Geartar

thingiverse

UPDATE 2: I've added a video here for you to see all the gears moving: https://youtu.be/DH4wXGN3lu0 Check out my latest creation, a 3D printed guitar! Follow me on Instagram (you'll see videos of the guitar in action - don't forget to like it there!) @hugo_archicad I have zero music knowledge. My friend Steve, who's part of a band called 44 Inch Chest, saw a YouTube video featuring a 3D printed guitar and jokingly asked me to make one just like it for him. I agreed, but said I'd need a donor guitar first. One day, he got one at a flea market. The donor guitar 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 project. To make this guitar, you'll need: * About 2 kilos of PLA * A mini servo motor (I had to open mine to ensure full rotation - find the answer on YouTube) * EL wire (1 meter) with its electronic part * A battery holder (2xAA) for the servo * Glue (clear for the EL wire) * Wire to add length to the components and a tube thing that shrinks when you apply heat or a cigar lighter (I don't know the name, but it looks professional and keeps the soldering in place) I wanted to fit the servo motor battery inside the guitar, but I couldn't get the EL wire to work without its little box, so it sits outside. To assemble everything, I designed hidden little tunnels to run the wiring and made a channel for the EL wire. However, I don't know if my design will work on other guitars, as this one is unique. No supports are needed anywhere in the 3D printing process. If you're planning to cut the guitar into pieces, make sure not to shrink any parts - everything should work perfectly. Enjoy! I learned a lot while designing and assembling this project. One trick I discovered is that when putting screws, applying heat from your soldering iron to the plastic makes it easier to screw in, and once cooled, the screw sticks super well. The gears used in this guitar are not my design - you can find them on Thingiverse here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2218127 I've added all the necessary parts for download from one place. 3D Printing Settings: * No supports were needed * Two rolls of black PLA and a bit of red for the gears were used * I suggest printing the gears multiple times to find the best color combination * You don't need all the gears, but you might want to make a belt or something to hold the guitar in place * Cura was used with a 1.75 nozzle, 30% infill for the main body and 70% infill for the gear holders (which I found necessary after some trial and error) * The gears were printed at 30% infill Follow me on Instagram (you'll see videos of the guitar in action - don't forget to like it there!) @hugo_archicad