Otis Singleton
Building an electric piano keyboard can be a challenging task, requiring proficiency in electronics, creativity, and coding. The process involves designing a functioning piano, creating an electrical circuit, and using appropriate materials. One can use software like Automaker from Robox to design the parts and print them using a 3D printer. The electric piano can also be built using a microcontroller like Arduino. The keys of the piano are typically made of wood, specifically soft white pine or basswood, which is lightweight, dry, straight-grained, knot-free, and stable with humidity changes. The construction process involves careful assembly of electrical components, including resistors, capacitors, and piezo buzzers, to produce sound through a speaker.
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Sourcing materials
Wood:
For the piano keys, you will need a lightweight, softwood that is dry, straight-grained, knot-free, and stable with changes in humidity. Traditional choices include soft white pine or basswood. These woods have a consistent texture, with little difference between early and late wood, making them ideal for crafting the keys.
For the rails, opt for a clear and dry hardwood that resists splitting. The specific type of hardwood may depend on your location. In America, cherry and maple are common choices, while in Europe, beech and oak are popular. However, keep in mind that oak may cause metal corrosion, so choose your materials wisely.
Fabric and Padding:
A soft fabric, such as cloth, is used to cover the back rail of the keyboard to reduce noise and ensure the proper height of the working parts. This fabric should be around 3mm thick and cut to the appropriate width. Additionally, you will need padding in the form of punched cloth rings for the balance and front rails. These cloth rings are typically about 1mm thick with a specific diameter to fit the rails properly.
Electronics:
To create the electronic components, you will need a 555 timer integrated circuit, which produces the tone for each musical note. Additionally, you will require resistors (such as 1kΩ and 6.2kΩ resistors) and a capacitor to connect to the 555 timer. A piezo buzzer is also necessary to generate the sound, and batteries will provide the power source.
Buttons:
You can design and print your own buttons using software like Automaker from Robox. Typically, there will be black and white buttons, and you can 3D print these to test them with your circuitry.
Keep in mind that building an electric piano keyboard requires a good understanding of electronics, creativity, and possibly some coding knowledge. It is a challenging project, but with careful sourcing of materials and attention to detail, you can create a functional and unique electric piano keyboard.
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Keyboard design
Building a piano keyboard requires a good understanding of electronics, creativity, and knowledge of coding and circuitry. The first step is to design the keyboard using software like Automaker from Robox. This software can then be used to send the command to a 3D printer to print the parts.
The keys of the piano are wooden levers usually cut out like jigsaw puzzle pieces from a wide panel or key plank. The key plank is glued together from a few boards with the grain going in the long direction of the keys. The wood used should be dry, straight-grained, free of knots, stable with changes in humidity, and relatively strong and easy to work with. Softwoods like soft white pine or basswood are commonly used.
The front rail of the keyboard is made of clear and dry hardwood that resists splitting, such as cherry or maple in America, and beech or oak in Europe (although oak may cause metal corrosion). It should be tall and wide enough to support two rows of pins about 5 cm apart. The back rail is usually covered with a strip of cloth to reduce noise and adjust the height of the working parts. It is also padded with punched cloth rings of varying thicknesses to ensure the keys travel and rest uniformly.
The circuitry of the electric piano can be designed using a platform like Tinkercad, which allows for the simulation and testing of the circuit before building the real thing. The circuit can be built on a breadboard, with the long rows at the top and bottom used to connect power (+9 volts and ground) from the battery to the rest of the circuit. The columns of five holes in the center area are electrically connected, so components plugged into the same column are connected as if by a wire. Resistors and capacitors are then connected to specific pins on the 555 timer integrated circuit, which produces the tone that drives the speaker. The piezo buzzer, which produces the sound, is connected to the 555 timer with either bendable wires or rigid pins. Finally, pushbuttons are added to the breadboard and connected to the circuit to produce a tone when pressed.
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Circuitry and electronics
Building an electric piano keyboard requires a good understanding of electronics and circuitry. The first step is to design the circuitry and test it on a platform like Tinkercad. This simple electronic piano uses a 555 timer integrated circuit to produce a tone that drives the speaker. The 555 timer is in astable mode, and the frequency it produces relies on the values of the capacitor and two resistors. The capacitor is connected between pins 1 and 2 of the 555, and the 1kΩ resistor is connected between pin 7 and the +9-volt row. The piezo buzzer, which produces the sound, is connected to pin 3 of the 555 timer. Its positive wire is red, and its negative wire is black.
The breadboard is an essential component of the circuit. The long rows at the top and bottom are for power (+9 volts and ground) and are connected to the battery. The black wire (ground) is connected to the bottom row, and the red wire (+9 volts) to the top row. The columns of five holes in the centre are also electrically connected, so anything plugged into the same column is connected. The pushbuttons are placed to straddle the channel in the middle of the breadboard, with the top-right pin in the same column as the resistor. A hookup wire is then connected between the lower right pin of the button and pin 2 of the 555.
At this stage, a test can be conducted to check the circuitry is working. The black wire from the battery connector is connected to the bottom row (ground) and the red wire to the top row (+9 volts). When the pushbutton is pressed, a tone should be heard. If not, check connections and the battery.
The remaining buttons are then added from right to left, connecting the resistor to the column of the previous resistor. The circuitry can also be tested using 3D-printed parts to ensure it is working. This project requires a good understanding of electronics and circuitry, as well as some coding knowledge.
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Assembly
Building an electric piano keyboard requires knowledge of electronics and coding, as well as the ability to design a functioning piano and create an electrical circuit.
The first step is to design the parts and send the command to a 3D printer. Three parts should be printed: one for the black buttons and two for the white buttons. Once the parts have been printed, they should be tested with the circuitry.
The next step is to assemble the circuitry. This will involve connecting various components, such as resistors, capacitors, and wires, to a breadboard and a microcontroller. The breadboard is used to connect the components of the circuit, while the microcontroller, such as an Arduino, is used to control the piano's functionality.
The long rows at the top and bottom of the breadboard are used to connect power (+9 volts and ground) from the battery to the rest of the circuit. The black wire (ground) will be connected to the row at the bottom, and the red wire (+9 volts) will be connected to the row at the top. Each column of five holes in the centre area is also electrically connected, so any two things plugged into the same column are connected.
The resistors, capacitor, and piezo buzzer are then connected to the breadboard and the microcontroller according to the circuit diagram. The piezo buzzer produces the tone that drives the speaker. The buttons are then placed on the breadboard and connected to the circuit. A quick test can be performed by connecting the battery and pressing the button, which should produce a tone.
Finally, the remaining buttons are added from right to left, and the resistors are connected to the appropriate columns.
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Testing
Circuitry Testing
Before assembling the keyboard, it is crucial to test the circuitry to ensure it functions as intended. This can be done using software like Tinkercad, which allows you to design and simulate the circuit before building it. This step ensures that the electrical components interact correctly and produce the desired tones.
Assembly Testing
As you assemble the keyboard, it's important to test each component as you add it. For instance, after placing the pushbuttons and connecting the wires, connect the battery and test if pressing the button produces a tone. This iterative testing approach helps identify issues early on and ensures each component functions as expected.
Key Action and Playability
The key action, or the feel of the keys, is an essential aspect of the testing process. Evaluate the comfort and texture of the keys. Are they too slippery or polished? Do they replicate the feel of an acoustic piano keyboard? Use piano weights to measure the pressure required to depress a key, giving you an idea of the key action's heaviness or lightness.
Sound Quality
Test the sound quality of the keyboard by playing different styles of music, from soft emotional pieces to louder, more upbeat tunes. Assess the sound through the speakers and how it fills the room. Then, switch to headphones to evaluate the quality and variety of voices available.
Extra Functionalities and Connectivity
Explore the piano's extra functionalities and assess their ease of use. Test the connectivity options, such as connecting to an app or external amplification devices. Ensure that the connections are straightforward and user-friendly.
Overall Experience
Finally, consider the overall playing experience. Is the keyboard enjoyable to play? Is it expressive and immersive enough to inspire you? Does it cater to beginners or more experienced players? These factors will help determine the success of your electric piano keyboard.
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Frequently asked questions
The first step is to design the parts using software like Automaker from Robox.
The second step is to print the parts. One for the black buttons and two for the white (or grey) buttons.
The third step is to test the 3D printed parts with your circuitry.
