topic Re: Bass clarinet neck in Fusion Support Forum

Bass clarinet neck

jendeegan — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:11:16 GMT

Hi,

I am home schooling my teen son and he has learned a lot about using Autodesk Fusion from watching videos online.

We would like to try to build a new neck for a bass clarinet and I think it might be a bit complicated. I wondered if I could open a thread here to document our progress and to ask if anyone would be able to give us a few nudges in the right direction if we get stuck?

What we need to make is a pipe that is bent like a curved Z shape. The length must be exactly correct. The internal diameter of the pipe must also be exactly correct and exactly the same the whole way along. Then it needs a socket at one end. But that's all. There are no other constraints really.

The current neck on our bass clarinet looks like this:

https://www.ebay.com.my/itm/145067777085

We would like to make one that is still just a simple tube, but with a steeper angle at one end, like this:

https://www.earspasm.com/products/custom-gold-plated-blashaus-bass-clarinet-neck

The bass clarinet that we have is an old one that is no longer made or sold. Nobody makes a better neck for it like this, so it would be doing a lot of people a favour if we could work out how to print one, and make the file available online. It might take a bit of work though.

I wondered if it would be okay if I tell you about our efforts, in case anybody could help us if we get stuck?

Thanks!

Re: Bass clarinet neck

TrippyLighting — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:46:19 GMT

there are many ways to approach this. What I am showing in the video isn't how to create the general shape. In reality, you would take precise measurements (caliper, etc) and model accordingly.

Then print, test fit, adjust, and print again to fit.

Also, this isn't the only way to model this.

Hopefully, my EE mates here can show other ways, so you have some options.

(view in My Videos)

Re: Bass clarinet neck

jendeegan — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:50:38 GMT

Thank you very much for replying. We have made some progress.

The path through the tube is 23.5mm long and we haven't quite got the design to be the same but we will do a bit more work on it tomorrow.

Re: Bass clarinet neck

jendeegan — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:45:32 GMT

Re: Bass clarinet neck

jendeegan — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:35:29 GMT

We managed to make the file but now we can't save it. I wondered if you might know what we need to do to save it?

I think that minors are meant to be able to use the software for free as long as we only keep a tiny number of files, but I can't delete the old files now.

We googled and followed the advice but it didn't work.

Thanks!

Re: Bass clarinet neck

jendeegan — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:10:53 GMT

I have applied for a student licence.

Re: Bass clarinet neck

TrippyLighting — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:07:26 GMT

The free version does have limitations, but not saving a file is not one of them. Minors can use the software.

I am not sure why you got this message.

Also, you can have as many files as you want to. Only 10 of them can be set to editable at one time. You can change which ones are editable anytime, as long as you keep it below or at ten.

That limitation was put in place to make it more difficult for non-paying users to do commercial work.

Re: Bass clarinet neck

jendeegan — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:16:18 GMT

Thanks so much for answering. I think we are sorted now. I requested an education licence for my son and he has been granted one so we are up and running again. The file saved okay before the system went wrong so we didn't lose his work. Phew!

The file is printing now, so we will see if it works.

Re: Bass clarinet neck

TheCADWhisperer — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 17:54:16 GMT

@jendeegan

I think we can improve upon the design to make it more aesthetically pleasing.

Can you File>Export your *.f3d file to your local drive and then Attach it here to a Reply?

Re: Bass clarinet neck

jendeegan — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 17:59:33 GMT

Thank you for offering. My son has plans himself.

Re: Bass clarinet neck

jendeegan — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 19:54:40 GMT

First go complete. Makes a hilarious squeaking noise when we play it because it is not air-tight. Even sealing up every crack with duck tape didn't solve the problem. Looks lovely though. 🙂

Re: Bass clarinet neck

TheCADWhisperer — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 20:11:53 GMT

@jendeegan

I use drywall compound to cover the entire print, dries fairly quickly and sands smooth.

Then spray paint.

Not sure how well that will hold up under light air compression though.