FrenchHornMouthpieces
| Project French Horn Mouthpieces | |
|---|---|
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| 3D-printing my own mouthpieces | |
| Status | In progress |
| Contact | Oops |
| Last Update | 2025-05-14 |
Introduction
I am wanting to experiment a bit with 3D printing and want a somewhat "real" project. I play French Horn (in Bataafs Symfonieorkest) and have two metal mouthpieces which I use, one of them my "regular" mouthpiece, the other which I use less frequently which is not so good for high range notes.
Resources
Jane Kass has already created STL models of French Horn mouthpieces. I've tried printing one and now need to figure out how to edit it to make it into something which fits my French Horn.
Progress
I measured the printed mouthpiece from the original STL, the existing mouthpieces, and the French Horn lead pipe. Most of these measurements are now below.
I tried cutting the existing print down, partially for curiosity about what the barrel would be looking like. Having compared the measurements with the thickness of the PLA print am experimenting with a minimal-thickness barrel in my plastic mouthpiece. I worry a bit that the pressure of pressing on the mouthpiece as I play may distort or shave off layers of plastic as it is forced into the lead pipe.
I tried editing the STL (initially in Blender, now in FreeCAD) to taper the barrel of the mouthpiece. It was possible to use the STL model to give me an initial sense of the appropriate scale.
I was able to taper the thin end of the mouthpiece so it fits in the horn and it works to make music. I am experimenting with ironing the top level of the mouthpiece to have a smooth level - which also requires making the top of the mouthpiece flat.
Next Steps
Ironing has smoothed out the rim of the printed mouthpiece. I now need to work to thin the walls of the stem - the interior diameter of the bore should be around 6.1mm and currently the walls of the stem are too thick making the bore much narrower.
Measurements
These measurements are based on my horn (Yamaha 664) and existing mouthpieces. If there are two numbers, it reflects a difference between the mouthpieces.
| Mouthpiece length | 64.6, 66.8 mm |
| Mouthpiece rim exterior diameter | 25.5 mm |
| Exterior diameter bore | 7.6 mm |
| Interior diameter bore | 6.1 mm |
| Leadpipe interior diameter | 8.00 mm |
| Mouthpiece outside lead pipe | 48.3, 52.8 mm |
| STL model | |
| Mouthpiece rim exterior diameter | 25.6 mm |
| Exterior diameter bore | 9.3 mm |
| Mouthpiece length | 94 mm (approximately) |