Engineering and 3D CAD Design for Production (Native Style Flutes)

Please read carefully and if you are very interested in this, I hope to hear from you! I wouldn’t get hung up on my budget, but in talking with others, I used the low range. I think it’s at least on the high end of the range for 3 phases. The hardest bit is getting you familiar with the mechanics of these fairly simple, 5000 year odl instruments. However simple, they are nuanced vary by size, etc..

When it comes to design and engineering, I am out of my league. I’m out of the Universe on that stiff. I need someone to help me in a couple areas as part of a project.

Step 1 – Understand the “mechanics” of the Native American Flute from a Making Perspective. There has to be math and parameters one can follow to achieve a proper result. There’s a full online resource dedicated to the topics of Flute Making at Flutopedia.com. In addition, there’s even some “building software” there as well as a program called Woodwind Instrument Designer (just google Flute WWID and it will take you to the Java application. However I believe there are enough articles and info/date on Flutopedia for someone that “this stuff” comes natural to. Form there, I need the 3D modeling done for at least 1 “key” of Flute as our prototype/proof of concept. And from there we need to put this into action and make the product.

So, my ask is that you consider 3 phases for you to shoulder the responsibility for.

1 – Research the making of Flutes and try to determine the parameters, dimensions, etc etc to make a functional flute. Apply the mechanical side of your design experience to map out how to make a flute in a mid range musical key.
2 – Come up with a CAD design and related files to be production ready.
3 – Let’s get a prototype going and move to next steps. Assuming we succeed in steps 1 and 2! This is somewhat “optional”, so if this isn’t your area but you can draft the designs to get this done, that’s fine too.

The challenge you’re going to have and help me solve is defining standard parameters we can use for building these in various keys and various “registers” (low, mid, high). When talking with makers that use wood, they will constantly cite the variable this and that, but it just makes sense to me having some understanding of how things works, that if your model is precise and controlled, reproducing using a tried and true “formula” will work, especially with the types of materials I’m looking to use – possibly injection molding, etc..

Still reading? Cool!

So, as you consider this – know that I will need (and pay, obviously) for your research and learning and, ideally, your ability to break down the concepts that lead to successful tuning of these tubes with holes that make musical sound. They are at once very simple, but also a pretty ingenious design that is 5000 years+ old. So, if you’re going to participate, understand we’ll be on a bit of a journey together!

I’d suggest you check out some models to get a feel for what I’m talking about. Google “High Spirits Flutes”. or “Singing Tree Flutes”. Also, I believe I will send a physical flute to you for your examination and frankly for you to fool around with it to get a feel. It’s super simple to make noise, even if you’re never going to learn it properly. It’ll be good to hold it, break it down some and get some dimensions, etc, from a real model.

Still interested and think we can do this? Get in touch and we can talk.

After that, there will likely be more we would need to do. Aesthetic design, functional design options, expanding the offering of “keys” and even mechanical design improvements (and thus, potential for sound and playability improvements). My then ultimate goal is to make these in more exotic scales.

Thanks for making it to the end. Think about it, and if you would like to help, let me know!