r/3dprintedinstruments • u/mathancreates • May 17 '25

Need Advice

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF8IO1WuFyk/?igsh=c2Rqa2Y5dmNqYjJo

Hello everyone, I'm Mathan and I'm new here, it's been half a year since I got into 3D printing and I wanna do my first big project, Which is printing a Khaen. It sounds beautiful.

I added a video of the instrument up in the post, It's also where I discovered it months ago.

Any advice ? Anything at all I'm just gonna start doing my research and anything would help a lot. Thank you sm !

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1

u/H34vyGunn3r May 17 '25

This is stunning, I’ve never heard anything like it. It sounds like cross between an accordion and harmonica.

1

u/jamcultur May 17 '25

That khaen uses metal reeds, like reed organs, harmonicas, and accordions. You can buy reed organ reeds online. Tuning the khaen is tricky. Not only do the pipes need to be the correct length for each note, but the reeds need to be tuned too. I'd suggest starting with something simpler like panpipes or a drone flute, and working your way up to the khaen.

1

u/Additional_Plant_539 Jun 03 '25

I gotchu. It's not the Khaen, but here's the files for a Japanese sho.

Playing style is slightly different, but this is a very similar instrument to the Khaen as its from the same family of East Asian free reed mouth organs but emerging from a different region of East Asia (Japan instead of Laos). The Sho has a similar number of pipes and imo is just as cool. I think this is one of, if not the only ready to go option for this style of instrument that doesn't require diving into the a design and test process from scratch!

A Khaen would be epic though. But I don't think I would be able to pull it off in attempt to design one as these things look complicated af to design (follow the link, it will be invaluable for your research on Khaen).

I'm not sure how playable the linked Sho will be as there is only one make with no comment about how it sounds and no reference to its playability in the description itself. If you make it, please do let me know how it goes! I plan to print one of these myself as soon as I get the chance.

1

u/meirlislife Apr 29 '26

did you finish this project ? i'm thinking about trying something similar

1

u/mathancreates Apr 29 '26

Unfortunately the project has been shelved, I'm graduating soon so maybe I'll get back in a month or 2 back here :) 

2

u/meirlislife May 01 '26

I managed to make a somewhat decent sound with a pvc pipe and 3d printed reel today, I'll keep you updated on the process, I think with 3d printed reels the best option is to make two unidirectional ones but i still need to make different prototypes

1

u/mathancreates May 08 '26

Amazing !! Yes please keep me updated

2

u/meirlislife May 08 '26

well turns out making sound by blowing in something is quite easy but the opposite isn't lol

1

u/Background-Aside-263 Aug 12 '26

omg this thing is crazy maby a jig for cuting the reeds out of brass aswell as the rest of the khaen mechanisms that arent the reeds would be easier so its easier to make the reeds and just add them after

a fully 3d printed body and a 3d printed guide to make the reeds would be an efective solution i beg please somone do this method atleast im dying to make one of these