EP3822963B1 - Component for transmitting acoustic waves and method for producing a component for transmitting acoustic waves - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a component for transmitting acoustic waves and a method for producing such a component.

Components for the transmission of acoustic waves, especially for stringed instruments and especially for guitars, currently offer a characteristic sound spectrum, depending on the structure and choice of material. This applies in particular to bridge systems, bridges and/or tremolos for stringed instruments.

In order to adapt this sound spectrum to the individual needs or requirements of the player of the stringed instrument, for example, parts of the component often have to be replaced by identical parts made of other materials. In principle, adaptation is only possible to a limited extent and involves a lot of effort.

That's how it describes US 7,838,752 B2 For example, a guitar bridge that is designed in several parts and in which an adjustment of sound parameters and properties of the acoustic waves to be transmitted is achieved by means of a geometric adjustment of the respective components of the bridgers.

From the US 7,297,851 B2 A guitar bridge can be seen in which the acoustic properties, in particular a sustain setting, are adjusted using brackets and adjustment screws.

The US 6,875,910 B2 also describes a guitar bridge with a fine adjustment option for the individual strings. This adjustment is carried out using adjusting screws, via which a holding means for a respective string can be moved and thus either increases or reduces the pretension of the string.

In US 7,356,255 B1 A component is disclosed that is related to a stringed instrument, namely a guitar. The component described is used to attach a guitar string to a guitar. This is a single component, i.e. one as in per guitar string US 7,356,255 B1 The component described is necessary for fastening.

From Liquidmetal Technologies: "A Sound Decision - Liquidmetal alloy in Musical Instrument Applications" it is known, for example, to make a guitar saddle from Liquidmetal LM 105. Due to the metal casting process used, individual shapes of a guitar saddle can be produced based on the choice of material. Because Liquidmetal has a higher density than plastic or bone, seven 'windows' have been cut into the Liquidmetal saddle to allow a more meaningful comparison with traditional plastic or bone saddles. A vertical support was integrated between each 'window' to create an uninterrupted path for the transmission of vibrational energy from the string to the soundboard.

One-piece guitar bridges are known from the prior art, in which the sound spectrum of all tones is adjusted by varying the material and, for example, no individual adjustment is possible to the extent that only individual tones that are transmitted through the component are individualized. The one-piece guitar bridges are often available in different materials, such as steel, brass, titanium or bronze, as such materials have an impact on the sound.

This means that it is only possible to adapt the sound spectrum to customer needs and/or wishes to a limited extent.

Proceeding from this, the invention is based on the object of specifying a component for the transmission of acoustic waves that can be easily and individually adapted to customer needs. Furthermore, the invention is based on the object of specifying a method for producing such a component.

With regard to the component, the object is achieved according to the invention by a component with the features of claim 1. With regard to the method, the object is achieved according to the invention by a method with the features of claim 7.

Preferred refinements, further developments and variants are the subject of the subclaims.

The advantages and preferred configurations listed with regard to the component can be applied analogously to the method and vice versa.

Specifically, the task directed at the component is solved by a component for transmitting acoustic waves between a first body and a second body. Here it is a component for a stringed instrument, namely a guitar bridge or a guitar bridge or a tremolo for a guitar.

Furthermore, the component according to the invention has a first area, a second area, a third area, a fourth area, a fifth area, a sixth area and a seventh area. The areas (first area, second area, third area, fourth area, fifth area, sixth area and seventh area) are connected to one another. In the context of the present invention, interconnected means that the areas are either directly, i.e. directly connected to one another, or indirectly, i.e. indirectly, connected to one another in order to transmit the acoustic waves.

The areas also have the same material, although the component densities vary with one another. I.e. the component densities of the areas have different values. The component density can vary from a microscopic perspective by introducing pores. From a macroscopic perspective, the component density can vary by structurally adapting the geometry of the component, especially in the different areas. This variation serves to ensure that at least one acoustic property of the transmitted acoustic waves is adapted or adaptable.

For the purposes of the present invention, the component density is to be understood as mass per volume, which can be enclosed by a component shell of the component.

For the purposes of the present invention, the at least one acoustic property of the transmitted acoustic wave is specifically but not exclusively understood to mean, for example, the frequency spectrum, sustain and/or the attack time (also referred to as “attack time”).

For the purposes of the present invention, the adaptation of the frequency spectrum means how extensively the component changes the measurable frequency spectrum of the first body, in particular a guitar string.

For the purposes of the present invention, sustain is understood to mean the decay behavior of a tone, i.e. how long the tone sounds audible or measurable to humans.

For the purposes of the present invention, the transient response is understood to mean how quickly a tone reaches its maximum sound level.

The design of the component with seven areas and especially the area-dependent and different component density makes it possible to individually adapt at least one or more of the aforementioned and other unmentioned acoustic properties to the customer's needs. The density of the material, which can be a metal, for example, of the seven areas remains essentially unchanged. Overall, the component according to the invention enables an improved or more targeted tuning of a string instrument, for example with regard to the homogeneity of an acoustic parameter. The component can also be used to correct or compensate for weaknesses that arise elsewhere, for example on the first or second body. In comparison to the type of adjustment mentioned at the beginning, which is essentially only understood as an adjustment of the intonation, i.e. required for tuning a guitar string, the adjustment of the component according to the invention can therefore be carried out more individually. The component can be adjusted by simulating the vibration behavior of the component.

The component is monolithic, i.e. in one piece. On the one hand, this enables a simple design of the component and, on the other hand, it ensures that the transmission of the acoustic waves takes place without interference and thus the sound quality is increased compared to a component designed in several parts.

The areas each have a hollow structure, with the hollow structure of the areas being different. The hollow structure forms a honeycomb structure which is formed by several adjacent, in particular adjacent, cavities. The cavities in the component can be individual, i.e. separated from one another, or connected to one another. The cavities can be enclosed in the component or open to the outside. If the cavities are enclosed in the component, they may contain loose, unmelted or sintered powder. The varying component density can thus be achieved due to a different, intrinsic geometric configuration of the two areas.

The hollow structure of the respective area can have high rigidity with low mass. The high rigidity results in an improved coupling of the first body, namely a guitar string, to the second body, namely a guitar body. Smaller masses have the advantage that they can be set into vibration more quickly.

Furthermore, it is possible for area groups to be formed which have the same component density among themselves, but which differs from the component density of another formed area group. For example, a first area group with a first component density and a second area group with a second component density can be provided, the first component density and the second component density being different.

Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, the areas of an area group can either be directly, i.e. directly connected to one another, or alternatively, indirectly, i.e. indirectly connected to one another. In the case of an indirect connection, for example, an area of another area group is then arranged between two areas of another area group. In principle, the arrangement and design variants described above can be freely combined with one another and without restrictions. This makes it possible to vary not only the component density of the individual areas, but also the individual areas within the component, in order to individually respond to acoustic needs and/or requirements for the component.

The second area, the third area, the fourth area, the fifth area, the sixth area and the seventh area each have a first connecting element for receiving one string each. Several strings with different masses are preferably provided. For example, a high string has a lower mass than a low string. The first connecting element is therefore designed, for example, in the manner of a notch that receives and holds the string. In the embodiment with multiple areas, the multiple areas each have a first connecting element for receiving one string each.

In one embodiment, at least the areas and preferably the entire component have a metal. In particular, the entire component is formed monolithically from such a metal. Alternatively, however, different materials and material mixtures can also be used to form the component or the different areas. Specifically, the metal can be a pure metal, in particular a metal with high purity, or an alloy. The metal can be aluminum, titanium or brass.

In a preferred development, the metal is a metallic solid glass ("Bulk Metallic Glass - BMG"). The metallic solid glass can also be referred to as an amorphous metal. Such materials have proven to be advantageous for forming components according to the invention, as described in the context of this application.

Also within the scope of the present invention, a guitar with a component is claimed and disclosed, the component being the component described above for the targeted transmission of acoustic waves.

The task aimed at the method is specifically solved by a method for producing a component for transmitting acoustic waves. The method is a method for producing the component described above.

For this purpose, a first area, a second area, a third area, a fourth area, a fifth area, a sixth area and a seventh area of the component are produced using an additive manufacturing process and formed with component densities that vary from one another.

The areas are connected so that at least one acoustic property of the transmitted acoustic waves is adjusted by the varying component densities.

The component is manufactured monolithically, i.e. in one piece, additively. By designing the areas with different component densities, at least one acoustic property of the transmitted acoustic waves is adapted. Furthermore, the areas and thus the entire component are made from the same material

The different component densities are adjusted by forming a hollow structure within the areas. The hollow structures of the areas differ in their geometric properties in order to form the different component densities.

In addition, the different component densities can be adjusted by adjusting process parameters, e.g. the temperature during additive manufacturing.

The component is preferably produced by means of jet sintering or jet melting. The component can be manufactured using selective laser sintering or selective electron beam sintering. Alternatively, the component can be manufactured by selective laser melting or selective electron beam melting. Such processes have proven to be advantageous in the field of additive manufacturing, meaning that conventional and therefore cost-effective manufacturing processes can be used. In other words, according to the invention, the component is manufactured using an additive manufacturing process.

The component can be manufactured using selective laser sintering, selective electron beam sintering, selective laser melting or selective electron beam melting.

In general, additive manufacturing processes work without tools and without a mold. The volume of an object is built up layer by layer according to a digital computer model. Metallic molded bodies can also be produced using additive manufacturing. For example, additive manufacturing occurs via jet melting of a metal powder, which is referred to as a powder bed-based process. Laser or electron beams are used as beam sources, which are used in selective laser beam melting or selective electron beam melting.

With selective laser beam melting, the material to be processed is applied in powder form as a thin layer on a base plate or on a previously deposited material layer. The powdery material is partially or completely melted locally using laser radiation and forms a solid layer of material after solidification. The base plate is then lowered by the amount of a thickness of the thin layer and then powder is applied again. This process cycle is repeated until the finished molded body is produced. In selective electron beam melting, the powder is melted locally using an electron beam, in contrast to selective laser beam melting.

Such processes for the additive manufacturing of metallic molded bodies, for example by laser beam and electron beam melting of metal powder applied in layers, are, for example, in the specialist literature " Acta Materialia" (117 edition - 2016) on pages 371 to 392 described.

1. a) Aufbringen eines pulverförmigen Materials, insbesondere Metalls, in Form einer Schicht auf einem Substrat auf eine Grundplatte. Die Grundplatte befindet sich vorzugsweise in einem für die Herstellung des Bauteils vorgesehenen Bauraum;
2. b) selektives Aufschmelzen oder selektives Sintern des pulverförmigen Materials in der aufgebrachten Schicht durch einen Laserstrahl oder einen Elektronenstrahl;
3. c) Erstarren des aufgeschmolzenen Materials. Das aufgeschmolzene Material kann dazu abgekühlt werden;
4. d) Aufbringen einer weiteren Schicht des pulverförmigen Materials, insbesondere Metalls, auf die zuvor aufgebrachte Schicht und das erstarrte Material der Schicht;
5. e) selektives Aufschmelzen oder selektives Sintern des pulverförmigen Materials in der weiteren Schicht durch den Laserstrahl oder den Elektronenstrahl;
6. f) Erstarren des aufgeschmolzenen Materials der weiteren Schicht;
7. g) Wiederholung der Schritte (d) - (g), bis das Bauteil, insbesondere das metallische Formteil fertiggestellt ist.

The object can also be achieved by a method for the additive manufacturing of a component according to the invention, in particular a metallic molded part. The procedure includes the following steps:

1. a) Applying a powdery material, in particular metal, in the form of a layer on a substrate to a base plate. The base plate is preferably located in an installation space intended for the production of the component;
2. b) selective melting or selective sintering of the powdery material in the applied layer by a laser beam or an electron beam;
3. c) Solidification of the melted material. The melted material can be cooled for this purpose;
4. d) applying a further layer of the powdery material, in particular metal, to the previously applied layer and the solidified material of the layer;
5. e) selective melting or selective sintering of the powdery material in the further layer by the laser beam or the electron beam;
6. f) solidification of the melted material of the further layer;
7. g) Repeat steps (d) - (g) until the component, in particular the metallic molded part, is completed.

In step b), the powdery material can be selectively melted using at least one laser beam. The term “selective” means that, within the framework of the aforementioned additive manufacturing process, the melting of the powdery material, in particular metal, only takes place in defined, predetermined areas of the layer based on digital 3D data of the component.

Between step b) and step d), the base plate can preferably be lowered by an amount that essentially corresponds to the layer thickness of the applied powder layer. This procedure as part of the additive manufacturing process is generally known to those skilled in the art.

Melting or sintering can take place with changing parameters while the layer is being irradiated. Such parameters can be, for example, a variable radiation energy, a scanning speed and/or a line density of the scans. This allows different component densities, particularly at the microscopic level, to be created within the layer. Specifically, by stacking one on top of the other several material layers with varying densities, the component can be formed with areas of different component densities. The component density can vary microscopically or macroscopically. The component can have a density change in the microscopic size range of at least 1 µm to a maximum of 200 µm. This can result from setting appropriate scanning parameters. Additionally or alternatively, the component can have a density change in the macroscopic size range of greater than or equal to 0.5 mm, or less than or equal to 10 mm. Density changes in the macroscopic size range can also be understood as hollow structures. The size range can also be at least 0.5 mm to a maximum of 10 mm.

Suitable particle sizes of a metal powder in the context of an additive manufacturing process are known to those skilled in the art or can, if necessary, be determined through routine tests. For example, the powdery material has a volume distribution cumulative curve with particle sizes in the range from 1 μm to 200 μm. In a preferred embodiment, the powdery material has a volume distribution cumulative curve with a d ₁₀ value of at least 2 µm and a d ₉₀ value of a maximum of 150 µm. The particle size distribution based on a volume distribution sum curve is determined by laser diffraction. The powder is measured as a dry dispersion using laser diffraction particle size analysis in accordance with the "ISO 13320:2009" standard, whereby the volume distribution sum curve can then be determined from the measurement data. The values d ₁₀ and d ₉₀ can be calculated from the volume distribution sum curve in accordance with the "ISO 9276-2:2014" standard. Here, for example, the value “d ₁₀ ” means that 10 percent by volume of the particles have a diameter below this value.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines als Gitarrenbrücke ausgebildeten Bauteils nach dem Stand der Technik sowie

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines als Gitarrenbrücke ausgebildeten erfindungsgemäßen Bauteils.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. These show in a partly very simplified representation:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a component designed as a guitar bridge according to the prior art and

Fig. 2

a perspective view of a component according to the invention designed as a guitar bridge.

In the figures, parts with the same effect are always shown with the same reference numerals.

This in Fig. 1 Component 2 shown is designed as a guitar bridge according to the current state of the art. The component 2 is monolithic, i.e. formed in one piece, and has at least a first region 4 and a second region 6. Specifically, component 2 points according to Fig. 1 two first areas 4. The different areas are in Fig. 1 separated from each other by dashed lines for better clarity.

The component 2 according to the prior art Fig. 1 is manufactured as a solid component 2 with a uniform component density.

Furthermore, the component 2 and especially the second region 6 have a plurality of first connecting elements 8 for arrangement on a first body, not shown. The exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 1 has six first connecting elements 8. The first body is, for example, a string of a guitar, which is arranged on the component 2 by means of the first connecting element 8, which is designed, for example, as a notch.

Furthermore, the component 2 and in particular the first areas 4 in the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 1 each a second connecting element 10 for arranging the component 2 on a second body, not shown, for example on a guitar body. The second connecting element 10 is, for example, as in Fig. 1 can be seen, groove-shaped.

In Fig. 2 a component 2 according to the invention is shown in a perspective view. Analogous to the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 1 This is component 2 according to Fig. 2 also about a guitar bridge.

In terms of its basic shape, the component 2 essentially corresponds to the component 2 according to the exemplary embodiment Fig. 1 .

However, component 2 points according to Fig. 2 not only at least a first area 4 and a second area 6, but also at least a third area 12. Specifically, the component 2 according to the exemplary embodiment Fig. 2 two first areas 4, a second area 6, a third area 12, and a fourth area 14, a fifth area 16, a sixth area 18 and a seventh area 20. The areas 4, 6, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 are also separated from each other by a dashed line for better clarity.

All areas 4, 6, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 each have a component density that is different from one another. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 2 Each area 4, 6, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 has a different component density, which is essential to the invention. This makes it possible to adapt at least one acoustic property of the acoustic waves to be transmitted due to the different component density.

The different component density is achieved by the areas 6, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 each having a different hollow structure 22. The hollow structure 22 forms a honeycomb structure.

The component 2 is also manufactured using an additive manufacturing process, for example by selective laser melting, with which such hollow structures 22 can be produced in a simple manner.

In addition, the regionally varying component density is achieved by setting process parameters, for example the temperature or the dwell time of a processing beam, during production. In particular, a laser melting process or a sintering process is used for the additive production of the component 2. Such methods have proven to be advantageous in terms of their accuracy in component production and the high quality of the components manufactured with them.

The component 2 according to Fig. 2 is designed as a guitar bridge to accommodate six strings. Accordingly, each of the areas 6, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 has a first connecting element 8. The fact that the component density can be varied in certain areas makes it possible to individually adapt at least one acoustic property of each of the strings arranged on the component 2 designed as a guitar bridge. This leads to a higher degree of individualization of components 2 for the transmission of acoustic waves.

Alternatively, it is also possible for the areas 4, 6, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 to form one or more area groups, each containing one or more of the areas 4, 6, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. It is possible here that the areas of an area group have the same component density and therefore only the component densities of the area groups differ. The areas of an area group do not necessarily have to be arranged directly adjacent to one another. Rather, it is possible that between two or An area of another area group is arranged in several areas of an area group.

However, the first two regions 4, one of which is arranged at the end of the component 2, expediently have the same component density and/or the highest component density of the regions 4, 6, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. This is due to the fact that the component 2 is arranged in and with the two first areas 4 on the second body and must therefore be resistant to mechanical loads. Alternatively or additionally, the first two areas 4 are also solid, i.e. not designed with a hollow structure 22, in order to further increase the mechanical stability.

The described design of the component 2 in the sense of the present description is not limited to a guitar bridge. Rather, the design can also be applied to other components that (have to) transmit acoustic waves. For example, the component 2 can also be designed as a guitar bridge or as a tremolo.

Reference symbol list

2

Component

4

first area

6

second area

8th

first connecting element

10

second connecting element

12

third area

14

fourth area

16

fifth area

18

sixth area

20

seventh area

22

Hollow structure

Claims (8)

1. A component (2) for a string instrument, namely a guitar bridge or a tremolo for a guitar, having a first region (4), a second region (6), a third region (12), a fourth region (14), a fifth region (16), a sixth region (18) and a seventh region (20) for transmitting acoustic waves between a first body, which is a guitar string, and a second body, which is a guitar body, wherein the first region (4), the second region (6), the third region (12), the fourth region (14), the fifth region (16), the sixth region (18) and the seventh region (20) comprise the same material and are connected to one another for transmitting the acoustic waves among one another, wherein the component (2) is monolithic,
   wherein
   the first region (4), the second region (6), the third region (12), the fourth region (14), the fifth region (16), the sixth region (18) and the seventh region (20) form component densities which vary with respect to one another so that, as a result, at least one acoustic property of the transmitted acoustic waves is adapted or adaptable, wherein the second region (6), the third region (12), the fourth region (14), the fifth region (16), the sixth region (18) and the seventh region (20) each comprise a different hollow structure (22) which forms a honeycomb structure, and wherein the second region (6), the third region (12), the fourth region (14), the fifth region (16), the sixth region (18) and the seventh region (20) each have a first connecting element (8) for receiving one guitar string in each case.
2. The component (2) according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   at least the first region (4) forms a region group which contains two first regions (4) which have the same component density and of which one is arranged on each end of the component (2), the two first regions (4) each having a second connecting element (10) for arrangement on the second body.
3. The component (2) according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the component density of the at least first region (4) is greater than the component density of the second region (6).
4. The component (2) according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the entire component (2) is formed monolithically from a metal.
5. The component (2) according to the preceding claim,
   characterized in that
   the metal is an amorphous metal.
6. A guitar comprising a component (2) according to any of the preceding claims.
7. A method for producing a component (2) for transmitting acoustic waves according to any of claims 1 to 5, in which:
   a first region (4), a second region (6), a third region (12), a fourth region (14), a fifth region (16), a sixth region (18) and a seventh region (20) of the component (2) are produced using an additive manufacturing process and are formed with mutually varying component densities, wherein the regions (4, 6, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20) are connected, such that at least one acoustic property of the transmitted acoustic waves is adapted by the varying component densities.
8. The method according to claim 7,
   characterized in that
   the production takes place by means of jet sintering, in particular selective laser sintering or selective electron beam sintering, or beam melting, in particular selective laser melting or selective electron beam melting.

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