Timple canario

thingiverse

This is a Concert Scale Timple, an instrument that can be produced anywhere in the World. All it takes is a 3D printer and some skill to assemble it. Soon we will publish a set of assembly instructions to make this task easier. This project was born in my head a few years ago, but for one reason or another (lack of CAD 3D knowledge) or another (the technology of 3D printing was not mature), it had been postponed. The initial idea consisted of **designing a Canarian Timple that could be fabricated with digital tools at a reasonable price**. From the beginning, it was designed to be able to be printed on a 3D printer and also combined with other digital manufacturing technologies. The arm can be made in wood using a CNC router and the lid also in wood using a laser cutter. I met Carlos and Joseph at an entrepreneurs' meeting and as their project is a 3D design and printing company, I offered them to draw the Timple that was in my head. After a few prototypes, we arrived at this version that can be printed on a Prusa i3 MK3. Once the pieces have been printed (see printing tips), it is necessary to assemble everything with glue. Why use glue instead of screws? because musical instruments vibrate and mechanical joints with screws are not suitable in this case. It is also necessary to put some tuning pegs and strings on it. Since I have an online store specializing in accessories for musical instruments, we created a pack that includes the 5 tuning pegs and the strings. But you don't need to buy these pegs or strings, as any standard ukulele or acoustic guitar tuning pegs will do. For the strings, they will need nylon with the following diameters: 0.55mm for the first and fourth string; 0.65mm for the second and fifth string; 0.77mm for the third string. **Does this Timple sound better than one made of wood?** If we compare it to a Timple built in an artisanal way by someone who really knows what they're doing, this Timple will never sound as good as a quality instrument. We have to consider two aspects: 1.- This Timple is made of plastic and plastic has never been a material for making good musical instruments. There are exceptions like Ovation guitars that have a plastic body but the rest of the components are made of wood 2.- If someone who doesn't know anything about musical instruments assembles it, it will be very complicated to get it right.