuant to the legislation of the country of his/her residence, domicile, citizenship, workplace, or any other criterion of similar nature.

  • We will release the finalists before the final announcement to give the Community an opportunity to "vote" for their favorites in the comments. The jury will take these into consideration when picking the final winner. This new addition is based on feedback from you!

Prizes

1st Place Winner

$500 cash for best design + GrabCAD tshirt and mug

2nd - 5th Place Winners

GrabCAD tshirt and mug

About the jury?

The jury is comprised of experts from Commel and GrabCAD.

About Commel

Commel has provided cable reels, mobile power stations, extension sockets, extension cables, and connection cables to its customers for over 20 years. Their products are intended for the consumer market, DIY stores, industry of electronic devices and home appliances, professional workers in handicrafts, construction industry, shipbuilding, etc.

40 comments

  • Tan Wei Kok

    Tan Wei Kok almost 11 years ago

    Avoiding copyright will be a great challenge here =) An original idea might had already been think of decade ago ^_^ Would like to know the judging weight-age. Creative more or costing more or equal? These 2 never work hand in hand well. Other concerns include do we need to fuse it? Is on/off switch a complusary? Do we need to comply to any safety standard etc. Thanks =)

    Tan Wei Kok has uploaded 22 CAD models & has left 153 comments.
  • TJP

    TJP almost 11 years ago

    Could you please make sure to provide some dimensions of a Europlug (diameter and length of poles, and distances: from pole to pole, pole(s) to ground, etc) Kind of hard to find a Europlug here in the U.S. Thank You

    TJP has uploaded 13 CAD models & has left 11 comments.
  • Tim Titus

    Tim Titus almost 11 years ago

    This challenge sounds really fun! I already have some ideas, but I would really appreciate a base design file to start with. That way all the dimensions are there for us to work from more easily. Will this be provided soon? Alternatively, is this an acceptable starting point for dimensions of sockets, holes, etc.? Multi-socket

    Tim Titus has uploaded 14 CAD models & has left 317 comments.
  • Tan Wei Kok

    Tan Wei Kok almost 11 years ago

    @TJP The basic dimension for CEE 7/16 Europlug (Type C) can be found under Detail: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europlug.

    Tan Wei Kok has uploaded 22 CAD models & has left 153 comments.
  • Tan Wei Kok

    Tan Wei Kok almost 11 years ago

    The image presented above is Europlug socket with grounding (CEE 7/7). In my part of the world, almost all Europlugs are CEE 7/16 Type C (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Euro-Flachstecker_2.jpg). So which type of Europlug should we focus on or FFA? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets#CEE_7_standards_and_Europlug). Please remove maximum dimension and weight in the Requirements since dimensions are not a top priority because a creative outer design is the main goal. Thanks =)

    Tan Wei Kok has uploaded 22 CAD models & has left 153 comments.
  • Tan Wei Kok

    Tan Wei Kok almost 11 years ago

    @TJP Found a better one for us: http://www.global-electron.com/plugs/C.htm

    Tan Wei Kok has uploaded 22 CAD models & has left 153 comments.
  • Manuel Bayonas

    Manuel Bayonas almost 11 years ago

    @Tan_Wei_Kok The socket you show us is the ungrounded one. If the dimensions are correct, you will better take a look at this one: French grounded plug

    Manuel Bayonas has uploaded 9 CAD models & has left 105 comments.
  • Manuel Bayonas

    Manuel Bayonas almost 11 years ago

    I found another one: Right Angled Schuko Plug

    Manuel Bayonas has uploaded 9 CAD models & has left 105 comments.
  • Tan Wei Kok

    Tan Wei Kok almost 11 years ago

    @Manuel The website given above by GrabCAD shows CEE 7/16 Type C but the sample image shows CEE 7/7. We need the organizer to clarify which Europlug they need CEE 7/16 Type C (the drawing I show earlier) or CEE 7/7 (Combination of French & German plug like yours http://www.global-electron.com/plugs/f.htm plus http://www.global-electron.com/plugs/e.htm) =)

    Tan Wei Kok has uploaded 22 CAD models & has left 153 comments.
  • Manuel Bayonas

    Manuel Bayonas almost 11 years ago

    And here you have the female socket: Plugbox Concept#
    You better ask the designer if dimensions are right. Good luck to every one ;)

    Manuel Bayonas has uploaded 9 CAD models & has left 105 comments.
  • EDISON PHOENIX

    EDISON PHOENIX almost 11 years ago

    Wow...Nice challenge....!!!

    EDISON PHOENIX has uploaded 141 CAD models & has left 685 comments.
  • Branko Stokuca

    Branko Stokuca almost 11 years ago

    "However, the technical structure of the socket must remain the same and the external design cannot impede its functionv" Does this mean that all six sockets must stay in the same line like on the model on the picture?

    Branko Stokuca has uploaded 117 CAD models & has left 855 comments.
  • Петар Трлајић

    Петар Трлајић almost 11 years ago

    awesome challange, I was waiting for one like this. Do ve have max dimensions for radius of sockets?

    Петар Трлајић has uploaded 47 CAD models & has left 847 comments.
  • Aqil Ghaffar

    Aqil Ghaffar almost 11 years ago

    have we built the complete structure or just the out look

    Aqil Ghaffar has uploaded 99 CAD models & has left 204 comments.
  • Victor Bonavarte 6779

    Victor Bonavarte 6779 almost 11 years ago

    It would have been nice ...

    Victor Bonavarte 6779 has uploaded 197 CAD models & has left 9396 comments.
  • Awp Harsh

    Awp Harsh almost 11 years ago

    we will need atleast basic dimensions for the female socket..

    Awp Harsh has uploaded 39 CAD models & has left 83 comments.
  • Awp Harsh

    Awp Harsh almost 11 years ago

    thanks @Tan Wei Kok for the links... it really helps.!v
    they said they required Standard EuroPlug type design. But they gave us a sample of Schuko type plugs.. :( still confusedv

    Awp Harsh has uploaded 39 CAD models & has left 83 comments.
  • simon

    simon over 10 years ago

    its nice to have a change from running simulations on the ge brackets

    simon has uploaded 19 CAD models & has left 82 comments.
  • jura stok

    jura stok over 10 years ago

    @Aleksandar, you should change stated requirements. 45mm is way to narrow to do any stylistic changes.

    jura stok has uploaded 30 CAD models & has left 173 comments.
  • Alberto Sanchez Garza

    Alberto Sanchez Garza over 10 years ago

    This thing about dimensions is a bit shady, are they important or we can propose out of the box?

    Alberto Sanchez Garza has uploaded 10 CAD models & has left 12 comments.
  • Tan Wei Kok

    Tan Wei Kok over 10 years ago

    @Jura @Alberto dimensions are not a top priority as stated in Requirements

    Tan Wei Kok has uploaded 22 CAD models & has left 153 comments.
  • Tan Wei Kok

    Tan Wei Kok over 10 years ago

    Though we were told to be creative but the last paragraph: "the main goal of the Commel product line is to offer a low price for its customers, you should be aware of the final cost of your socket and use materials and designs that are inexpensive to build." state that commercial value is part of the judging criteria. Concept that can't produce cheap, including tooling & assembly cost, or can't work in reality might get penalize during judging =)

    Tan Wei Kok has uploaded 22 CAD models & has left 153 comments.
  • jura stok

    jura stok over 10 years ago

    45x45 mm is a standard module for shuko sockets.

    jura stok has uploaded 30 CAD models & has left 173 comments.
  • Andrew Coyne

    Andrew Coyne over 10 years ago

    http://www.quirky.com/products/44?utm_source=Quirky&utm_campaign=3150d31028-Weekly_Digest9_6_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c061a70ff1-3150d31028-40493113

    Andrew Coyne has uploaded 41 CAD models & has left 60 comments.
  • Krista Casal

    Krista Casal over 10 years ago

    Can we expect winners to be announced today? Or first finalists for community's "vote" and feedback (per rules)? Excited to see some results either way!! :)

    Krista Casal has uploaded 85 CAD models & has left 379 comments.
  • Luka B.

    Luka B. over 10 years ago

    Where and when will be the results?

    Luka B. has uploaded 18 CAD models & has left 80 comments.
  • Usman Amin

    Usman Amin over 10 years ago

    wht abt result???

    Usman Amin has uploaded 7 CAD models & has left 19 comments.
  • Arun James

    Arun James over 10 years ago

    result?????????????

    Arun James has uploaded 36 CAD models & has left 60 comments.
  • Tim Titus

    Tim Titus over 10 years ago

    "Winners will be announced by September 21, 2013"............ not

    Tim Titus has uploaded 14 CAD models & has left 317 comments.
  • Sara Sigel

    Sara Sigel over 10 years ago

    Sorry for the delay in results! We found some issues with the finalists selected and need to delay the announcement by two weeks. I hope participants understand that we are doing this to ensure results meet our Community's standards. If you have any questions, email me, sara@grabcad.com.

    Sara Sigel has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 1851 comments.
  • simon

    simon over 10 years ago

    Thanks Sara really looking foward to the results

    simon has uploaded 19 CAD models & has left 82 comments.
  • Arun James

    Arun James over 10 years ago

    thank u sara......but....make it fast...

    Arun James has uploaded 36 CAD models & has left 60 comments.
  • Sara Sigel

    Sara Sigel over 10 years ago

    @Ivan Choice of finalists, we saw so many amazing entries come in that we want to make sure we have a way to recognize them all.
    @Arun They'll be up today or tomorrow!

    Sara Sigel has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 1851 comments.
  • Sara Sigel

    Sara Sigel over 10 years ago

    Finalists are posted! Support your favorite in the comments: why should it take home the top prize? Also take a look at the many amazing entries that didn't meet the dimension, internal, or other requirements but were so great we had to show them love for their work. We love them all!

    Sara Sigel has uploaded 1 CAD models & has left 1851 comments.
  • simon

    simon over 10 years ago

    correct me if im wrong but i thought dimensions were not a priority as it says in the description "dimensions are not a top priority because a creative outer design is the main goal and designs can be adjusted at a later time"

    simon has uploaded 19 CAD models & has left 82 comments.
  • Branko Stokuca

    Branko Stokuca over 10 years ago

    Congrats to all the chosen. Great work people.

    Branko Stokuca has uploaded 117 CAD models & has left 855 comments.
  • Arun James

    Arun James over 10 years ago

    Congrats for all winners..

    Arun James has uploaded 36 CAD models & has left 60 comments.

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  • Deadline Passed
  • Total entries 230
    Private 8
  • Who’s in the jury?
  • Kaspar Kiis
    GrabCAD
  • Mirela Novak
    Commel, CEO
  • Jasmin Stolic
    Commel, R&D
  • Hrvoje Bituh
    Commel, Sales and Purchasing Manager

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