CTE Advanced Studies

The MicroClamp

By: Alyeldin Aly

03/6/2026

Define the Problem

Topic Brainstorming Process

Possible Topics:

Music - Problems that could happen while playing an instrument or producing a song

Swimming - Problems that occur during swim workouts or swim meets

Driving - Any car problems or issues with driving the car

Working out - Any problems that come up when lifting weights or using machines

Final Decision: Music, because my expertise in music exceeds my expertise in the other topics, so I would be able to do my best work in music.

Identifying Problems

Cost of instruments
Capos and picks are easily lost
Guitars go out of tune
Instruments take too long to learn
It is difficult to record a guitar properly
Guitars don't have suitable microtonal options

Problem Statement

Playing microtones on a guitar is either too expensive, too inconvenient, or can damage the guitar. This problem affects guitar players, typically jazz players, students, teachers, and music schools as well. This problem is especially prevalent in Western countries where there is a lack of microtones in music. This problem happens whenever somebody tries to play a song that involves microtones. This problem affects at least 50,000 people.

Data Collected

Research Based Justification

The cheapest microtonal guitars cost $850, while average guitars cost $250. The only other alternative solution is fretlets, but they must be glued onto the fretboard. Wood that is glued together reports damage caused in over 95% of removals. Furthermore, 80% of musicians reported they would be interested in playing microtones, showing that the microtonal market can still grow.

Criteria List

Can play desired microtones with 10 cents or less of inaccuracy
It costs under $30 to buy a pack for a 20-Fret guitar
Can attach them to the first 15 frets in 1.5 minutes or less
Product average lifespan exceeds a year

Constraints List

Project must be complete before 04/29/2026
It costs under $25 to produce a pack for a 20-Fret guitar
Individual clamp frets can be no thicker than .5 inches
Weighs less than 5 pounds per pack for a 20 fret guitar

Generate Concepts

Prior Solutions Research

Brainstorm Solutions Sketches

50 Cent Interval, Capo Grip

Simplest design. This design would allow players to play quartertones (50 cent intervals) and would grip onto guitars using a capo grip

Pros

Uses familiar grips
Fast to attach
Durable

Cons

May get in the way of hand
Limited microtonal options
Hard to make

25 Cent Interval, Shoe Lace Strap

This design would allow guitar players to play 25 cent intervals on the guitar and would strap onto the guitar using a shoelace.

Pros

More microtonal options
Easy to find replacement shoelaces
Laces don't interfere with playing

Cons

Slow to attach
Space between frets may be too small

SelectingDesign-Matrix_AlyeldinA.xlsx

Decision Matrix

Final Decision: 33 Cent Belt Strap. The Microtonal Strap design will use a D ring belt to grip onto the guitar and give the player the option to play microtones that are 33 or 66 cents above/below the traditional notes. This was picked because it had the highest score, scoring an 8.3 due to it being easy to make and remaining convenient for the customer.

CTE Advanced Studies Research Paper

Research Paper

Develop a Solution

Technical Drawings

3D Model/Prototype Assembly

Dimensions as shown in above drawings

Exploded view

Doesn't need to be assembled in any specific order

Build Plans

Materials Needed:

PLA

Belt Set

A guitar

Skills needed:

Guitar playing skills

Knowledge on microtonal intervals

3D Printing skills

Tools needed:

3D Printer

Project Feedback Review

After reviewing my feedback the most common feedback I recieved was that this design already exists, they didn't understand how it works or that my presentation was too short. The most common strengths of the project were that my model was really good and that they would love to be able to use it. My design does not already exist. After reading my feedback I double checked and there is still no strap that allows guitarists to play microtones. Many people said they didn't understand my presentation, but I assume that's because they don't know how guitars work. So during the final AOE presentation I plan to better explain how a guitar works normally and what my design changes. For my real presentation I also plan to be better prepared than my last presentation.

Construct/Test Prototype

*Redesign

After attaching tiny fretlets on my guitar I realized that 33 cent intervals would not work as they would get in the way of each other, and are spaced too closely to play anything. Due to this problem I switched back to a 50 cent interval fret.

Test Plan

Safety Hazards

Concern 1: The fret could be too sharp and hurt other people

Solution: Make sure that the fret isn't too sharp at any one point.

Concern 2: It could break into sharp pieces

Solution: Make sure that the material used is strong and that the design is structurally stable.

Data Collection Plan

Criteria 1: Pitch must play within 10 cents of desired microtones

Data Collection Method: Use a guitar tuning app to check whether that mitch is in the range

Criteria 2: It costs under $30 to buy a pack for a 20-Fret guitar

Data Collection Method: Calculate the cost to produce a pack by adding cost of materials. If it is under $25 then the product is successful.

Criteria 3: Can attach them to the first 15 frets in 1.5 minutes or less

Data Collection method: Time myself attaching microtonal strap once and multiply that number by 15. If number is under 1.5 minutes then task was done successfully.

Prototype Test Plan

Step 1: After building the prototype, add the total cost of materials purchased to see if criteria 3 was met

Step 2: Start a timer and attach the fretlet to the first fret by tying it down with the D-ring belt. Record time it takes to tie down the fret.

Step 4: Leave the MicroClamp on the fifth fret and press down on the first string after the fourth fret.

Step 5: Detect the pitch played using a guitar tuner app. The pitch played should be G# + 50 cents.

Testing Plan Results

To measure criteria 1: Take the pitch that was recorded and calculate the distance between G# + 33 Cents and the recorded pitch. If it is under 10 cents the criteria has been met

To measure criteria 2: After calculating the total cost of materials, if it is under 25$ then the criteria has been met.

To measure criteria 3: After timing yourself attatching and removing the MicroClutch. If you can attatch the MicroClutch in under 6 seconds the criteria has been met.

Data Collection

Criteria 1: Quantitative, measurs pitch in cents

Criteria 2: Quantitative, measures cost in dollars

Criteria 3: Quantitative, measures time in minutes

Data form

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9QFufGGvaQxZC_0NONA7N0TJVEilmMNyzuDOLr-lCewwSsA/viewform?usp=dialog

Original Printed Model

Cutting Belt to fit Microtonal Attatchment

Hot Glue Belt to hold D-rings

Hot Glue Belt to both sides of Microtonal Attachment

Microtonal Attachment Breaks! End of V1

New design!

V1 Criteria 1 test.mp4

V1 Testing: Criteria 1

Repeatedly throughout the video when the microtone is played it played within the G# +40 to A - 40 cent range. Timestamps: 0:20, 0:24, 0:33.

Criteria 1 Met

V1 Testing: Criteria 2

Since the 3D Print had a volume of 1.02 cm³ it will have a mass of 1.02x1.25= 1.28 g. To convert this into a dollar amount 1000 g of pla cost $20 so 1.28 grams would cost about ¢3.

D-Rings cost approximately $1.25

1 Inch wide cotton belts cost about $0.40 per foot. I used one foot of the belt, which costed $0.40

0.03+1.25+0.40 = $1.68 per MicroClamp

1.68x12= $20.16 total

$20.16 < $25

Criteria 2 Met

V1 Testing: Criteria 3

While trying to tie belts onto guitar neck for the first time the attatchment broke.

Criteria 3 failed

Moving Forward... V2 Construction

After my original design broke after attempting to fit the belt through the strings it broke. Originally I thought this meant I had to remake my project, but this accident allowed me to completely change my design. Instead of having to find a way to fit the belt through the strings I could just place the attatchment between the strings and have one side of belt wrap around the neck. This makes it much easier to attatch the attatchment, but it does make it easier to remove the attatchment.

To sum it up V2 was made through an accident caused by V1, but it held much better results than V1.

V2 Criteria 1.mp4

V2 Testing: Criteria 1

Repeatedly throughout the video when the microtone is played it played within the G# +40 to A - 40 cent range.

Criteria 1 Met

V2 Testing: Criteria 2

This new 3D print had a lighter volume of 0.74 cm³ and it will have a mass of 0.74x1.25 = 0.925 g. To convert this into dollars 1000 g of PLA costs $20 so 0.925 grams would cost about ¢2.

D-Ring costs approximately $0.75, since you only need one from now on

1 Inch wide cotton belts cost about $0.40 per foot. I used 6 inches of the belt, which costed $0.20

0.02+0.75+0.20 = $0.97 per MicroClamp

0.97x12= $11.64 total

$11.64 < $25

Criteria 2 Met

V2 Criteria 3.mp4

V2 Testing: Criteria 3

This video shows me attaching the micro clamp in slightly under 6 seconds.

6x15=90 seconds or 1.5 minutes. Since the video is under 6 seconds that means that it would take under 1.5 minutes to attach 15 MicroClamps onto a guitar.

Criteria 3 Met

V2 Criteria 3 A2.mov

Final Prototype - V2

When used by me:

Criteria 1: In the V2 Testing: Criteria 1 you can see me hit the string 6 times with each hit maintaining the 10 cent interval from the desired microtone giving it a 100% success rate when I use it

Criteria 2: In the V2 Tesing: Criteria 2 section you can see that the total cost to produce 15 fretlets would be $11.64, which is far less than $25. The cost will remain the same regardless of the trial so that is a 100% success rate.

Criteria 3: In the V2 Testing: Criteria 3 you can see attatching the microclamp onto the guitar in under 6 seconds. Giving it a 100% success rate.

When used by others:

Criteria 1: Results stay the same regardless of whose using it

Criteria 2: Results stay the same regardless of whose using it.

Criteria 3: In the video to the left you can see the microtonal attatchment being put onto the guitar in about 5 seconds thereby giving criteria 3 a 100% success rate.

Evaluate Solutions

Iteration Charts

Written Data Analysis

Criteria 1: In both iterations I used the same fret, so the pitch played remained the same in both iterations. The pitch played remain within the 10 cent criteria, but this is to be expected as even perfectly tuned guitars will at best consistently play within 3 cents of the desired tone.

Criteria 2: In iteration 1, the cost to produce 15 MicroClamps was $20.16. In my second iteration I managed to slice the price down to $11.64, which is nearly half of the original price. This decrease in price was caused by nearly halfing the materials it would take to produce a single MicroClamp. This would allow me to sell MicroClamps at a much more affordable price than before.

Criteria 3: In the first iteration, I could not manage to attach the MicroClamp onto the guitar neck, and the MicroClamp broke. This resulted in the creation of the second iteration, which was able to clamp onto the guitar in approximately 5.8 seconds, performing much better than the first iteration.

Individual Reflection

In my first iteration I quickly learned that the belt of the MicroClamp was too thick to fit between the neck and the strings. Ignoring this I decided to try to attach the Microclamp onto the guitar regardless and it broke. Luckily, this breakage point naturally fixed my problem by allowing one side to conveniently be placed onto the guitar while the other could grapple on to the opposite side without needing another belt. This allowed my cost and time to attach estimates to heavily decrease when I created my second iteration. This taught me that problems within your design may correct themselves. This happened after my MicroClamp broke and the remaining pieces worked better in every way and removed the unnecessary parts of my design. This also taught me that I shouldn't expect my first attempt to be the best one. I will use this information to continue bettering the design of the MicroClamp by updating the second iteration to better fit a one sided belt and not a 2 sided belt instead. I also will continue to experiment with different microtonal intervals including 33 cent intervals and adjustable intervals.

Page updated

Report abuse