Blue plastic trombone (2020-02-26) by Warwick Music GroupMuseum of Engineering Innovation
A quarter of a million brightly coloured trombones made of recyclable plastic can now be found worldwide.
The pBone, weighing less than a kilogram and costing a tenth of its metal cousin, has driven a demand for a range of polymer-made instruments.
Children with plastic musical instruments (2015-11-04) by Warwick Music GroupMuseum of Engineering Innovation
The pBone plastic trombone has proved popular with younger players and those who have difficulties with the weight and balance of a metal trombone.
Hundreds of UK schools can now use a range of colourful wind instruments to attract pupils of all ages.
Chris Fower, Director of Creativity and Innovation
Chris talks about his passion for making music sustainably
Testing air tightness on the pBone (2020-03-30) by Warwick Music GroupMuseum of Engineering Innovation
The pBone journey began with an experiment developed by an engineering design student and amateur trumpeter at Loughborough University.
After making a prototype, he worked with a professional trombonist to perfect the design.
Making a trombone from plastic involved design, engineering, and manufacturing challenges.
Red plastic trombone (2020-01-28) by Warwick Music GroupMuseum of Engineering Innovation
Trombones produce sound by generating air vibrations in a tube-shaped chamber.
An extendable slide changes the tube length and alters the musical notes heard.
The slide itself is made of two parallel, stationary inner tubes and two movable outer tubes
A non-metallic material could make the slide lighter, stronger and bash-proof, but it would need engineering to remain stiff, light, and parallel.
The pBone solution for the slide drew on methods used to manufacture fibreglass fishing rods. For the rest of the trombone, the team experimented with 3D-printed designs.
Black plastic pBone (2020-03-30) by Warwick Music GroupMuseum of Engineering Innovation
After working out how to make a trombone of plastic, the team turned to trumpets.
Close up of a black hyTech trumpet (2020-02-26) by Warwick Music GroupMuseum of Engineering Innovation
Their experiments led to a design with a mixture of plastic and metal.
Close up of a silver hyTech trumpet (2020-02-26) by Warwick Music GroupMuseum of Engineering Innovation
The hybrid has metal for the valves and mouthpiece, which increases its durability and enhances resonance.
pBone plastic trombone being played (2020-03-30) by Warwick Music GroupMuseum of Engineering Innovation
The team have also created the pBugle and pCornet and the future of musical instruments looks colourful.
