Pan Flute With Optimal Tube Diameters, 8 Tube, C5 to C6

thingiverse

Pan flute with 1:10 D/L pipe ratios for optimal tonal color and playability. The pipes curve inward for ease of playing and handling. A protective cap is included to keep tuning beads secure. Print Settings Printer Brand: Robo 3D Printer Model: R1 ABS + PLA Model Rafts: No Supports: Yes Resolution: Low Infill: Solid, line Notes: I chose solid infill because the pipes require no pressure leaks for proper playing and resonance. The flute's closed bottoms are essential to its sound quality. Post-Printing Cleanup and Tuning Because the flute is printed upside down, there will be support material inside the tubes used to build the closed bottoms of the pipes. I removed as much material as possible with tweezers, then drilled out more support using appropriately sized drill bits by hand. Finally, I finished up with straight end screwdrivers plunged and twisted into the pipes to remove any remaining material. The cleanup process took about 30 minutes. Tiny holes in the pipes can make the flute difficult to play. After cleanup and a light sanding, you can coat the outside and/or inside of the flute with a primer coat for improved sound quality. I used Vallejo acrylic-polyurethane surface primer on the outside surface of my PLA flute and noticed a significant improvement from the smaller pipes. Traditionally small pebbles are used to tune the pipes. I discovered a Decorative Filler at a craft store (Michael's) in the form of small clear plastic squarish beads normally used in decorative terrariums. These, combined with a music tuning app like Pano Tuner, allow for quick and easy tuning. The provided cap keeps the tuning beads secure when the flute is idle.