ABOUT

Inception of DB-20 came about because I love Roller Derby! :) One of the fundamental challenges that the athletes in South Africa face is the fact that we have to import our gear at an exceptionally unfavourable exchange rate. We were therefore struggling to build numbers in our league because members very soon realise that kit is exceptionally expensive. There is cheaper equipment on the market but these don't meet the standard that I have come to expect.

When the project began, some of my first concepts involved metal fabrication, but due to the precision nature of the plates and the inconsistency of fabrication, this would just not be an option. I considered sand casting which was too inaccurate and Investment die casting which was too expensive for all the post processing that would still need to be done. After doing a lot of research, the main components will be cast in an Aluminum alloy and CNC machined, and the other parts will be sourced from a local supplier of skateboarding equipment.

DB-20 started coming to life in February 2015 in the form of a CAD model. As I liaised with more engineers; got some costings and asked the players what they would want in the design, it changed and developed over a period of about 10 months. I am currently in the process of getting tooling costed, and will launch a crowd funding initiative to get this project on the road.

Tooling is exceptionally expensive so I made every effort in any way possible to use standard components where appropriate. I was also lucky enough to have met with the owner of a reputable skateboarding brand in Durban, South Africa who offered for me to make use of some of his tooling and international manufacturing contacts.

I began by researching the fundamental theories that make the best plates work the way that they do. I learned that the angle of the kingpin plays a pivotal role in the handling of the plate. This lead me to design around a 20°angle to get the best combination between maneuverability and stability. These are both equally important for this game. The design of DB-20 is primarily as a result of function with a strong consideration for aesthetics. The structure that supports the kingpin has to endure the most stress and is therefore a conical shape in order to distribute the pressure evenly into the plate. There is a bulkier concentration of material in those areas whilst still being mindful of minimising weight.

The other major consideration was manufacturability. All draft tapers were considered for the casting process and the holes to be CNCnd are all on the same axis in each direction. The threads all match industry standards so that after market parts are compatible with this plate. Customisation is an important feature in the culture of Roller Derby. Each player has an allegiance with their team and are also in search of their own unique image. Anodisng is an easy feature to offer as a value add.