Musician Laura test drives 3D printed violin

A MUSICIAN from Newton Abbot is playing a special violin created through pioneering technology.

Laura Powell, 15, has played the first 'printed' violin made from 3D technology at the University of Exeter.

Laura (pictured) appeared on news channel CNN as part of a feature about the violin and how it was made.

The violin was developed by the engineering technology centre at the city university.

The violin was manufactured on a machine called a P800. It can create parts at temperatures up to 385°C and uses high-performance polymers to create products, building them up one layer at a time — a type of 3D printing technology.

It is one of only three of its kind in the world and the only one that is fully strung.

Laura is a student of South West Music School and is in her final year at The Maynard School, both in Exeter.

She has been playing the violin since she was eight years old and gained grade eight distinction last year.

She also has the same level distinction for piano and hopes to study music in the future.

She said: "I feel very privileged that South West Music School asked me to try out this new kind of violin. Surprisingly, it sounded really nice."

Music school chief executive and artistic director Lisa Tregale said: "The filming was a really interesting experience.

"It was an honour to have been asked to select a student to play the violin."