Geartar

myminifactory

UPDATE 2: Check out this video to see the intricate mechanics in action: https://youtu.be/DH4wXGN3lu0 Here's my 3D printed guitar, and make sure to follow me on Instagram for more videos of it in use - don't forget to like them while you're there! I'm Hugo Archicad, and I have zero music knowledge, but that didn't stop me from creating this unique instrument. My friend Steve has a band called 44 Inch Chest, and he saw my 3D printed guitar on YouTube. He jokingly asked me to make one just like it for him, so I said I'd need a donor guitar first. That's exactly what happened - Steve got one at a flea market, and then it sat in my wardrobe for about six months until I couldn't think of what to 3D print next, so I started working on the guitar. In terms of parts, I used the donor guitar, pulled it all apart, photocopied it, and started modeling. I had to reduce the body by 97% to get it to fit on my CR-10, which has a 300x300x400 build volume but isn't that big in reality. I didn't shrink anything else - just the body. The gears are from Thingiverse post #2218127, and I used them as is. Here's what you'll need to make this guitar: * About 2 kilograms of PLA * A mini servo motor (make sure it can do full rotation) * EL wire (1 meter) with its electronic part * A battery holder for the servo (2xAA) * Glue (clear for the EL wire and normal glue for the main pieces) * Wire to add length to the components and a tube thing that shrinks when heated or under a cigar lighter * Soldering equipment I wanted to fit the servo motor battery inside the guitar, but I couldn't because I couldn't get the EL wire to work without its little box. If you have better electronic know-how than me, please help! I designed everything to conceal the wiring and made hidden tunnels to run it through cleanly. The design might not work on other guitars - only this one works for mine. No supports were needed at all anywhere. A big 3D printer would be nice, but nothing's stopping you from cutting it up in pieces. Just don't shrink anything, or everything will work perfectly. I had a great time designing and putting it together, and I learned that when putting screws, if you put your soldering iron on top of the screw for a bit and hold it there, the heat transfers to the plastic making it easier to screw in. When it cools down, the screw sticks super well. One thing - the gears are not my design; I got them from Thingiverse post #2218127. You can download everything you need from one place now. 3D PRINTING SETTINGS I used no supports and 2 rolls of black PLA, along with some red for the gears. One gear is a little too tight in there, so try printing it a few times to see what colours work best. You don't need all the gears I added, but you might want to make a belt or something to hold the guitar. I used Cura and 1.75 nozzle, 30% infill for the main body. For the little gear holders, I made them 70% infill because they were breaking off at first. The gears were all 30% infill.