After I got the violin strung (not an easy task) and then proceeded to break a string (the yellow one) and hack-up at the rosin to score it (which is what all the videos online said to do and I basically destroyed it), which lead to a quick trip to the music store for new strings and more rosin, the 3D acoustic violin is done! And it made a real sound once I put rosin on the bow. Not a overly good sound, but it was not bad, but it did sound volin’ish. The 3D plans for the violin were created by Kaitlyn and Matt Hova at Hova Labs, LLC. They created them and then set them free, as they do not charge people to use their 3D violin files. How awesome is that! Checkout their website http://www.hovalabs.com/
It was a long process and probably would have been cheaper if I had just brought a violin at the store, but where is the fun in that. 3D printing is just in its infancy and it was really fun to try and figure out this whole weird puzzle. In educational speak, you could say that making a 3D printer combines the best of STEM and the Humanities/Social Sciences/Arts.
Never tell me the odds, but here is a breakdown of everything:
1) I had only built a tiny Millennium Falcon on the 3D Original Prusa i3 MK3 printers before (and had help) and not multiple parts that took hours and hours to print.
2) I had to get permission to use a larger 3D printer in another tech lab, as the library printer was not big enough to build the neck and so I had to rely on the kindness of strangers.
3) I have no carpentry/building/mechanical skills (around 8th or 9th grade I was required to take a woodworking shop class and sanded my finger – there was blood everywhere and I still have a scar and one bad looking wooden clock. Apparently the making/fixing/building gene skipped a generation, as my dad could build things and his dad was a great carpenter and could build anything and my Grandpa Steve could fix things -airplanes and cars during WWII and made his own fishing tip-ups. Grandpa Steve also had a violin, whom he got from his brother, not sure where that violin is, but I think my aunt has it. Many things were hard to do because I had never done them before. Plus I did not have the knowledge or the physical strength to do them, but that didn’t stop me. I came up with weird workarounds for many items, which would work for me and my violin. Would they work for someone else’s violin – yes, but they might come up with better way of doing things and their own workarounds.
4) Tools used: 3D Original Prusa i3 MK3 printer, electricity, filament, wrench, vise, sandpaper, electric grinder (without glasses or gloves and sparks flying), black Sharpie, needle-nose pliers, and tweezers.
5) It would have been cheaper to buy a already build violin – but where was the fun in that. So here is the cost breakdown (items purchased from amazon.com and so there was tax, but no shipping on the different orders – I have not added in tax to my prices below from amazon.com):
Carbon Fiber Tube 6x8x500mm – $17.99 (this was the second order as UPS would not ship the first. The first order left the warehouse, made a few stops, and went back to the warehouse. Weird.
The Original Bernardel Rosin For Violin – Viola – Cello – $9.35
Kmise 3R3L Acoustic Guitar Tuning Pegs Machine Head Tuners BLACK Guitar Parts 6pcs – $10.40
D’Addario Prelude Violin String Set, 4/4 Scale, Medium Tension – $16.99
Crescent 4/4 Full Size Well Balanced Round Brazil Wood Mongolian Horsehair Violin Bow – $19.99
Extra strings and rosin pursed from Guitar Center – $21.45 (tax included here)
Sandpaper – two different kinds from Home Depot $14.71 (tax included here)
Cost of the orange filament (PLA – which means that its made from corn and is biodegradable) = free as I am a librarian and student at the University. I did offer to buy some, but was told no because its for people to use.
I also bough Violin For Dummies, Book + Online Video & Audio Instruction – $16.99, but I will not add that into the cost list.
Use of lots of free tools, sharpie, etc from things I had around the house.
6) Total cost = $89.43 before the extra strings and rosin = Grand total $110.88 (without some tax – so tax would add to the total price).
So whats next? Doing a show and tell at work with the violin. I need to purchase a chin rest and maybe a case. I also want to re-string that string that broke off, as it bugs me. Oh and fear not, after this photo was taken a friend told me to ‘loosen that poor bow! It should’t be arched like that.’ The bow has been loosened.