PoolVacuum filter cartridge

thingiverse

Replacement mesh filter cartridges for my pool vacuum cost $60+ per pack of four. They typically last about two years, which means I was spending a significant amount on what amounts to a simple plastic frame with mesh material. The Maytronics Dolphin Premier mesh filter cartridge is the model I'm working with, and it's designed in such a way that my build area wasn't large enough to accommodate it as one piece. So, I've had to split it into two parts: the main filter and two different styles of retainers to hold the mesh in place. To save money on these cartridges, I bought three yards of 160 silk screen mesh from Amazon for around $10, which should last me a lifetime. I experimented with various options for holding the mesh in place, including a snap-in retainer and a glue-in retainer. Alternatively, you could simply glue the mesh directly to the frame. With one of these cartridges, it's likely that you'll figure out how to add the mesh fabric on your own. In particular, I've included both a snap-in retainer and a glue-in retainer in my design. If you choose to use the glue-in retainer, all you need to do is cut out the old mesh when it fails, replace it with new mesh, and then apply another retainer on top. The thin material makes this process repeatable – you could potentially do this five or six times before needing to replace the entire cartridge. Based on my expectations, I anticipate that the mesh will last at least one season.