3D Printed instruments

[Billy M.]

http://www.cnet.com/news/3d-printed-sax ... stic-music

Is it only a matter of time before the first 3D printed tuba?

[pjv]

Yup. Brilliant. One would think that it'd be easier to print out a brass instrument.
Lighter and cheeper tubas in any model you want. Recording sessions or gigs with 3 or more tubas without the back injuries. No more overweight at the airport. Tuba stolen? Just print a new one out.
I'm ready.

[Dan Schultz]

I'm not holding my breath. Engineered materials that have the same (or similar) qualities as we normally see in music instruments are quite a ways off and will be super-expensive when they do become available.

Please don't cite the 'p-bone' and the plastic trumpet that are currently on the market as contenders to replace conventional brass instruments.

[toobagrowl]

Maybe not 3D-printed, but I'd like to see more tubas/sousaphones made from other materials like lexan or some other high-quality 'polymer' like carbon-fiber. Maybe even aluminum. Heck, I'd like to see more fiberglass tubas. No more red-rot. No more/fewer dents. No more brittle/cracking old brass. On top of that, I think it would be great to introduce some new, ground-breaking design in tubas.
If I had boat loads of money, I'd be experimenting with this stuff right and left...

[deholder]

I think the article says it took him 6 months to build it, not sure how much was printing. I would say far far more time was spent with autocad.
My question is this, what did he solve? 3D printing has allowed some the use of their arms, kids to build stuff from history, and the sky is the limit. But just reproducing something that exists is pointless for a 3D printer. Why would you print an exact copy of a conn helleberg? (Ok, so it is your favorite mouthpiece and you want a plastic one for cold weather).
Solve an intonation problem with a particular horn by replacing a part or creating a new one with a 3D printer and color me impressed.