Pianotech

A few years back I replaced the metal counterbearing bars in our Mason & Hamlin CC with ones I fabricated out of acetal copolymer, and achieved the desired improvement in string rendering.  As I was preparing to take a similar approach with our 1893 Steinway A, duplicating the factory set-backs and elevations, one of my fellow technicians in the faculty offered to set things up for a 3D printing approach.  We printed the first prototypes yesterday and identified things to be fine-tuned, so another printing is in the works.

The material with which we are set up to print here does not have the strength needed for this application, so we were consider sending the job out for printing.  It then occurred to my  colleague that since he's preparing to teach a class in resin casting in the coming semester, this project could serve as a useful and practical exercise in that area. 

This afternoon he asked me if I would mind researching a 2 part castable resin of my preference.  I haven't started Googling yet, but I must confess that this is outside of anything I have given thought to up to this time.

Do any of you have some knowledge of what might be appropriate and available?  The desired properties are compression strength and and appropriate lubricity.

Thanks for any help you might give me on this.

A few years back I replaced the metal counterbearing bars in our Mason & Hamlin CC with ones I fabricated out of acetal copolymer, and achieved the desired improvement in string rendering.  As I was preparing to take a similar approach with our 1893 Steinway A, duplicating the factory set-backs and elevations, one of my fellow technicians in the faculty offered to set things up for a 3D printing approach.  We printed the first prototypes yesterday and identified things to be fine-tuned, so another printing is in the works.

The material with which we are set up to print here does not have the strength needed for this application, so we were consider sending the job out for printing.  It then occurred to my  colleague that since he's preparing to teach a class in resin casting in the coming semester, this project could serve as a useful and practical exercise in that area. 

This afternoon he asked me if I would mind researching a 2 part castable resin of my preference.  I haven't started Googling yet, but I must confess that this is outside of anything I have given thought to up to this time.

Do any of you have some knowledge of what might be appropriate and available?  The desired properties are compression strength and and appropriate lubricity.

Thanks for any help you might give me on this.