Model optimization and performance evaluation of hand cranked music box base structure manufactured via 3D printing

A sound produced from the music box could mesmerize music lovers. The complex mechanism that combined manual with semi-automatics movement creates the music box as a challenge for the manufacturer to innovate and optimize. This study focused on redesigning a hand-cranked music box's base structure using 3D printing and comparing the sound produced with the original model. It is shown that 3D printing can create a complex model with minimum material waste and good repeatability. After remodeling the music box's in a 3D CAD model, the prototype was built, and the tune played by each model was recorded and compared. The results showed that four improvements were made in the barrel mounting, crankshaft holder, crankshaft locker, and comb locker from the built four models. The sound analysis shows that the quality of sound can be improved by using the system's spacer. Furthermore, the finite element method and exact experiment results show that the loudest and best sound quality can be achieved using a 60 degrees angle slope for the music box base structure.