Out with the Wood and In with the
Trash
Garrett Allen, Preston Banks
Brittan Bennett, and Ceara Metzger
Hypothesis
If we use or make a Thermoplastic reed that can be
recycled vs. a Cane reed that can also be recycled,
we believe that they will have the same pitch and
sound frequency, because they both will require the
same amount of air pressure needed to make a
single note for 15 seconds
Literature Review
 During our experiment we were unable to
obtain information on this particular study
however we were able to find valuable
information dealing with Rapid Prototyping,
and Computer Aided Design (CAD)
Background Information
 What is a reed?
 -A reed is a mouthpiece that is used for woodwind instruments
 - reed is a thin strip of material that vibrates to produce a sound on a
musical instrument. There are different types of reeds such as a SingleReed and a Double-Reed
 What is Rapid prototyping
 - Rapid Prototyping is the automatic construction of physical objects
using solid freeform fabrication
 - Rapid Prototyping takes virtual designs from Computer Aided Design
aka CAD
Background Information Cont.
 What is CAD
 -CAD stands for Computer Aided Design
 - CAD is the use of computer technology to aid in the
design dealing with drafting, technical drafting, and
engineering drafting
 Vandoren has been making reeds since 1905; it’s also
one of the most widespread woodwind instrument
mouthpieces and reed manufacturers in the world.
Purpose
• The purpose is to find the pitch for the plastic and cane reed. When finding
the pitch/frequency, they will be compared to show that they're both the same
in using for saxophones. Cane is home to many insects and food to many
animals. Using plastic in the future and now will help solve the elimanation of
trees and etc. The experiment if proven will inform and persuade people to
buy alternate sources of reed to help the world from what it is now.
Materials
2 Alto Vandoren size 3 ½
Micrometer
Alto saxophone/saxophone player
Prototyping machine
CATIA V517 computer program –CAD (Computer aided design)
“Audacity” computer program
Computer microphone
Prototype of Alto reed(Thermoplastic)
Metro tune MT9000

Variables
• Independent variable: Cane and thermoplastic reedsize 3 1/2
• Dependent variable: frequency and pitch tendency
• Controlled: Mouth piece, saxophone, breath of air
(by person), room to experiment and temperature
Procedures
 1.Gather all materials
 2.Measure the dimensions of the wooden reed with a micrometer
 3.After measuring the reed, map out the reed on CATIA V5R17 a
CAD program
 4.When the reed is sketched out, save the program and insert
file into the prototyping machine so that the prototyping process
can begin
 5.Observe how the thermoplastic reed is made/ Write down
observations of everything seen in whole process.
 6.Then after the prototype is complete take it and dry in the oven
to cure.
Procedures Cont.
7.Apply the Vandoren cane reed to the saxophone and play one note into the microphone with
the frequency program “Audacity” for 15 seconds on the computer
8.Then apply the same steps for the thermoplastic reed i.e. the plastic reed
9.When finished with the recording of the frequency, for each reed find the pitch for both reed
at which the saxophonist regularly adjust his mouth piece positions and keep at same
place for both.
10.Measure the pitch with a metronome( Metro tune MT9000) and keep the same note
throughout the experiment, Also hold this note for pitch for 10 seconds And record the
data.
11.Finally when all have been done, Make comparisons of the results and data recorded and
make conclusions for the experiment.
Effects on the Real World
1. If thermoplastic reeds prove to be efficient then
researches and buyers, will be able to lower the
cost and the effect of Cane reeds.
2. It will also save many insect and animal homes, it
can also lower the effects of killing off many animal
food supplies
3. If thermoplastic reeds prove to be effective we can
also use already processed plastic that has been
recycled.
Results from Cane reed
Results continued
• When the Cane reed was measured by
pitch it sustain at O cent. It was neither
flat nor sharp, meaning it was at G concert
pitch.
• For the frequency, the labels were Khz and
decibels. We created the sound into
voltage which would be the same for both
reeds by looking at them.
Conclusions
What we were trying to find out was that a plastic reed that is proven to be more
recyclable and the Cane reed that is not as recyclable were going to both have
the same frequency and pitch because they will both require the same amount of
air to be blown. In our results it is believe that both reed were going to be the
same in everyway even so being measure. It proved our hypothesis is
warrantable because is easy to be obtains for further researched and or
experimented so a plastic reed can be used in the future. The experiment will be
for people who want change and it will give them an idea of what to do for the
future of reed players. Also when rapid prototyping is more reachable for the
public or musicians and also cheaper then it would be more useful for reed
players.
Reference
1. http://rapid-prototyping.harvest-tech.com
2. Bozdoc, Martian “The History of CAD”
3. http://www.activemusician.com/Vandoren-History-t2i137
4. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
5. http://vizproto.prism.asu.edu/rapidprototyping/index.
html
Thank You
 Mrs. Scott
 Mrs. Johnson
 Mrs. Morgan
 Engineering Department
 Mr. Smith
 Ms. Gallagos
Questions