Would you like to play this 3D-printed 'zoolophone'?

Researchers 3D-print a 'zoolophone' with keys shaped like animals

Computer scientists have 3D-printed a xylophone* with keys shaped like animals to test if different shapes have different sounds. They called it a 'zoolophone'.

The way shape and sound interact is pretty complex - it's based on things like surface vibration and the size of different components. As such, designing an instrument to create a desired sound is not easy.

But a research team lead by Changxi Zheng from Columbia Engineering wanted to see if it was possible. So they created an algorithm that uses computational methods to alter the shape of three-dimensional objects with their vibration modes in mind.

The goal was to use digital fabrication technology to control the acoustic properties of an object.

'Vibrations Under Stress'

To demonstrate that the algorithm worked, Zheng's team printed out their 'zoolophone' - with keys shaped like lions, turtles, elephants, giraffes and more. Each had been carefully tuned by the algorithm to achieve a desired pitch and amplitude when struck with a mallet.

As well as instruments for kids, Zheng says the discovery could have wider applications too. "Our algorithm could lead to ways to build less noisy computer fans, bridges that don't amplify vibrations under stress, and advance the construction of micro-electro-mechanical resonators whose vibration modes are of great importance," he said.

The details of the algorithm will be presented at the SIGGRAPH Asia conference in Kobe, Japan on 4 November 2015.

*Except it's not a xylophone, fact fans. It's actually a metallophone or glockenspiel - xylophones have wooden keys. But then the pun doesn't work, does it? Silly scientists.

Duncan Geere
Duncan Geere is TechRadar's science writer. Every day he finds the most interesting science news and explains why you should care. You can read more of his stories here, and you can find him on Twitter under the handle @duncangeere.
Latest in Tech
Ray-Ban smart glasses with the Cpperni logo, an LED array, and a MacBook Air with M4 next to ecah other.
ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from Twitter's massive outage to iRobot's impressive new Roombas
A triptych image featuring the Sennheiser HD 505, Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025), and Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4).
5 unmissable tech reviews of the week: why the MacBook Air (M4) should be your next laptop and the best sounding OLED TV ever
Apple iPhone 16e
Which affordable phone wins the mid-range race: the iPhone 16e, Nothing 3a, or Samsung Galaxy A56? Our latest podcast tells all
The Apple MacBook Air next to the Dyson Supersonic R and new AMD GPU
ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from the best tech at MWC to Apple's new iPads and MacBooks
A triptych image featuring the Bose Solo Soundbar 2, Nothing Phone 3a Pro and the Panasonic Lumix S1R II.
5 trailblazing tech reviews of the week: Nothing's stylish, affordable flagship and why you should buy AMD's new graphics card over Nvidia's
The best tech of MWC 2025 examples, including the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, the Nubia Flip 2, and the Lenovo Solar PC
Best of MWC 2025: the 10 top tech launches we tried on the show floor
Latest in News
Google Pixel 8a in aloe green showing
Google Pixel 9a benchmark link teases the performance of the upcoming mid-ranger
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #1148)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #379)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #645)
Apple iPhone 16 Pro HANDS ON
Leaked iPhone 17 dummy units may have given us our best look yet at all four models
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over