A carbon fibre violin i made from scratch

Step 5 Admire it

Give it a good polish and your done 

Comments

[Ugifer]

That is a phenominal build!

I'd love to know what it weighs and how thick the plates are etc in comparison with a timber instrument. As well, of course, as how it sounds!

Interesting that the one part you didn't make from carbon was the bridge - was that because a carbon bridge gave a poor tone, or just because it looks great with normal bridge!?

Even more interesting might be a carbon bow - the weight of the bow must be significant in some fast pieces and a minimal weigth carbon bow might allow some techniques that are hardly accessable with a normal bow.

Thanks for posting - superb work.

[PearlZenith]

Actually, from my experience, there are wood bows just as light, or lighter than many carbon bows. The weight matters, but balance is more important, and even a light bow can be frustrating if not properly balanced.

[AussieCFviolin]

thanks to all the people leaving great feedback

i live in the tropics ( 12deg south of the equator ) the tropical weather up here will destroy a timber violin in one wet season ( 3 meters of rain last wet season ( 5 months ) ) , so i figger there is a market for good sounding indestructible violins for students

all up with out strings ,pegs , chin rest , tail peace , it weighed 348grams , i could probably shave another 50grams out of the neck / finger board with no real affect ( its sold as a rock , even served a tennis ball with it ,

the top and bottom plates rage from 0.8mm - 1.2 , there is a lot of grading in the plates
ribs are 0.5mm thick , sound paper thin when you tap on them

the sound post is carbon fibre

the pegs , ( strings) tailpeace , chin rest , bridge are all normal violin peace's , not carbon fibre ,

the bridge is critical for the sound , even changing the type of timber will affect the tone , i plan in playing around with the bridge on the next batch , but i expect it will be like the the plates , 2 months of tinkering to get it right , but a carbon bridge would make it weather proof , if every thing is carbon / composite you wouldn't have to slacken off the strings for storage

with the sound / video , well i dont have have one , and a mobile phone recording would be useless , so when i get one , ill post it ,

as for price , i never kept track of it , with the R&D and all i still believe im less than 1/2 the cost of the "brand" on the market now ,
once the moulds are made and jigs are made , the materials would be as low as $200 but thats not paying for my time , and carbon fibre is very labour intensive at every stage

[eklipse]

That's amazing and beautiful! Do you have a sound clip or a video with sound?

[AussieCFviolin]

(removed by author or community request)

[eklipse]

Thank you for posting that; it sounds superb :)

[tridrles]

About 3 years ago I started making CarbonFiber Ukuleles. I've made four but I have ended up using regular sound board for the tops.

For your first attemp you have done an EXCELLENT job. But, in your Instructable you didn't divelge the final CF weight, fiber orientation, cure temperature that you came up with for the final sound.

I have found that the first of anything I do is OK, it works. But, the second, third fourth that I make is MUCH better.

[AussieCFviolin]

there are a few of us around the world making " hand crafted composite violins " and have set up a forum so we can share our experiences , it might take a while to get entry but well worth it http://www.elixirviolins.com/vanilla-1.1.8/vanilla-1.1.8/
any one is welcome

[he who crashes often]

i find that the first i make of anything is EPIC, then the second, third, and fourth get progressively worse as i start trying to "modify" my original design.

[AussieCFviolin]

cure temp i found dosnt affect the sound much , i cook mine for 8 hours at 100c ,but thats just to accelerate cure time instead of waiting 2 months for the resin to come to full strength , i dont think i will divulge the exact layering / grading / materials of my plates

[blanchae]

Very nice and professional result. You made the neck out of carbon fibre too? What about the "fretboard" (don't know the name it's called on a violin - maybe fingerboard? Anyways, is it carbon fibre too?

[AussieCFviolin]

yes

[modelpilot]

Mate! as a teacher, product designer, hacker and cracker, and musical illiterate, that is one of the most stunning projects I have seen EVER!

What an amazing project, that rocks!!!

I have been looking to do some work in C/F for quite a while, and now realise that there is lots I have not researched.

Thanks

Carl

[AussieCFviolin]

there are a few of us around the world making " hand crafted composite violins " and have set up a forum so we can share our experiences , it might take a while to get entry but well worth it http://www.elixirviolins.com/vanilla-1.1.8/vanilla-1.1.8/
any one is welcome

[it_fixxer]

As an engineer I applaud you. As a musician I am jealous. That is a true work of beauty.

[gezortenplotz]

Congratulations! Your perseverance must border on the obsessive. I don't even play violin anymore, but I'd buy one of these.