Production of a violin support with functional surfaces

Plastics experts at the FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland developed an injection-moulding production process for a violin support with functional surfaces.

Themes

Injection moulding, functional surfaces

Objective

Cost-efficient production of an ergonomic violin support with functional surfaces using an injection-moulding procedure.

Background

Neck pain, spinal discomfort, abscesses: 70% of violinists have health problems as a result of their passion. Even after 200 years of development, there is still no age-appropriate solution for children and young people. Dolfinos has developed an ergonomic violin support with functional surfaces. For a more cost-efficient children's model, Dolfinos would like to produce the violin support in one-piece on an industrial scale.

Result

The plastics experts at the FHNW School of Engineering developed an injection-moulding procedure that makes it possible to produce functional surfaces using an injection-moulding process. It was possible to achieve the desired adhesive properties using a microstructure in conjunction with a thermoplastic elastomer. The research team carried out a 3D scan of a hand-moulded children's support and transformed the resulting point clouds into a CAD model. On the basis of this, the researchers produced the two halves of the tool for the injection-moulding process using a 3D printer.