Three-Dimensional Printing Process for Musical Instruments: Sound Reflection Properties of Polymeric Materials for Enhanced Acoustical Performance

Acoustical properties of various materials were analyzed in order to determine their potential for the utilization in the three-dimensional printing process of stringed musical instruments. Polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene terephthalate with glycol modification (PET-G), and acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) filaments were studied in terms of sound reflection using the transfer function method. In addition, the surface geometry parameters (Sa, Sq, Sz, and Sdr) were measured, and their relation to the acoustic performance of three-dimensional-printed samples was investigated. It was found that a higher layer height, and thus a faster printing process, does not necessarily mean poor acoustical properties. The proposed methodology also proved to be a relatively easy and rapid way to test the acoustic performance of various materials and the effect of three-dimensional printing parameters to test such a combination at the very beginning of the production process.

Automated summary

The acoustical properties of PLA, PET-G, and ASA materials were studied for their potential use in 3D printing of stringed musical instruments. The study used the transfer function method to analyze sound reflection and measured surface geometry parameters (Sa, Sq, Sz, and Sdr) to investigate their relation to acoustic performance. The results showed that higher layer heights and faster printing processes did not necessarily result in poorer acoustical properties. The proposed methodology provided an easy and rapid way to test the acoustic performance and printing parameters of different materials at the beginning of the production process.