After doing a test 3D printing project myself, I got to see the impressive Rapid Prototyping facilities in UCLan's Art & Design department workshops, including examples of CNC foam-cutting, traditional stereolithography and cutting-edge granular colour printing. Very impressive.
Since then I've kept a casual interest in the subject. Today, while doing research for my game project, I came across a novel use of this technology...
Led Zeppelin on the Fisher Price record player
Back in the 1970s, Fisher Price produced a toy record player which used plastic discs to play nursery rhymes. The discs had small notches which triggered note chimes as they passed across a collection of levers housed in the needle arm. Essentially, it was a music box with interchangeable tunes.
British engineer Murphy had been experimenting with re-creating these discs using a CNC milling machine (computer-driven cutting tool).
A video of Fred's disc for Stairway to Heaven.
(If you're wondering why it sounds funny, it's because the record player does G# scale only)
(If you're wondering why it sounds funny, it's because the record player does G# scale only)
He has updated the process to create software for making discs quickly and easily using a method based on 3D extrusion printing.
This is certainly a very creative application of 3D printing, and demonstrates a way to breathe new life into nostalgic items. Fred Murphy, I salute you!