# 3D-Printed Violins The Acoustic 'Hovalin' is an Accessible and Affordable Instrument By Cadhla Gray | Published 2015-11-03 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3dprinted-violin References: [3dprint](http://3dprint.com/103361/3d-printed-hovalin-violin/) & [hovalin](http://www.hovalin.com/buy/) Husband and wife, Matt and Kaitlyn Hovas, designed and created this [3D-printed violin](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/olivier-van-herpt-1) with painstaking effort and devotion. The 'Hovalin,' a merge in names of the designers and the instrument itself, evolved from a broom stick to a fully functional violin. As both of the designers were engineers, they each brought different software and design knowledge to the table. Kaitlyn was also a professional violinist, meaning she could provide feedback on every step along the way. The final product proves that 3D-printers can truly make anything, even something as detailed and finicky as a [string instrument](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/harmoni). The next steps for the creators is to make a violin that is half and a quarter of the original size, in order to make [affordable instruments accessible for children](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smallscale-electric-guitars) as well. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.6/10 - Popularity: 16% | Activity: 25% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Multimedia](https://www.trendhunter.com/multimedia) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Affordable 3d-printed Instruments:** 3D-printing technology is enabling the creation of accessible and cost-effective musical instruments, disrupting the traditional instrument market. - **Merge of Design and Engineering:** The fusion of design and engineering expertise is leading to the development of innovative and functional 3D-printed instruments, revolutionizing the way instruments are created. - **Scaling Down Instruments for Children:** Developing smaller-sized 3D-printed violins is opening up opportunities to provide affordable and accessible instruments for children, introducing them to music at an early age. ### Who This Affects Most - **Music Instrument Manufacturing:** The music instrument manufacturing industry can capitalize on the disruptive innovation of 3D-printed instruments to expand their product offerings and reach new customers. - **3D Printing Technology:** The 3D printing technology industry can explore the potential of 3D-printed instruments as a niche market, developing specialized printers and materials for instrument production. - **Edtech and Music Education:** The education technology industry focused on music education can leverage the affordability and accessibility of 3D-printed instruments to enhance learning opportunities for students and encourage musical exploration. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [3D-Printed Carbon Cellos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3dprinted-carbon-cello.md) - [Low-Cost Electric Harp Instruments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/harp-e.md) - [3D-Printed Wooden Furniture Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/econitwood.md) - [Miniature Wine Glasses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/miniature-wine-glass.md) - [Accessible 3D Wood Printers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/digilab-3d20.md) - [Sustainable Hand-Crafted Keyboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/working-synth.md) - [Recycled Guitar Prototypes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cardboard-guitar-1.md) - [Acoustic Guitar Bows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pickaso-guitar-bow.md) - [Electronic String Instruments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/harmoni.md)