This 3D-printed cello puts a carbon fiber spin on a classic
3D printing has moved well beyond the days of simple plastic models. Today, technology is used to make everything from entire houses to rocket parts to microscopes and even food. After more than six years of experimentation and refinement, a former Yale University student recently demonstrated another application: concert-grade cellos and other stringed orchestral instruments 3D printed using carbon fiber.
The cello, which dates from the 16th century, is a marvel of engineering. Its instantly recognizable sound melodies are only possible through a complex interplay between wood types, geometry, acoustics and player physics. Even its exterior varnish is more than an aesthetic choice: the thin layer is used to both soften the sound of the instrument without sacrificing its overall tone.
These factors also make cellos a serious financial investment. A decent entry-level instrument can easily cost over $600, while concert-quality examples typically cost musicians at least $15,000. Then there is upkeep and maintenance to consider. Without regular care, no amount of money can save a cracked frame or warped neck. Overall, logistical and financial barriers prevent many potential musicians from pursuing this art form.
Schumann Cello Concerto – Samuel Cao
Elijah Lee, cellist and graduate in biomedical engineering from Yale University, Forte3D wants to propose a new solution. His new company is dedicated to making custom, customizable and durable stringed instruments from 3D printed carbon fiber and polymer.
Lee began tinkering with merging engineering and music while he was in high school. After learning of his penchant for 3D printing projects, his high school orchestra director suggested he try designing a cello using the same strategies.
“It was incremental, but when we put together the first fully realized cello, I was like, ‘Okay, wow, we really have something here.’ This moment was worth it,” Lee said in a university profile.
The Forte3D cello is not simply a clone of the classic instrument. Instead, Lee and his colleagues redesigned the overall shape to take advantage of the unique properties of their materials. While a wooden cello body typically features a rounded top and back, Forte3D’s iteration relies on flat, concave carbon fiber panels with a neck and ribs constructed from 3D printed polymer. At the same time, essential components such as the bridge, sound column and fingerboard all remain made of wood to ensure a familiar tone and acoustic presence. Thanks to the flexibility of rendering with CAD files, each individual instrument can be further customized based on its thickness, shape and material.
“Because we use our own designs…we can really tune the acoustics,” Lee explained.
Forte3D Violin | Meditation of Thaïs – Valérie Vuolo
After a successful sales pitch on the show Shark tankLee is now moving forward by expanding the business to reach a wider audience while introducing a wider range of instruments. Forte3D already offers a 3D printed violin and there are plans to add the viola and double bass to their range. Ultimately, Lee wants to increase the accessibility and durability of the instruments.
“Music should not be limited by price or fragile wood,” he said. “A rural school student, touring professional or aspiring musician anywhere in the world could hold one [of these cellos] and feel the same richness, the same resonance, the same possibility.
At the moment, Forte3D’s prices are certainly not the cheapest. Their 3D printed cello alone costs almost $3,000, while the violin costs almost $1,500. It’s better than many mainstream options, though. With increased institutional support, it’s also easy to imagine that the instruments will one day make their way into schools and community music programs. Until then, the combination of arts and engineering alone deserves a standing ovation.
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