Polylactic acid 3D printed violins pave the way for music education
While violins are popular instruments for children to learn to play, they can also be quite expensive. While "budget" children's violins already exist, models of reasonable quality typically cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. The Montreal-based AVIVA Young Artists Program has set out to change that, developing an inexpensive 3D-printed violin with a beautiful sound. In comparison, AVIVA's 3D printed violin is said to only cost the maker about $34, or $7 to print, and about $27 to assemble. A sharp reduction in prices could make instruments available to more students. Affordable musical instruments could pave the way for future music education programs.
The latter process involves purchasing and installing third-party non-3D printed parts such as strings, chinrests, tailpieces, and tuning pegs.
The violin is shaped much like a traditional violin, and its body is printed from PLA (polylactic acid) polymer. A series of square cavities inside it help reduce weight and create a resonant sound. The individually printed neck - which simply clips onto the body - is made from smoother ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) plastic, allowing it to fit comfortably in the student's hand.
It is said to produce a darker, more rounded sound than regular violins, and as an added bonus, AVIVA violins are also less prone to damage than their traditional wooden cousins.
Ultimately, the purpose of this project is to give violins to individual children or music projects who cannot afford the price of a regular violin.
