Sustainable Hand-Crafted Keyboards

The cardboard walnut synth demonstrates a handmade approach to instrument building by pairing a cardboard body reinforced with fiberglass and a steam-bent walnut frame with a fully functional electronic system. The keyboard features individually cut wooden keys mounted on simple pivots, each linked to a flexible printed circuit that sends signals to a microcontroller. A compact computing module processes the inputs through open-source synthesizer software, allowing the unit to operate as a playable musical device despite its unconventional construction. The layout and proportions follow standard keyboard dimensions so the instrument functions like a traditional tabletop synth.

The exterior shell uses shaped cardboard panels and laminated fiberglass to create a rigid housing that supports the keys and electronic components. Walnut detailing forms the perimeter structure and includes patterned cutouts that reference speaker elements. The project highlights how common materials and basic fabrication methods can produce a functional electronic instrument that departs from typical plastic-bodied synthesizers while preserving familiar interaction and sound capability.

Image Credit: Gabriel Mejia-Estrella