#3DDrones - Bagpipes to 3D Print

£40.00

The #3DDrones Highland Bagpipe drone set is supplied digitally in the form of STL files, which when printed with a 3D Printer, will produce all parts required for a full set of Highland Bagpipe drones, including stocks and blowstick.

The files supplied are suitable for use on any 3D Printer with a z limit of 100mm or above.

Here is a video of a printed & fully finished set being played ;

(The sound quality of this video could be improved - better recordings to follow)

Full instructions are included with the set. Bag, reeds, chanter and accessories such as drone cords and bag cover are not included - this is a set of STL files, no tangible or 'hard copy' products are included with this set.

* Please note, to get the most from these files once you've printed them, you'll need access to some hand tools. In particular, hand reamers (adjustable or otherwise) to cut 8mm, 9mm, 11mm, 14mm, 17mm, 18mm and 19.5 to 20mm. As noted elsewhere, all parts are around 100mm in length, and it's recommended that they're reamed before being assembled into longer lengths. You'll also need an adhesive, ideally high-strength & gap filling, suitable for the plastic you choose to print. If you'd like to hand finish the outside of your pipes, you'll also need sandpaper, or other means of doing this.

* Additional Note, Sunday 21st June 2015 - the file set supplied is now in a revised version, Revision 001 (3DDronesRev001.zip). The most important changes are noted in the ReadMe, and also as annotations to the construction video on YouTube. 

Guidance for printer users : (more detailed guidance is available upon purchase, in a ReadMe doc)

All parts *must* be printed at 100% infill, to allow part finishing, and reboring if desired.

This set is optimised for printing using a 'desktop' style 'FFF" (Fused Filament Fabrication) printer of the RepRap family. The modular design makes the manufacture quite challenging, and introduces the danger of air leaks (care must be taken at all stages to avoid this), however it maximises the accessibility by allowing the set to be printed on some very basic machines, and equally by speeding up print times on some of the larger machines. The print times for parts in this set can be pretty incredible, and finishing and assembly will take as long - don't expect to be playing your pipes tomorrow, or even next month to be honest :)

ABS or PLA can be used, PLA is recommended for toughness if the pipes will be "out and about". Be sure to calibrate thoroughly, good layer adhesion is worth the effort to ensure you have a strong set of pipes.

Assembly will require some hand finishing of parts. In particular, reamers will need to be used for certain bore sizes, detailed in the assembly videos, in order to clean the inside surfaces. Reaming ensures clear tone, and smooth functioning of tuning slides and stock joints. If desired, the outside of parts can also be finished to a surprisingly ebony-like sheen using progressively higher grades of wet & dry. Care will need to be taken with the beading & combing, although sanding can impart an 'aged' look to the pipes, which does have something going for it :)

These drones are based not on a single set, but on a survey of a wide range of available measurements & plans, and a prototyping process which was intended to produce a mellow, smooth toned set of drones modelled in proportions on sets from around the turn of the 19th/20th Century. As with the Qwistle however, the final tone and quality of your set will really be up to you, and the tools you use.

Here is the video assembly guide for this set ;

Files can be downloaded immediately following payment.