Students at Weston-McEwen High School in Athena are breaking new ground by utilizing a 3D printer to create their own bagpipes. In a collaborative effort between the school’s band program and the career technical education (CTE) program, they successfully manufactured a vibrant set of bagpipes, costing about $400, a significant reduction compared to the typical price range of $1,500 to $2,000 for traditional instruments.
Band director Jacob Gau, inspired by previously seen 3D printed bagpipes, partnered with CTE teacher Andrew Griggs to embark on this innovative project. The printing process spanned about a week, with some parts requiring between eight to eleven hours to complete. Due to the size of some components, the students had to adjust their positioning within the printer to ensure successful production.
The final product met expectations; Gau demonstrated their functionality by playing the pipes. The school’s renowned pipes and drum band typically performs during school sports events and parades. The introduction of these 3D printed instruments opens a world of possibilities, with Gau expressing hope that they could expand the bagpipe program to include middle school students, making it accessible to more learners by distributing the instruments more freely and affordably.
Additionally, these 3D printed bagpipes are lighter than their conventional counterparts, making them more accessible for students with physical challenges or those who may struggle with heavier instruments. The students also plan to engineer and manufacture drone reed extenders, which will assist in tuning the new bagpipes more effectively within the band.