Portable 88-Key Electronic Piano Keyboard
Format
SOECS Senior Project Demonstration
Abstract/Artist Statement
Existing 88-key electronic piano keyboards, while more portable than a piano, are typically five to six feet long and weigh anywhere from 40 to 70 pounds. Such an object is extremely difficult to store and transport. They are much too large and heavy to be taken as carry-on items for international flights. Keyboardists either have to mail the keyboard to its destination, pay a substantial fee to have it placed in the luggage hold of the aircraft, or purchase a second seat in the main aircraft cabin for the instrument. Their size makes storage in studio apartments and college dormitories quite a challenge. The purpose of this project is twofold: to design a keyboard that can be taken by touring musicians as a carry-on item on international flights, and that people with limited storage space (such as college students) can accommodate. The scope of this project is to design and construct a model of a folding 88-key piano keyboard that is capable of being easily transformed between a collapsed state and an expanded (playable) state to facilitate easier handling, transportation and storage. This will be accomplished by designing a three-segment hinged folding mechanism such that the keyboard folds approximately in thirds. The collapsed configuration will yield outer dimensions not exceeding 22” x 13” x 9”. The keyboard model weight is not to exceed 35 pounds. .
Location
Pacific Geosciences Center
Start Date
30-4-2005 2:00 PM
End Date
30-4-2005 5:00 PM
Portable 88-Key Electronic Piano Keyboard
Pacific Geosciences Center
Existing 88-key electronic piano keyboards, while more portable than a piano, are typically five to six feet long and weigh anywhere from 40 to 70 pounds. Such an object is extremely difficult to store and transport. They are much too large and heavy to be taken as carry-on items for international flights. Keyboardists either have to mail the keyboard to its destination, pay a substantial fee to have it placed in the luggage hold of the aircraft, or purchase a second seat in the main aircraft cabin for the instrument. Their size makes storage in studio apartments and college dormitories quite a challenge. The purpose of this project is twofold: to design a keyboard that can be taken by touring musicians as a carry-on item on international flights, and that people with limited storage space (such as college students) can accommodate. The scope of this project is to design and construct a model of a folding 88-key piano keyboard that is capable of being easily transformed between a collapsed state and an expanded (playable) state to facilitate easier handling, transportation and storage. This will be accomplished by designing a three-segment hinged folding mechanism such that the keyboard folds approximately in thirds. The collapsed configuration will yield outer dimensions not exceeding 22” x 13” x 9”. The keyboard model weight is not to exceed 35 pounds. .