Arduino Auto-Glockenspiel Looks Proper in Copper

There’s something inherently captivating about solenoids that draws people to create music with them. Perhaps it’s the precise control they offer or the rhythmic clicking sound they produce. Whatever the reason, solenoids continue to inspire musicians and makers alike to explore their potential in instrument design, as demonstrated by CamsLab’s copper pipe auto-glockenspiel.

Initially considering striking glasses of water or piano keys, CamsLab ultimately settled on copper pipes for their instrument. Determining the optimal lengths for each pipe to achieve the desired pitch presented a challenge, but starting with a smaller 15-pipe glockenspiel allowed for proof of concept. The most daunting task, however, was finding a mounting solution that kept the pipes close enough to the solenoids without impeding their movement or causing them to shift over time. By suspending the pipes with fishing line on a 3D-printed frame mounted on extruded aluminum, CamsLab achieved both stability and precision, resulting in a visually striking and sonically pleasing instrument.

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