3D Printed Violin Project Part 1

Scrolling through YouTube one day I found a video of a college student building a custom 3D printed 6 string violin. Having played viola in orchestra since the 3rd grade I was enthralled by the violin they created. I immediately searched online to find more resources. I found a site called Hovalin who designs 3D printed violins. Hovalin’s design is the closest representing a traditional violin. I wanted to build one for the 2018 GBS maker faire.

On Hovalin’s website it has instructions on how to build your own. I first printed the 5 components needed to print the violin. The violin body is segmented into three parts making the bottom, mid, and top. The rest is the neck and 2 dovetail joints connecting the segmented violin bodies. The violin parts print with out support and takes a day and a half to print everything. I printed each part with 18% cubic infill.

The next step was to order the tuners, carbon fiber rod, and strings. The Hovalin violin uses guitar tuners compared to a standard peg design used on traditional violins. Using guitar tuners is necessary because traditional violins use a tapered length wood peg. A traditional violin peg is jammed into the peg hole and is kept in place using friction. I attempted to 3D print a peg box once but the hole expanded after a few turns proving PLA is not a viable solution.

The carbon fiber rod slides through a chamber on the top plate. This adds extra strength to the violin preventing it from collapsing due to the string tension. The string exerts 20 lbs over the violin. If this is not counteracted the layers between the 3D print will begin to split compromising the violins integrity.

Lastly I purchased standard violin strings.

To build the violin it connects like LEGOs.

The process of putting it together just takes a little practice. I fist add super glue made for plastic on the bottom of the parts that will have contact to each other. I clamp it together to help eliminate the seem and create a tight bond. After the body is glued together I add the two dovetail joints. There is no need to glue the dovetail joints because the carbon fiber rod goes through it preventing it from moving.