FrenchHornMouthpieces - Revision history

Oops: Update with link to Thingiverse models

2026-01-07T16:58:41Z

Update with link to Thingiverse models

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:58, 7 January 2026
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	== Introduction ==		== Introduction ==
	I am wanting to experiment a bit with 3D printing and want a somewhat "real" project.		I am wanting to experiment a bit with 3D printing and want a somewhat "real" project.
	I play French Horn ~~(in [https://bataafs.nl 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.		I play French Horn 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.


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	== Next Steps ==		== Next Steps ==
	~~I've not (August 2025) worked on this for a month or two.~~ I succeeded in making a mouthpiece which appears to work.		I succeeded in making a mouthpiece which appears to work.

	I want to clean up the files so that they could be shared (as STL and likely also as FreeCAD) and figure out how/where to make these available for others to use or tinker with.		I want to clean up the files so that they could be shared (as STL and likely also as FreeCAD) and figure out how/where to make these available for others to use or tinker with. [https://eth0.nl eth0] gave me a chance to tidy things slightly and create a Thingiverse account, and I've now published one model there: [https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7187745 RMN 0' mouthpiece] on Thingiverse.

	I may work to adjust these models so that I can make a mouthpiece which could make it easier for me to player lower notes.		I may work to adjust these models so that I can make a mouthpiece which could make it easier for me to player lower notes.

Oops: Updated to reflect progress and include gallery of various prototypes

2025-08-09T11:21:55Z

Updated to reflect progress and include gallery of various prototypes

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 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.
+I've not (August 2025) worked on this for a month or two. I succeeded in making a mouthpiece which appears to work.
 == Measurements ==

Oops at 19:13, 14 May 2025

2025-05-14T19:13:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:13, 14 May 2025
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	\|Picture=French Horn mouthpieces - metal and 3d-printed.jpg		\|Picture=French Horn mouthpieces - metal and 3d-printed.jpg
	\|Contact=Oops		\|Contact=Oops
	\|LastUpdated=2025-04-17		\|LastUpdated=2025-05-14
	}}		}}

Oops: Updates to reflect FreeCAD experiments

2025-05-14T19:12:47Z

Updates to reflect FreeCAD experiments

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:12, 14 May 2025
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	Jane Kass has already created [https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6002807 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.		Jane Kass has already created [https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6002807 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.

	== ~~Next Steps~~ ==		== 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 ~~need to measure~~ the ~~printed mouthpiece~~, the ~~existing mouthpieces, and~~ the ~~French Horn 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.
	~~'''Most~~ of ~~these measurements are now below~~.~~'''~~

	I ~~will try cutting~~ the ~~existing print down for length.~~		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.
	~~'''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 I think I may need~~ to ~~go for~~ a ~~minimal~~-~~thickness barrel in my plastic mouthpiece but am somewhat worried about 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 will try editing the STL (possibly in Blender?) to taper~~ the ~~barrel~~ of the mouthpiece. ~~This may turn out~~ to ~~cutting back~~ to the ~~profile~~ of the ~~mouthpiece, editing that, then "lathe" rotating it~~.		== 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 ==		== Measurements ==
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	\|-		\|-
	\|Exterior diameter bore \|\| 7.6 mm		\|Exterior diameter bore \|\| 7.6 mm
			\|-
			\|Interior diameter bore \|\| 6.1 mm
	\|-		\|-
	\| Leadpipe interior diameter \|\| 8.00 mm		\| Leadpipe interior diameter \|\| 8.00 mm

Oops: /* Next Steps */

2025-04-18T19:33:43Z

Next Steps

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:33, 18 April 2025
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	I need to measure the printed mouthpiece, the existing mouthpieces, and the French Horn lead pipe.		I need to measure the printed mouthpiece, the existing mouthpieces, and the French Horn lead pipe.
			'''Most of these measurements are now below.'''

	I will try cutting the existing print down for length.		I will try cutting the existing print down for length.
			'''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 I think I may need to go for a minimal-thickness barrel in my plastic mouthpiece but am somewhat worried about 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 then think~~ I will try editing the STL (possibly in Blender?) to taper the barrel of the mouthpiece.		I will try editing the STL (possibly in Blender?) to taper the barrel of the mouthpiece. This may turn out to cutting back to the profile of the mouthpiece, editing that, then "lathe" rotating it.

	== Measurements ==		== Measurements ==

Oops at 10:34, 18 April 2025

2025-04-18T10:34:06Z

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 |-
 | Mouthpiece outside lead pipe || 48.3, 52.8 mm
 |}

Oops at 10:30, 18 April 2025

2025-04-18T10:30:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:30, 18 April 2025
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	== Measurements ==		== Measurements ==

	Mouthpiece length \| 64.6, 66.8 mm		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 rim exterior diameter \| 25.5 mm
	Exterior diameter bore \| 7.6 mm		{\|
	Leadpipe interior diameter \| 8.00 mm		\|-
	Mouthpiece outside lead pipe \| 48.3, 52.8 mm		\| Mouthpiece length \|\| 64.6, 66.8 mm
			\|-
			\| Mouthpiece rim exterior diameter \|\| 25.5 mm
			\|-
			\|Exterior diameter bore \|\| 7.6 mm
			\|-
			\| Leadpipe interior diameter \|\| 8.00 mm
			\|-
			\| Mouthpiece outside lead pipe \|\| 48.3, 52.8 mm
			\|}

Oops: Adding measurements

2025-04-18T10:23:32Z

Adding measurements

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:23, 18 April 2025
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	I then think I will try editing the STL (possibly in Blender?) to taper the barrel of the mouthpiece.		I then think I will try editing the STL (possibly in Blender?) to taper the barrel of the mouthpiece.

			== Measurements ==

			Mouthpiece length \| 64.6, 66.8 mm
			Mouthpiece rim exterior diameter \| 25.5 mm
			Exterior diameter bore \| 7.6 mm
			Leadpipe interior diameter \| 8.00 mm
			Mouthpiece outside lead pipe \| 48.3, 52.8 mm

Oops at 20:23, 17 April 2025

2025-04-17T20:23:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:23, 17 April 2025
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	{{Project		{{Project
	\|Name=French Horn Mouthpieces		\|Name=French Horn Mouthpieces
			\|Omschrijving=3D-printing my own mouthpieces
	\|Status=In progress		\|Status=In progress
	\|Picture=French Horn mouthpieces - metal and 3d-printed.jpg		\|Picture=French Horn mouthpieces - metal and 3d-printed.jpg
	\|Contact=~~oops~~		\|Contact=Oops
	\|LastUpdated=2025-04-17		\|LastUpdated=2025-04-17
	}}		}}

Oops at 20:08, 17 April 2025

2025-04-17T20:08:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:08, 17 April 2025
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	\|Picture=French Horn mouthpieces - metal and 3d-printed.jpg		\|Picture=French Horn mouthpieces - metal and 3d-printed.jpg
	\|Contact=oops		\|Contact=oops
			\|LastUpdated=2025-04-17
	}}		}}