About the 4/4 Violin
One of the most-printed violins on MakerWorld, with well over a thousand makes. The designer's page is bilingual (Chinese and English). The instrument has gone through many versions. Recent ones add a redesigned geared string tensioner that works with most shop-bought 4/4 strings, an optional chin rest and shoulder rest, and a smoother fingerboard print.
Check your strings before buying. They must be at least 545 mm long for A and D and 530 mm for E and G, and older versions of the files need longer strings. The parts are designed to fit tightly, with most gaps only 0.2 mm, so the designer recommends a flow-rate calibration first. Only the first two print plates are needed. The third holds optional alternative orientations: a horizontally printed fingerboard if your bed adhesion is weak (it leaves a scaly texture that's worth sanding), and a neck printed at 45° for a smoother finish.
An 8 mm carbon-fibre rod is recommended for long-term durability (5.5 mm is an option). The videos show the designer's son and a friend playing it. An assembly PDF is on the MakerWorld page.
Licence note. MakerWorld Standard Digital File licence (personal use), so we don't rehost its photos.
What you'll need
Printed parts
- Plates 1 and 2: body, neck, fingerboard, string tensioner, chin rest and shoulder rest
- Optional plate 3: alternative fingerboard and neck orientations
Bought parts
- 4/4 violin strings, long enough (A/D ≥ 545 mm, E/G ≥ 530 mm)
- An 8 mm carbon-fibre rod (recommended; 5.5 mm optional)
- A bow and rosin
Tools
- A calibrated printer (flow rate)
- Sandpaper
Build overview
Print settings
- Calibration: Run a flow-rate calibration; fits are 0.2 mm
- Fingerboard: Vertical (smoothest) or horizontal (easier adhesion, sand after)
- Neck: 45° for the best surface, if bed adhesion allows
Videos
Play video: Introducing violin v7.31c (loads YouTube)
Play video: The 4th version being played (loads YouTube)
The videos don't load from YouTube until you press play. Video thumbnails are © their creators.
Version 7.1b violin demo (YouTube) by the designer
Photos
The MakerWorld licence (Standard Digital File License) doesn't allow rehosting, so the photos stay on MakerWorld. See them on MakerWorld ↗