TubeNet

Does anybody make (as more than a one-off project) electric or electric-assist valve actuators to attach to unmodified tubas, so that someone with limited hand movement or strength can play?

Have you seen this....

https://www.frogandhenry.com/the-tuba-machine.html" target="_blank

Also you could use fast stepper motors (+ a lever to press the valve, or even easier for a rotary) and an Arduino with press switches to operate.
This would be reasonably simple to program.

Has been attempted, sort of!
https://hackaday.com/2018/10/22/robot-t ... mbone-mp3/" target="_blank

TubaBeage wrote:Have you seen this....

https://www.frogandhenry.com/the-tuba-machine.html" target="_blank

I hadn’t. Thanks.

That Nagra in the foreground is pretty classy.

Matt at Dillons actually did this modification for an engineer friend of mine who has since passed away. Rick had some serious medical issues which made it hard for him to use his fingers, but he was a very determined and resourceful man. He found and modified actuators for Matt to install on a new horn. Unfortunately he passed before he got to use the system.
If interested, Matt may well be an excellent resource.

Walter Chesnut, a trumpet professor, had a cornet fitted with actuators after a spinal problem left him unable to move the valves. There is a brief synopsis here along with a photo and a link to more details.

https://anotherwaytoplay.org/2018/11/12 ... esterhorn/" target="_blank" target="_blank

Edit: Oh, you wanted something beyond a one-off project, which is what this was. Perhaps it is of some interest anyway.

I've done some experimenting with using solenoids to operate either piston or rotary valves. I know it's possible but just haven't been able to spend enough time on the project to perfect it. I think solenoids are the way to go. Cheap, reliable, and easy to deal with. The shortcoming at this point is a viable power supply. I'm thinking rechargeable 24 or 30 volt drill motor type power packs would do a nice job.

Thanks so much for the comments. I kind of figured that this wasn't a stock device anywhere, but figured I might as well ask.

I like the drill motor power pack idea. That does seem like about the right scale. I have the knowledge to build the control electronics for solenoids (or maybe voice coil actuators (inside out solenoids)), probably even enough to push the valves with some grace. I'm not as far along with fabrication skills, though, so it would be cool to find something that's already a good fit.

I know of a guy who used to play full time in a military band, but for whom playing is now painful, so this would be useful for him. Maybe not something I can help with right away, but it seems like a fun project to consider.

Air operation is a thoroughly mature field. Every factory is full of pneumatic cylinder operators. You can get whatever speed or power you want, off the shelf (though you may need some special low pressure cylinders). Air gives you speed and precision, it's a bit wasteful of energy if you need high force.

I saw a story this morning on the news about the Brazilian pianist Joao Carlos Martins who has a degenerative situation combined with a series of accidents. Unable to play any longer, a local designer created and custom fitted him with so called "bionic gloves" which cause his otherwise non-responsive fingers to rebound upward after depressing the keys. For someone who can depress but not raise fingers, it could have application to the tuba as well.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-23/ ... s/11895184" target="_blank" target="_blank

I played around using solinoids to pull a piston straight down from the bottom, there were no cams. It was a direct link.

It can be done but there is no finese to a solenoid. It will snap that piston down faster than you can believe.

Without a careful mounting, I believe the solenoid would eventually destroy the valve guide or the valve.

I only connected one valve to see if it would work. Yes, it worked. No, I wouldn't build it for a tuba. There may already be an alternative to solenoids.

That could be managed with pneumatic dampers or dash pots - adjustable to give the desired speed.

Though it's probably worth considering a complete valve system replacement, using parts that are designed for electric operation, as potentially easier than adjusting the electrical operation to conform to the needs of parts designed for a human operator. Use 3/4" garden hose for valve tubing, at least for prototype.