1# Ruby Whistles
2
3
4
5The Ruby Whistle is a 3D printable "Low" (tenor) whistle body,
6frequently used in Irish Traditional music,
7such as [LUX by Sorcha](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=0rt5h_rwoOU).
8
9It uses a fipple from a Tony Dixon Low D whistle.
10I chose this fipple because I like its tone.
11
12One day I may work on a printable fipple.
13Fipples need more precision than the body,
14and it may not even be possible to 3D print one without needing extensive post-processing.
15
16
17# Building
18
19You need OpenSCAD and `make`.
20
21 make # build all the models
22 make lowe # only build the low e model
23
24
25# Parts Needed
26
27* 2× Rubber O-Rings: 25mm OD, 22mm ID, 1.5mm width
28* 1× [Tony Dixon Tenor Whistle Head - Key of D](https://www.tonydixonmusic.co.uk/product/tenor-whistle-head-key-of-d/): Part TB106H
29
30
31# Included Whistles
32
33I've included parameters for the following whistles:
34
35* Low G
36* Low F
37* Low E
38* Low D
39* Low C (I can't get it to voice the lower notes)
40
41
42# Features
43
44Each segment has a ridge running down its length.
45This is to collect seams so that they look intentional.
46
47This model uses Axianov toneholes,
48invented by Russian flute maker Marat Axianov.
49These tone holes align better with your fingers,
50making the instrument easier to handle for a wider range of hand sizes.
51If you prefer round tone holes that look like they were drilled,
52you can disable the Axianov holes with a parameter.
53
54There are two rings just above every joint.
55This is another attempt to make a functional part appear like an intentional design element.
56
57There's a little dog head at the bottom.
58It's a tracing of our dog, Ruby.
59I was considering calling these "Phony Dachsund" whistles,
60because they require a Tony Dixon fipple,
61but I like "Ruby Whistles" better :)
62
63
64# Printing
65
66The `Makefile` generates a whistle in three segments,
67which can be glued together with cyanoacrylate (super glue).
68
69Print with a brim, for stability.
70My slicer likes a 6mm brim.
71No supports are needed,
72
73I've had good results printing at 0.2mm layer height.
74Because inner bore smoothness is so important,
75you will get better results if your temperature and retraction are fine-tuned
76to reduce stringing.
77
78I print in PLA,
79although experimentation has shown that Silk PLA
80results in an instrument that is easier to voice.
81This is probably due to the Silk PLA creating a smoother surface
82on the inner bore.
83A smoother bore will have a "brighter" sound and be easier to voice,
84a rougher bore will have a "darker" sound but be more challenging to voice.
85For me, plain PLA is about right.
86
87
88# Post-Processing
89
90Aerophones, and especially flutes,
91are highly sensitive to the smoothness of the inner bore.
92Swabbing the inner bore multiple times,
93or even lightly sanding it with a high-grit sandpaper, if possible,
94can smooth out minor printing defects that have a major impact.
95
96Round tone holes will look better if lightly filed after printing,
97to make them more round.
98
99Before you glue everything together,
100double-check that you have completely removed the brim,
101and any "elephant footing" caused by the print.
102Fixing this is difficult after the joints are
103permanently attached.
104
105Glue all the pieces together with cyanoacrylate (super glue).
106Be sure to completely circumscribe the joint with glue,
107so no air can leak out of the joint.
108A leaky whistle will have trouble staying in the lower octave,
109and may be difficult to voice.
110
111
112# Adding a design
113
114You can add a design by editing `whistle.json`,
115or using the OpenSCAD Paremeter editor.
116
117I recommend starting with
118[Hans Bracker's Whistle Calculator](https://music.bracker.uk/Music/Whistle-Calculator.html).
119You may need to adjust hole sizes to obtain a reasonable finger spacing.
120The Tony Dixon fipple measures just about 70mm from top of the tubing to
121the top of the lip in the window, so I enter -70 for tip.
122
123If you get a whistle design you like,
124please send it back to me!
125You can submit a merge request, if forgejo has federation when you read this,
126or email me a git patch file.
127If you don't want to mess with git,
128you can just email me the numbers.
129
130I'll be sure to credit anyone who submits a design,
131but if you submit a git patch,
132the git history will credit you, too.
133This might be important in the future,
134in the unlikely event somebody uses an automated tool to find authors.
135
136