Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2010-07-22 07:17
I disagree with David re the design of springs.
"Also, that makes the springs 'progressive' in their spring rate (effectively softer at the very tip and stiffer towards the middle) which also improves the feel of the key action."
Only the last few mm are tapered. There is almost no bending effect at this end of a cantilevered spring. (It reduces evenly over the length of the spring.) So the small amount of taper has pretty well no effect on the spring rate.
"Because the thinner the springs are at the ends where they ride in the little saddles on the keys, the less friction they create and the more smoothly the keys move."
If cradles are well designed, then there is no rubbing action between the spring and cradle, only a rolling action, even with larger diameter springs, so friction is not an issue.
My mind goes to the very highest quality flutes, with extremely light spring action, with non-tapered springs. So the taper is not relevant, providing cradles are properly designed.
I think these springs are tapered to a very sharp point for one reason only... They are bought from a factory that makes needles. Hence the name "needle springs"
With proper design, just as good a spring action can be achieved with (high quality) stainless steel that has no taper. Unfortunately crappy-alloy stainless steel, with poorly designed cradles has been used on crappy student flutes and given non-tapered stainless steel a poor name.
That too-thick-for-its-length, stiff (but tapered), hence sluggish-action spring on pro Buffet clarinets for the F#/C# key are a constant reminder that even top manufacturers give very little attention to good spring design.
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