A Simple Tuning Stand for Glockenspiels, Wind Chimes and More.

Full disclosure: This was constructed to support an unpublished Instructable about making Glockenspiels, Wind chimes, and Dinner chimes. The tuning stand supports the item while you test it for resonant frequency, usually striking it with a mallet or hammer. It can be used as a tuning stand for cylinders (pipes), rods, and bars.

It was initially constructed as a tuning bench for pipes. It is based on a 91cm piece of 8020 Series-10 1020 aluminum extrusion and several adjustable supports. Anything around a meter is ideal. It was the longest piece in the scrap bin at the time. I designed feet for the beam and put felt pads for furniture in each corner to protect the counter and reduce transmitted vibration. The ends of the beam are great for storing a mallet used to test the pipe and a hex key used to reposition the supports.

Supplies

Extruded aluminum

Beam: 8020 Series 10 1020 or compatible

1/4-20 t-nut: 8020 or compatible

3D printed parts STL files

Supports: PrintablesThingiverse

Mounting feet: PrintablesThingiverse

Other supplies

Rubberbands

Felt pads

Also, a nice to have is a 5/32 long-handle hex wrench.

Step 1: Construction

Construction is very simple. There are only three types of parts: the extruded aluminum beam, the feet, and the supports. The feet and supports are 3D printed; we used PLA. The beam is cut to length or ordered to length. An instructable on cutting the beam to length can be found here.

The 3D-printed parts attach to the beam using 1/4-20 t-nuts.

Step 2: Assembly

Assembly is easy.

1. Print two of the legs.
2. Print two or more sets of the rubber band supports
3. Insert the screws into all printed parts
4. Add t-nuts to the screws.
5. Attach the legs to the extruded aluminum beam
6. Slide the supports into the top tracks on the beam.

Step 3: Use

To use the bench

1. Know the target frequency for the pipe or chime.
2. Mark the nodal points on the item under test using a reference table or the result of a calculation. Then, set supports under the nodal points.
3. Tighten the supports down.
4. Place rubber bands across the supports to make a cradle for testing the item.
5. Cradle: The rubberband is placed between the two support towers, and the pipe is laid to access them. We use the x-pattern illustrated in the video and pictures.
6. Simple trap: The item under test is supported and trapped using a single rubberband, as shown in the second video.
7. Complex trap - use two rubber bands, one on the bottom and the second on the top.
8. Take your first measurement.
9. Modify the item (remove a little material from the end, using a file or sander. )
10. Test again
11. Repeat until you are happy with the results.