Help with finding correct composite for musical instrument

[uilleann]

I am trying to make a musical instrument from a composite material rather then using wood. The average density of the wood used for the musical instrument is between 0.8-1.4 g/cc. What would be a good way to go about finding a composite suitable for the job(something with similar density)while keeping it a do-it-yourself low cost project. If anyone could help me with this, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[GilPolymers]

Hello

I know that some guys in UK made an "acoustic" violin with carbon fibres and epoxy resin. If I remember they used an autoclave system to manufacture the different components.
Maybe you should look for something like that.

I try to find the web page but I can't find the same web page that I found before.

BR,

Pedro

 

[RPstress]

There was a UK university project which used carbon/epoxy for somethng like a cello or violin. However, looking at a google on carbon epoxy cello gets quite a few hits, including:

http://www.luisandclark.com/

http://www.soundpost.co.uk/arc_verona.html

http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6284957-description.html

http://www.maestronet.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=4&threadid=317405&enterthread=y

http://www.google.com/patents?id=EEUOAAAAEBAJ&dq=violin+schleske<BR>

Carbon epoxy (and carbon/polyester and vinyl ester) comes out at around 1.50 to 1.6 g/cc depending on fibre volume.

Stiffness of quasi-isotropic material varies from 40-odd GPa to say 175 GPa for a really high modulus fibre.

Damping is hard to quantify, but it should be less damped than wood unless damping is added.

I'd be curious to see what that might amount to in acoustic terms.

From the look of it people are looking at this.

 

[Higgler]

There are carbon fiber guitars out there.

This company is experimenting and not yet selling them,

http://www.cumpiano.com/Home/Guitars/Special/Graphite/graphite.html

sells sound boards that are pretty thin, see below.

The material is composed of many laminations of resin-impregnated carbon fiber "skins" which are laid up in a special way. The lay-up is then heat-pressed to a 1/16 to 1/32-inch thickness. The process yields an enormously strong, stable and light material that will never creep or crack.

kch

 

[berkshire]

uilleann (Materials)
You do not say what type of musical instrument you are attempting to make.
The requirements for a woodwind instrument are quite a bit different than those for a stringed instrument.
B.E.

 

[samplesecond]

also check out quintus stringed instruments (

http://www.gracestrings.com)

There is some technical info that is basic, but it just might be helpful...