DESIGN SQUAD at Maker Faire | PVC Pipe Organ | PBS

http://www.pbs.org/designsquad
DESIGN SQUAD Host Nate Ball and contestant Deysi Melgar are at Maker Faire 2007 in Austin, Texas, looking for the most creative engineering and coolest inventions they can find. Maker Faire is a "two-day, family-friendly event that celebrates arts, crafts, engineering, science projects and the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset."

The "Pipe Dream" organ uses PVC pipes and electrically generated sound waves to pump out some serious sound. Nate and Deysi talk with maker Craig Newswanger about how this inventive instrument works.

Borrowing from the hugely popular reality competition format, DESIGN SQUAD is aimed at kids and people of all ages who like reality or how-to television. Its goal is to get viewers excited about engineering!

Over 13 episodes, eight high school contestants tackle engineering challenges for an actual client—from building a machine that makes pancakes to a "summer sled" for LL Bean. In the final episode, the top two scorers battle for the Grand Prize—a $10,000 college scholarship from the Intel® Foundation. Check your local listings to find out when you can watch DESIGN SQUAD on your local PBS station.

For more about DESIGN SQUAD, check out the official website at
http://www.pbs.org/designsquad

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• PBS
• Design
• Squad
• WGBH
• Maker
• Faire
• Austin
• Make
• Boston
• Engineering
• DIY
• PVC
• Pipe
• Organ
• Music
• Instrument
• Technology
• Inventio

[jonnda]

@gondolacrescent5 I think if he had actually made an organ out of pvc that generates sound like a regular pipe organ, the tone produced would be okay. Some people make 'tin' whistles out of pvc and they sound nice.

[MetaView7]

I love it

[gondolacrescent5]

The only place I use PVC in pipe organs is for wind conveyance to pneumatic appliances contained within. I used to solder together galvanized ductwork for that--but it required the use of lead solder, hydrochloric acid and very large hot soldering irons--kinda dangerous. I'll take my chances with PVC--but not for organ pipes-yech-what a horrible sound. Interesting, practical demonstration of physics etc.,-excellent!

[IdiotTelevision]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. Evil pvc pipes leaking harmful radon gasses into our homes while we sleep. Everyone cut out their plumbing or die!!

[falaqdad15]

use ABS then!!!! OR MABYEE WORK WITH VENTILATION!!!!!!

[Aboxatax]

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) products are everywhere and are dangerous to our health and environment from start to finish - in the factory, at home, and in the trash - releasing poisonous chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects. Don't be an idiot.

[srmcconnell]

Imagine this hooked up to a fully functional synthesizer...

[odi22865]

I want one to :D

[HenrikRagnarsson]

Cool :-D

[mnentwig]

I want one. In a flightcase.