Cymbals Before the
metal castings are sent to drummers
everywhere, from the local high school bands to the New York Philharmonic, each cymbal is put through a thorough pitch analysis to ensure quality and acoustic resonance.
Cymbals can be made via several different metalworking methods, but casting has been used the longest and remains a market leader.
Drums
Aluminum may not be the first material that comes to mind when you think of drums, but it plays a crucial role
in keeping a drum
in tune. Diecast aluminum com- ponents connect the drumhead (the springy surface that is struck to produce sound) to the wood body. Most drums feature top and bottom rims that are connect- ed by threaded hardware that can be tightened or loosened to change the drum’s tune. The two rims act as a suspension system to keep pressure off the drum’s shell and head. Aluminum die castings are preferred because they are consistent, lightweight, cost effective and machinable. The die-
MELTING POINT
casting operation can produce perfectly round rims with a relatively small amount of labor. The castings also hold up to the demanding physical stress that comes with being a part of the percussion sec- tion.
Pianos
Since the mid-19th century, metal cast- ings have been an integral part of grand pianos. The plate supporting the strings in the frame is cast iron.
Cast iron’s high compressive strength withstands the inward pressure created by the piano’s strings, improving tone and consistency. The plate, which can weigh up to 400 lbs., begins just behind the keyboard and stretches to the rear of the piano. TWhile the large sand casting sounds simple enough, call- ing it a plate belies the intricacy that goes into the engineered component.
“In terms of size and com- plexity, the plate has some very interesting challenges from a casting standpoint,” according to Bob Berger, director of customer sat- isfaction, Steinway and Sons, Long Island City, N.Y. “With a relatively imbal- anced shape, it has a tendency to move during cooling.” That
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