Violin Forum/Message Board

[lsnyman]

I am an Amateur luthier having built 1 Flamenco Guitar and busy on 2 &3. I recently developed an Electronic Thickness Gauge with a resolution of 1/1000th inch using magnetics. Some exiting developments have already taken place initiated by instrument makers from Mandolin Cafe gining their insights and requests for tool options.
Currently the options are -
A choice of Flat or rounded tip Probe, the rounded being more suitable to measure recurve areas.
A bluetooth option to automatically insert your measurements onto a drawing or picture.
Smaller target balls - A standard 3/8" ball and 1/2" ball is supplied and a 1/4" is an option for small f-holes.
Currently the measurement range is 0 - 15mm,
I would value your inputs as to what you would find useful in such a tool with regard to making violins and Basses.
Thanks
Liam

[DonLeister]

Nice idea!
It needs to have a display readout that shows the measurement in millimeters.
A 3/8ths ball might be pushing it for size, a 1/4 or 5/16ths would be fine for violins.
I like gadgets that take common battery sizes (like AA or AAA or the square 9v type).

[lsnyman]

Great Don
All 3 boxes are checked. The display is both in mils and mm.
The battery is 9v
A 1/4" ball is available.

[Mat Roop]

Nice idea... as long as the price is nice too!
Just curious... looking at the guitar pic... how do you get the inner ball to jump the cross braces inside the guitar?
Cheers, Mat

[lsnyman]

Hi Matt
The ballbwill jump most reasonably sized braces. Here is a video showing both sides.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNBsi6u_awQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player