A team of researchers have used CT imaging to extremely accurately reproduce a 1704 Stradivarius violin. The team, consisting of a radiologist and two professional violin makers, put the violin through a 64-detector CT acquiring more than 1,000 individual images, a 3D volume rendering of which is shown above. They then used Osirix to transform the DICOM image file into stereolithograph files of the scroll and front and back plates. These files were then fed into a CNC (computer numerically controlled) machine that carved nearly exact copies into maple back plates, spruce front plates and maple scrolls. The resulting parts were assembled, varnished by hand and shown at a press conference at the RSNA 2011.
Dr. Sirr, the team radiologist and an amateur violinist, first scanned a violin with CT out of curiosity over twenty years ago. Together with Waddle, one of the violin makers, over the years he has scanned more than 100 violins—including 29 valuable instruments pre-dating 1827—and other stringed instruments to better understand their composition. CT has been useful in measuring wood density, size and shapes, thickness graduation and volume measurements as well as providing detailed analysis of damage and repair.
Press release: Researchers Use CT to Recreate Stradivarius Violin…
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