 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2016-04-07 19:18
I wonder how far off we are from being able to buy the 3D design of an instrument, in digitized file format, send it to our 3D printer, and have a cost effective and quality instrument.
More of us are coming to the understanding that craftsmanship more than materials make the great clarinet--which isn't to say you could make the thing out of Swiss Cheese, but rather, that the difference between a plastic, rubber and (different types of) wood clarinet may be less than originally thought.
I could certainly understand where some metal parts, be they keys, posts, rods, screws or tenon rings--or for that matter pads--might need to be sold separately. Further I certainly get that materials do matter in mouthpiece making and reeds, for example.
It's interesting to think how such capabilities might facilitate direct manufacturer to end user commerce, without dealers, wholesalers, web sites, brick and mortar institutions, and shippers. It will be interesting to see patents being enforced when someone scans 3 million points on a part, digitizes it, and attempts to sell the file so the end consumer can reproduce the part.
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Author: DarkHairedIrish
Date: 2016-04-07 20:19
A friend of mine plays french horn and recently made a 3D printed mouthpiece based off of his metal, Holton mouthpiece. He managed to make second chair in an audition with the plastic replica. That's different than printing an entire instrument but it's definitely a start.
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Author: bassclarinet101 ★2017
Date: 2016-04-07 20:26
I don't think we're very far off from being able to digitize and reproduce shape, though I think the variance in density might prove a bit more of a challenge.
Currently the biggest issue in 3D scanning that I'm aware of is in stitching together multiple images to create a single cohesive image, as well as in accurately capturing insides of things (such as the chamber of a mouthpiece, or inside the bore of a clarinet).
I would be all for being able to take (and potentially modify) a 3-D model of an instrument in order to create my own clarinet with a very personal sound!
-Daniel
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2016-04-07 22:16
There are already 3D printed barrels and bells (I use a 3D printed barrel). I am also pretty sure there are 3D printed mouthpieces made by someone else but I forgot who makes these.
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Author: ClaV
Date: 2016-04-08 02:08
"duplicate the molecular structure of an object atom by atom: is the realm of chemistry! Exactly because of such misconceptions, there is a widening gap between the real possibilities of what is called "nanotechnologies" and public perception of it (call it "nanohype" or else).
For 3-D printing - the main limiting stage now is the material to be printed, which are typically polymers. A simpler (and more realistic I believe) solution for now for woodwinds is the precise removal of the material, which would work very well for the bores for all materials including grenadilla wood and metals.
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2016-04-08 05:56
MacSax is 3D printing alto and tenor sax mouthpieces which are modeled after famous earlier pieces. They are fabricated from a mixture of bronze dust and a resin. I have played both of these and they are extremely competent sax mouthpieces- and very cheap compared to the originals.
Jerry
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2016-04-08 19:13
3D Printing is a neat concept. I believe that before I'm dead (hoping another 50 years or so), we'll be at the point where we'll have the option of ordering an actual mouthpiece, or ordering a mouthpiece "template" which will be emailed to us, loaded into a program (protected with a 24 hour rental fee I'm sure like today's digital movie rentals), and one time printed at home.
And not just for mouthpieces. I won't have to go to Lowe's or Home Depot for certain small fasteners or elbow piping anymore.
It's a fun time to be alive and see the amazing progressions in technology!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Pereira3D
Date: 2016-04-08 20:03
Hello,
(Disclaimer: I make and sell 3D Printed clarinet barrels and bells)
There have been some great achievements in 3D printing technology within the past couple of years. I have been studying the process, materials, and necessary post-processing in order to make functioning equipment for the clarinet.
The material and processes that I've discovered from countless trials have some impressive results. I like the characteristics from the polymer-based material I use, but I am currently exploring some wood and metal hybrid materials that are now on the market.
If anyone would like some questions answered on the topic, feel free to shoot me an email.
Ryan Pereira
Pereira 3D Clarinet Services
www.Pereira3D.com
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2016-04-10 00:15
I don't know much about 3D printers for home use, and I suspect the answer to this question might vary with machine, or thread, or thread sizes a machine takes, but does anyone have an idea how thin a surface your basic 3D printer can make?
Recognizing that materials are of course key to reed making, I'm none the less curious if such a printer could fabricate something that, at least in size, if not play, resembled a reed, including its thin tip.
Of course with one uniform material to make a reed out of, even if this was doable on a 3D printer, then strength and reed profile WOULD go part in parcel with each other, unlike mother nature's natural variability in cane strength, or synthetic makers like Legere, I am assuming, modifying their base material for different strength reeds.
Thanks
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Author: Pereira3D
Date: 2016-04-10 03:10
Different printers have read the same files slightly differently, in my experience. I have my files tuned specifically for my machine type and my material. Different materials have different shrinkage factors as well, so sometimes bores would come out extra tight for a material such as hard nylon, which shrinks very much.
High quality printers can have layer heights of around 0.02 or 0.025 mm. Considering a Vandoren Traditional reed tip thickness being 0.09 mm, modeling and printing a reed is plausible. A reed can even be 3D scanned to get exact dimensions. However, I'm convinced the type of materials currently on the market cannot make a quality reed. A functioning reed can be made, but nothing that would be successful in a performance setting.
Ryan Pereira
Pereira 3D Clarinet Services
www.Pereira3D.com
Post Edited (2016-04-10 04:22)
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