Choose a Project: Musical Instrument

Project overview: For our next project, we had choices. We could either make a robotic arm that would pick up small objects, a musical instrument that could play a scale, or a bridge and seismograph. We could even make our own project if we desired. George and I decided to create a musical instrument, an imitation of a cello.

Technological Concepts: Our cello is an example of a chordophone, an instrument that produces sound through one or more vibrating strings, where vibration is the oscillation of  a string at the point the vibration was initiated at. We had to consider the materials (thin wood) and the volume in order to create a chamber that would resonate -- vibrate with the strings' vibrations -- and project and mature the sound. When the string vibrates, a larger amplitude (harder pluck) is a louder sound; the tension in the string determines the frequency -- how many times per second (Hertz) -- it vibrates at, which in turn directly correlates with pitch.

Learning Goals: At this point, research and planning took a greater role in the design process. As is the nature of musical instruments, bridges, and robotic arms, it is essential to plan out meticulously how you are going to build the structure. During the implementation, a greater independence in the creation of different parts was required, in order to finish the project in time. Often people were required to be doing entirely different things, and then would come back to assemble the parts.

Instrument Description: We created a slightly small cello, which was 26 inches in height, 20 inches in width, and five inches deep. Thing wood was used for the main body, with a thin board supported by a thick board was required for the fingerboard. Small blocks of wood were used to act as a bridge and to raise the strings above the fingerboard. Wooden pegs were implemented at the end of the fingerboard, with nails holding the end of the string to the body. Long four inches pieces of wood were put along the sides in the body to give strength, and a wooden dowel rod was placed underneath the bridge to support it when the strings were tightened.

Positive Feedback:  We were quite proud of creating an instrument that in many ways mimics real cellos. The fingerboard was stiff throughout the entirety of the wood, and small touches like the structural supports and the wooden dowel rod underneath the bridge really made a solid design. When played, the cello had a surprisingly good amount of resonance due to its volume, unlike many homemade stringed instruments.

Redesign Paragraph: The two main things that come to mind are the height of the side pieces and the wooden pegs. The wooden pegs simply could not hold tension, so we had to try and use toothpicks to hold them in place. Also, the height of the side pieces didn't match for some reason. Even though we measured the heights meticulously, we should have made the heights uniform; it just looks a little unprofessional because of it.

Technological Resources: George and I created the cello once again, still with Dr. Sartori's advice on supports, pegs, glue, and whatever else we needed. Electricity powered the jigsaw, belt sander, band saw, and glue guns that we used to create the instrument. It took two and a half weeks to construct the project, in 60 minute class work periods. We used or knowledge of string instruments and woodworking together to make the cello. Lastly, the resources we used were nails, wood boards and dowel rods, nails, Elmer's glue, and hot glue.

Biggest Challenge: Our biggest challenge is the peg box, as we chose to use wooden pegs. They simply can't hold tension and slip in the holes, and tape didn't work and we couldn't glue them. The string also cuts into the wood at its point of contact. As of writing this, we are going to attempt to use toothpicks to hold the pegs in place; we think it work, but it takes a lot more work than we expected it to.

What we learned: We discovered that independence in constructing a project is essential to be efficient. We wouldn't have finished otherwise. Also, we learned that using ideas from other successful instruments was very helpful. With the wooden dowel rods underneath the bridge (inspired by real instruments) and other elements like the bridge and pegs, real instruments really inspired our design. I think collaboration and inspiration of ideas is a good thing; it fosters innovation, competition, and a better standard of life for people.

Through a piano, one can create incredible and magical sounds.