Printable Trumpet

thingiverse

Here is a 17-piece printable trumpet. The design was inspired by the Bach Stradivarius, but the actual sound quality and playability are surprisingly poor. Despite this, posting these files serves as an opportunity for users to test their skills in improving the design and print their own trumpets. More photos of my printed model can be viewed here: imgur.com/a/k68R2 Building this trumpet is a laborious process that takes almost a full week just to complete the printing. In most cases, the parts require extensive post-printing work before assembly. I documented myself trying to play it on this video: youtube.com/watch?v=B1j_d2mSGng. However, keep in mind that it does not sound good at all. If you need help or have design questions, don't hesitate to reach out to me directly. **Important Update** As of 3/8/15, I have redesigned everything and started printing a new trumpet model. This revised version will be significantly easier to print with (each piece measuring under 5.5 inches) and should provide better sound quality. Additional parts were added on 2/8/15; please refer to the updated instructions for further details. **Instructions** * Do not attempt to build this trumpet yet! Consider using a different model. This assembly requires seventeen distinct pieces, with "TMPT_2ndValveTube" used twice. Here is a diagram of the construction process: imgur.com/u9OzPGd.png Please be aware that printing all these parts will require multiple days and an extensive amount of printing time. I highly recommend not using PLA; this design requires plenty of sanding, which may lead to numerous breakages. In some cases, it's even possible to bond the pieces back together with acetone. Additionally, you'll need a solid build volume, ideally exceeding 23 cm on the z-axis for these files ("TMPT_Bell" and "TMPT_BellTube"). I designed these parts so they would fit closely together. You may find that some minor adjustments (e.g., sanding) are required to make everything fit properly, especially with regards to the valves. The pieces marked below as requiring additional support need flat surfaces or other means of attachment for them to print properly ("TMPT_ValveChamber," "TMPT_1stValveTube", "TMPT_2ndValveTube," "TMPT_BellCurve" and "TMPT_LeadCurve"). You'll find a long list of instructions, including notes about what may be challenging or tricky when printing your own trumpet model. Don't expect to master this instrument anytime soon – but rather see this project as an excellent chance for improvement through collaboration with other designers.