Logo image
Back
MAKER: Interdisciplinary Senior Design Project to Print Mozart's Fortepiano
Conference proceeding   Open access

MAKER: Interdisciplinary Senior Design Project to Print Mozart's Fortepiano

Yalcin Ertekin, Warren Rosen, M. Eric Carr and Michael Cassidy
Association for Engineering Education - Engineering Library Division Papers
26 Jun 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18260/p.25625
url
https://doi.org/10.18260/p.25625View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Maybe Open Access (Publisher Bronze),  Open

Abstract

3-D printers Artists CAD/CAM Complex systems Computer aided manufacturing Computer numerical control Computer simulation Control methods Electronic keys Keyboards Machining Musical instruments Prototyping Signal processing Skills Solvers Sound reproduction Strings Students Technologists Three dimensional printing
The desired current set of skills required of modern engineers and technologists has been steadily expanding. In addition to familiarity with manual machining and prototyping techniques, mastering CAD/CAM, Computer Numerical Control (CNC), automation methods, and embedded control are increasingly becoming essential tools in the design, prototyping and manufacturing of complex systems. In this paper, we describe an inter-disciplinary senior design project aimed at using modern techniques such as 3D printing and electronic signal processing to build a hybrid replica of Mozart’s piano with accurate feel and sound quality but at an affordable cost of ~$2,000. Accurate reproductions of Mozart’s piano are available but these can cost in excess of $60,000 new, due to the large number of parts that must be hand carved from wood, as well as the string/soundboard system. The high cost limits the availability to academic musicologists or anyone simply interested in hearing the music the way it sounded to Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn. The keybox and soundboard are accurate reproductions of the original, but to reproduce the proper feel for the keyboard the expensive, labor-intensive parts of the key action are made using 3D printing, namely Fused Filament Fabrication technology, as well as hand crafting out of wood. In place of the strings, an electronic key velocity sensing and sound reproduction system was designed and developed. The significance of the methodology to be applied in this capstone course project is to combine theory and practice to prepare the students to become better problem solvers and obtain practical solutions to real life/simulated problems using a project based approach. Students in the Mechanical, Electrical, and Industrial fields along with many others can learn many new skills from multi-disciplinary projects such as the design and development of a musical instrument. Such projects show students how to use different types of technology, and demonstrate how advanced technology can be used in an innovative application. Overall, many different fields of engineering, academia and artists can benefit from this application, enabling the development of skill and knowledge in many different engineering aspects and processes.

Metrics

25 Record Views

Details

Logo image