Paddle for People With Limb Differences and Agenesis to Play Flute

In France and some other countries playing the flute is included in music lessons at school. This project is to share a possible solution for children or music lovers with limb differences and agenesis to play flute.

Basic Idea: Use an Arduino board to make a circuit that if a button is pressed then the corresponding servo motor will rotate to cover the hole on the flute with the help of little sticks which serve as fingers.

Tools and materials:
-A computer An Arduino board ( We used Leonardo, but other types will do as well )

-3D printer with PLA filaments

-Laser cutting machine or jigsaw

-An Arduino proto shield

-Soldering materials

-4 servo motors

-4 buttons

-120cm wires * 12

-60cm wires * 8

-Wood board no smaller than 25 cm * 20 cm

-Sponge or foam

-Sponge rubber

-Double tape

-Phone clip holder

-Strip lock

Arduino Programming

If you made mistakes with the wiring or the motors placements, don’t worry you can still change the code. For example, if you’re button 1 is controlling the first motor but you want it the control the fourth motor for placements purpose, you can go in the if loop of the concerned button, here button 1 (if statut1==...), and change the number of the servo motor.

Downloads

pushbuttonflute.ino

Soldering the Circuit

(1) prepare all the material :

An Arduino shield

Soldering materials

4 servo motors

4 buttons

120cm wires * 12

60cm wires * 8

Soldering the Circuit

(2) Braid the wires

This step is for better wiring management and for avoiding short circuits.

Braid the 60cm wires as 2 wires in each group. And 4 groups in total. It will be easier for later soldering if you use different colors within each group. We use black wires for representing GND, red for 5V entry, And green ones representing signals.

Braid the 120cm wires as 3 wires in each group. And 4 groups in total. Same with above, It will be easier for later soldering if you use different colors within each group.

Soldering the Circuit

(3) Soldering wires to buttons and motors

3.1 Soldering the 2 wires braid to the button. 4 braids for 4 buttons.
Please always connect the teeth on the same side to the wires ( as the red lines)

3.2 Soldering the 3 wires braid to the motor. 4 braids for 4 motors.

Cut the plastic end of the motors and solder the 3 wires with the braid. It would be easier for later soldering if you separate the color of wire for GND, 5V, and signal.