3d printed whistles (again)
Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2017 3:10 pm
Hi there, I'm new here. I've read all the posts that hint at 3d printing in general and these models in particular:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:216208/
I've been 3d printing for several years now, and I've actually printed these models, as well as some other flutes and whistles, many times. For the most part they're actually pretty awesome. I've used them on studio recordings, played them live at shows, and given them as gifts.
But to date, I've really just printed them, sorta-tuned them, and that's it. There are some flaws in the 3d printing process that sometimes result in odd behavior when the whistle is played, and I'd like some advice and info on how to deal with that.
The biggest practical issue I run into is this: At the six-hole fingering position, very often one of these whistles will only be playable with a very slight blow. If you blow with anything close to as strong as you would on a PVC, bamboo, or tin whistle (or mass-produced plastic ones), it'll either overblow or just not properly split the flow at all and you get no note. Once you lift the bottom finger, at 5-holes and up there's a bit more tolerance for normal blowing, and then it gets difficult again after the first register break.
I've had 50/50 success at making this better-but-not-good by gently sanding or filing the blade, but this is all just guesswork. Are there any good procedures or iterative refinement processes I might try to really get to the bottom of what qualities in the print are causing the imperfections, and how to have more consistent quality in the tone?
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:216208/
I've been 3d printing for several years now, and I've actually printed these models, as well as some other flutes and whistles, many times. For the most part they're actually pretty awesome. I've used them on studio recordings, played them live at shows, and given them as gifts.
But to date, I've really just printed them, sorta-tuned them, and that's it. There are some flaws in the 3d printing process that sometimes result in odd behavior when the whistle is played, and I'd like some advice and info on how to deal with that.
The biggest practical issue I run into is this: At the six-hole fingering position, very often one of these whistles will only be playable with a very slight blow. If you blow with anything close to as strong as you would on a PVC, bamboo, or tin whistle (or mass-produced plastic ones), it'll either overblow or just not properly split the flow at all and you get no note. Once you lift the bottom finger, at 5-holes and up there's a bit more tolerance for normal blowing, and then it gets difficult again after the first register break.
I've had 50/50 success at making this better-but-not-good by gently sanding or filing the blade, but this is all just guesswork. Are there any good procedures or iterative refinement processes I might try to really get to the bottom of what qualities in the print are causing the imperfections, and how to have more consistent quality in the tone?