Klarinet Archive - Posting 000143.txt from 2005/04

From: "Keith" <100012.1302@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Plastic Mouthpieces
Date: Sun, 10 Apr 2005 11:43:51 -0400


The ceramic manufacturing process is, to mould the ceramic from some wet
slurry under pressure then to fire it. The shrinkage takes place at this
point and is large, 10 - 30 %. So the mould has to be made larger than the
finished object. With some trial and error this can be done fairly
accurately and consistently, but perhaps not to the dimensional tolerance of
hard rubber or plastic. You would need to machine the most precise parts
such as the tenon and the facing, which is possible, though diamond-tipped
tools would be needed. I think the problem would be that the chamber
dimensions would be slightly inconsistent, and also very difficult to change
by hand. I don't think this would be a good choice of material.

Keith Bowen

> Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2005 23:10:41 +0100
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> From: Tom Flavel <tom@-----.net>
> Subject: Re: [kl] Plastic Mouthpieces
> Message-ID: <20050408221041.GC10913@-----.net>
>
> On 08/04/2005 14:43:17, Steve White wrote:
> > I would think that shrinkage of ceramics would be too disruptive to
> > the tolerances. Then again, I'm wrong a lot too....
>
> I thought that (after drying, and glazing, perhaps) they would shrink
> less, since they are stiffer, as far as I know.
>
> --
> Tom
>
> ------------------------------

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