The PrintBone v1.1: a fully printable playable trombone

thingiverse

The PrintBone v1.1 is a fully printable trombone that's been updated for easier printing and better looks, requiring less support, improved ergonomics, and a more precise fit between parts. The sound and playability remain excellent, comparable to those of regular brass trombones. You can see the original PrintBone at http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1845509, featuring a PVC slide. For comparison, listen to recordings made with a Bach 42B and the PrintBone bell on https://soundcloud.com/pieter-bos-2013025. This trombone plays about as well as regular brass models - in fact, it's often easier to play than most trombones. The PrintBone has an 8.5-inch bell and fits a Bach 42 or Bach 50 slide connector, commonly used on many other trombones, including some Yamaha and Courtois models. You can use it with either a brass or PVC slide, or adapt the OpenSCAD sources at https://github.com/pieterbos/PrintBone to create your own custom trombone using any available tubing. The photo shows a small bore trombone that you can also find on the GitHub link; I'll release it once I fix some issues with it. All parts are oriented correctly for printing, but you may need support for the bell and the bottom of the neckpipe. The other components print without support. To achieve optimal results, print with at least 25-30% infill - the pictured model has 40% infill, which provides a nice sturdiness to the bracing. Find a print setting that minimizes leaks, then check for them by applying soapy water, sealing one end, and blowing through it. If you find any leaks, fix them with a thin layer of superglue. After printing, sand the tuning slide legs until they fit properly inside, using tuning slide grease to ensure a smooth connection. Sand all joints slightly before gluing the parts together, then get ready to play!