SongBird: The 3D Printable Vinyl Turntable Kit

As surprising as it may sound, 3D printing has over time become a major technology in the music world. Whether it’s to create and customize instruments or to improve sound quality , additive manufacturing offers many benefits to the music industry. And following in the footsteps of other sectors which have embraced additive manufacturing technologies, new application cases are discovered day by day. It is with this in mind that the startup Frame Theory 3D launched the SongBird project, a 3D printable turntable kit for music lovers and DIY enthusiasts. So far the project has been well received. Its KickStarter campaign has already acquired more than double its original goal of £10,000, or $14,131, having raised a whopping £25,442, or $35,952, from 167 backers.

Scheduled for release in October of this year, SongBird is above all a tool which will allow novices to familiarize themselves with additive manufacturing. According to the British company, this platinum kit is printable from the majority of desktop 3D printers and is capable of reading entire albums. Charlie Ransford, Co-Founder of Frame Theory 3D, explains: “The Songbird is an educational, 3D printable board kit designed to be printed on almost any desktop 3D printer .” Before continuing: “Each informative step in the construction explains not only what the user is doing, but also why, in a hands-on learning experience for the user.”

It would take less than two hours to assemble the kit (photo credits: Frame Theory 3D)

A 3D printable board

Two platinum kits will be available by October: the “printed” kit, delivered with all the pre-printed parts, and the “maker” kit. The latter is intended for people wishing to print all the parts using their FDM machine. As for the lifespan of Songbird, Frame Theory highlights that they have designed the SongBird to be both robust and long standing, all the parts are also easily reprintable and replaceable, showing the company’s commitment to the environment. When the SongBird is released, maker kits are expected to cost £150, equivalent to around $212, while ready printed kits should cost £250, equivalent to around $353.

According to Frame Theory 3D, it only takes 2 hours to build, configure the turntable and start playing records on it. While the creators of SongBird have stated that most desktop 3D printers can print components, they also specify that the machine must have at least a print volume of 220 x 220 x 50 mm. Thanks to its RCA outputs, the turntable can be connected to sound amplifiers after being assembled. The process is certainly user friendly, holding true to the company’s aim, summarised by Kiran, Co-Founder of Frame Theory 3D: “We want to challenge the perception that 3D printing can only be used for rapid prototyping and prove that you can make premium quality products using 3D printing in your own home”.

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