vibraphon‐travel‐frame - reutlingen...

Reutlingen‐University

Seite 1 Prof. Dr.‐Ing. P. Th. Wyndorps

Vibraphon‐Travel‐Frame

Version0117.February2015

Content1 Preamble ......................................................................................................................................... 2

2 Terms of use .................................................................................................................................... 3

3 Bar posts .......................................................................................................................................... 4

3.1 Cheap‐Version: eye screw and cabel nozzle ........................................................................... 4

3.2 Bar removable version: thump screws .................................................................................... 5

4 Frame ............................................................................................................................................... 6

4.1 Bar frame ................................................................................................................................. 6

4.1.1 Front bar frame ............................................................................................................... 7

4.1.2 Rear bar frame ............................................................................................................... 10

4.1.3 Bar frame set up ............................................................................................................ 10

4.2 Bar frame damping unit ........................................................................................................ 10

4.3 Damping Spring System ......................................................................................................... 12

4.4 Base frame ............................................................................................................................. 13

4.4.1 Side frames .................................................................................................................... 13

4.4.2 Foldable unit .................................................................................................................. 15

4.4.3 Angel limitation rods ..................................................................................................... 19

5 Damping Pedal Connection ........................................................................................................... 23

6 Bill of material ............................................................................................................................... 24



1 PreambleNormally there are no existing vibraphones without frame. So there is no need to create new frames. I created

the frame because the frame of my Premier was broken at a car accident. The second reason to create the

frame was that I used K&K‐Soundsystem pickups that are bounded below the bars. At any time of

transportation some of those pickups got lost. So I wanted to create a frame where the bars needn’t to be

taken away from the frame. But I wanted the frame to be easy for transportation and setup.

The video of the first built frame (Premier‐Vibraphon) you find here:

http://userserv.hochschule‐reutlingen.de/~Wyndorps/Download/Musik/Abbau_02.mp4

I have no access to a Musser vibraphone. So all dimensions I used are based on web‐information;

http://www.vibesworkshop.com/forum/new‐frame‐design‐premier‐751/wyndorps/011815#comment‐36467.

I always tried to find cheap solutions by using standard parts you can get everywhere. So far I have given all

German dealer information. But aluminum T‐slot‐systems are not cheap.

The weight of any transportation unit of the vibraphone is less than 20 kg. The rear frame is about 16 kg

including the bars, the front frame about 15 kg including bars and the bas frame is about 18 kg.

Front frame with bars

Rear frame with bars and damping



Base frame with open / closed

2 Termsofuse All given information is without any warranty. Creating a vibraphone frame according to this

description is done by own risk.

Commercial use is forbidden

All information is given free of charge. We beg you to sign all frames built by this description with

“Wyndorps” and “Reutlingen University”

Regard the ISO drawing view position. It is different to ANSI‐standard!

All dimensions are given in [mm]!



3 BarpostsThere are two possibilities to create the bar posts for a T‐slot system. One very cheap version using standard

parts, as eye screw and cabel nozzle, where the bars cannot easily be removed.

The second version is much more expensive because mechanical manufacturing (milling) is needed. The

advantage is that the bars can easily be removed as usual.

3.1 Cheap‐Version:eyescrewandcabelnozzleIt is a little bit tricky to get the nozzle into the screws eye, but using some silicone oil it works. See Drawing No.

0000010506.

German dealer for the eye screw 18,60€ per 100:

http://www.schraubenluchs.de/SICHERUNGSELEMENTE/Blatt/Oesenschrauben/Oesenschrauben‐M‐

Gewinde/100‐Stk‐Oesenschrauben‐M‐6‐x‐20::11291.html

German dealer for the cable nozzle: 16,64 € per 100:

http://www.essentracomponents.de/mss/mss‐

pc.nsf/WebEngine?OpenAgent&cmd=query&itemdirect=y&itemdirectwildcard=y&search=10117



3.2 Barremovableversion:thumpscrewsThe posts can be made shock resistant by dipping them several times in liquid rubber or using flexible tubes.

See Drawings 0000010507 and 0000010639.

German dealer for thump screws 114,90€ / 100 (without milling):

http://online‐schraubenhandel.de/price.php?group_id=128&position_id=259



4 FrameTo create the vibes frame the following tools are required:

Aluminum saw with angel adjustment

Drill press and drill bits

Thread cutter mostly M6

Allen key (with rounded head)

All frame bars get a M6 thread at both ends!

4.1 BarframeThe bar frames are not exactly equal because the rear bar frame has to take the damping unit. The bar‐frame

dimensions are depending of the bars sizes and of the resonator tubes. Please check weather your bars and

resonator tubes fit to the frame design.



4.1.1 FrontbarframeThe front bar frame can be created using standard T‐slot‐system connectors, even if the angel is different from 90 degree (0000008486).

At the end of the profiles the standard cover caps could be used. (0000002517)



4.1.2 RearbarframeThe rear bar frame is geometrically the same as the front bar frame. The only different is, that for the inner profile (0000010941) I used a double profile. Instead of the double profile you can use two single profiles 0000010941 fixed to each other. This is useful because this profile will have to carry the damping spring later.

4.1.3 BarframesetupThe two bar frames can be set up with the bar posts, handles, redirection of the cords and the half of the frame connectors. As redirection of the cords I have done part 0000008409, but a simple srew would do the same. For the connection of bar frame and base frame I use suitcase locks. The smaller (left) part is installed on both sides the bar frames. German dealer: www.ganter‐griff.de Product: GN 832.2‐55‐St

4.2 BarframedampingunitThe Premier damping version is using two leaf springs. But I don’t like this because it is not very comfortable to

adjust. The advantage is that you don’t need any bearings and the weight is extremely low.

The damping unit has to be installed to the rear bar frame.



As bearings at any position of the frame I use standard plastic bearings.German dealer: http://www.igus.de/iPro/iPro_02_0004_0000_DEde.htm?c=DE&l=de Products: WFM‐0608‐04 and WFM‐0620‐15

The bearings are mounted direct into the damping arms.

The countersunk screw makes sure that the damping is centered in the T‐profile angel set. Several washers are used to realize the distance of the arms from the frame. Self locking nuts ISO 10511‐M6 are used to define the bearing gap.

To make the damping system independent from the bar sizes I use an additional T‐slot profile (magenta) to take the second bearing. So the damping position is adjustable on both sides.

The damping arms (0000010801) are made from 3 mm aluminum.



4.3 DampingSpringSystemI don’t know the Musser damping spring system. I have one time seen a Deagan vibe with one spring in the center. To realize that, I designed a sheet metal, fixed on the rear bar frame and being supported on the front bar frame.

Much more simple and even more easy to set up are to my opinion two springs. They can be installed only on the rear frame because they need no support.

I have installed the two spring system, because it is better to adjust and less sophisticated.

German dealer for the two springs type 71/5/2: http://shop.knoerzer.eu/shop/pdf/?artnr=3581

As shock absorber I used this on both sides of the springs: http://www.hood.de/suchergebnisse.htm?q=0048021398 I just had to cut a centered hole.

As limits for the damping system I used simple belts, fixed on the damping bar. They don’t make any noise.

The damping felt I got from here: www.filzfabrik‐wurzen.de

I tested some felts and bought d density of 0.2 g/dm³ according DIN 61200



4.4 BaseframeThe base frame should have the same length as the bar frames. The base frame is built from two side frames

(left and right) and foldable connection bars.

4.4.1 SideframesThe side frames are responsible for the height of the vibe. Height adjustment (only growing) could be done by

changing vertical dimension 630. If a lower level is needed you should use smaller rolls.

The dimensions 243.5 and 315.5 should not be changed because this would effect on the foldable unit!

To connect the bar frames to the base frame I use simple plates 0000010723, fixed in the T‐slot of the side frames. As limit stop 0000010972 I used http://www.sued‐gummi.de/gummikleinteile/gummi‐‐‐anschlagpuffer/gummi‐‐‐anschlagpuffer.php product: 20x10M6, Produkt‐ID: 3321 1,80€ each



4.4.2 FoldableunitThe foldable unit as shown in 00000010734 is used 3 times. If a longer frame is needed, for example may be to

implement a motor unit, only the centered bar 0000010784 (length 196.2) and the angel limitation‐L‐profile

0000010785 (length 286.2)could be created longer. I propose only to use steps of 30mm (width of the T‐slot‐

bars). So you could keep the bar frames as shown by only adding a short profile on the right side as frame

extension (magenta).



The pedal sheet 0000006575 is available as dxf‐data‐file for thermal or water jet cutting:

http://userserv.hochschule‐reutlingen.de/~Wyndorps/Download/Musik/Musser_Frame/0000006575.dxf

The upper foldable unit should (green highlighted) be installed exactly below the inner bar of the front bar

frame on the right side. This is necessary to keep free space for the resonator tubes (red circle) on the one side

and to the damping spring holders (green) on the other side.

If there is not enough free space for the damping spring holders you could use a different foldable unit only for

the upper installation. Be aware that the axis of all hinges must be exactly at the same orientation and position

as in the lower foldable unit. So the bars have to be cut not by 90 degree.



4.4.3 Angellimitationrods

The slots in the safety‐sheets 0000000368 and 00000010826 should be milled as shown. They limit the opening

angle of the sheets without reducing their stability. They should allow an angel a very little bit more than 180

degree. A screw ISO 4762 –M3x5 is used as limit stop.



The hinges screws are drilled from standard ISO screws:



5 DampingPedalConnectionTo connect the pedal to the damping bar I used this snap fits with 20mm size. They are strong enough and if they are positioned in the middle of the distance they are absolute noiseless. You can use the lower cord to fix the folded base frame, if you place male and female connectors on each side of the two cords. Moving the yellow clamps, you can adjust the damping reaction. The same clamps are mounted below the damping bar. So you can adjust this too.



6 BillofmaterialThe BOM is here as MS‐EXCEL‐File available:

http://userserv.hochschule‐

reutlingen.de/~Wyndorps/Download/Musik/Musser_Frame/0000010484asm_BOM.xls

In addition to the listed articles below (price base 2012, without tax) you will need some more purchase parts

and several manufacturing parts and some time to do all this.

Profile/article Type Länge/length Einheit/unit Kosten/costs

Profile 6 30x30 light ITEM 0.0.419.06 18.000 mm 6 x 3000mmm 60,30 €

Profile 6 60x30 light ITEM 0.0.419.02 1.800 mm 1 x 3000 mmm 21,20 €

Hinges 6 30x30 ITEM 0.0.419.80 14 13,92€/Stk 194,88 €

Nutenstein M6 ITEM 0.0.419.40 ~ 100 0,35 €/Stk 35,00 €

Standardverbindungssatz 6 ITEM 0.0.419.14 ~ 30

Handgriff PA 80 ITEM 0.0.391.34 4 2,04 €/Stk 16,32 €Winkelsatz ITEM 0.0.612.78 3 4,76 €/Stk 14,28 €Räder ITEM 0.0.418.10 4 29,54 €/Stk 118,16 €Gleitlager IGUS WFM‐0608‐04 12 1,46 €/Stk 17,52 €Gleitlager IGUS WFM‐0620‐15 2 ~1,5 €/Stk 3,00 €Ösenschrauben M6x20 100 Stk 18,60 €Kabeltülle 100 Stk 16,64 €Ganter Spannschloss GN 832.2‐55‐St 4 2,24€/Stk 8,96 €Federn 2 ~ 5 €/Stk 10,0 €Gummi - Dämpfer 4 1,80 €/Stk 7,20 €Klemmverschlüsse 2 ~1,5 €/Stk 3,00 € ~ 550,00€

Please let me know, if there are mistakes or further ideas.

May be, you can sent me some photos and information of the frames you built?

Enjoy yourself building your frame

Paul Wyndorps

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