Hello,
as promised a long time ago, I have constructed my twistable flaps for Musser M55 vibraphones. The video describes what you need and how to mount the flaps respectively.
I can provide the data for 3D printing the flaps free of charge for private use on mail request.
wyndorps@web.de
I can't give a functional guarantee because I don't have the tolerances of 3D printing manufacturing and the vibraphones themselves in hand. But it is no problem at all to get the whole thing working.
At worst, one or the other longer or shorter flap is still needed. I will be happy to supply the data on request.
The attached file BOM.PDF contains a list of all 3D printed parts. Where no quantity is given, it is a matter of modified lengths in order to be able to compensate for any tolerances.
I made my second set of flaps (black) on a simple, off-the-shelf 3D printer like almost every mechanical engineering student has. But there are also internet providers for 3D printing everywhere. They are a bit more expensive, but also more accurate.
Since I don't have a Musser vibe myself, I'm very interested in feedback.
All the best and have fun
Paul
Comments
Wow. Excellent.
Randy_Sutin Sat, 03/27/2021 - 10:25
I love this. In a month or two, my daughter will be returning to work at a place that has very good 3D printers. I can't wait to have her folks make me some so I can try this. My old M55 needs new flaps anyway, so this is a perfect opportunity.
Will I have to alter the motor mechanism at all to take advantage of the offset flaps? Does the motor have to rotate in both directions, or can I make that switch manually by just manipulating the flaps? (Honestly, I can't see ever wanting to go back to aligned flaps, so that may be a non-issue, but I thought I'd ask).
thank you so very much for all your work on this.
Randy
Further Information
wyndorps Sat, 03/27/2021 - 11:58
Hello Randy,
I would be very happy to have such a sound specialist as you try the flaps.
In fact, I can't imagine going back to parallel directional flaps either. But the parallel alignment is necessary to realize the "open" position for playing without rotating flaps.
To your questions:
No, no modification to the motor mechanism is required.
You take out the current shafts with flaps and bearing blocks. I don't know if the bearing blocks on Musser are riveted in, or screwed in. If they are riveted, you can just drill out the rivets. You won't break anything, because you can use screws later instead of new rivets.
Then you install the new shafts with the adjustment flaps and the new bearing blocks and fasten them with screws. On the right side of the shafts are the new belt wheels and on the left side the new hand wheels for adjustment. I had to make the handwheels very narrow, because there is not much space between the last resonance tube and the frame on the M55.
Then you take the old belt and put it on the new belt wheels. That is all.
The changeover is purely manual. If you lightly tighten the new flaps on the shaft with the nuts at the end of the shaft, they will not twist by themselves. You then simply hold the belt wheel and turn the handwheel until they are parallel or twisted. Then the direction of rotation of the motor does not matter.
If you give the flaps a little play, they can easily twist against each other. Then, depending on the direction of rotation of the shaft, it is sufficient to hold the handwheel briefly while the motor is running to change the alignment. This is interesting if you actually always want to play with twisted flaps, or completely without with open tubes. Then, when the motor has the correct direction of rotation, you could manually set the flaps to open to play open and change the orientation to twisted without stopping.
Now, if you can switch the direction of motor rotation (should be easy to do with Musser, but I don't have one), you could use that in both orientations.
When you are ready to use the data just send me a mail. If for your daughter possibly another data format is better suitable, simply report.
Many greetings and stay healthy
Paul