<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type = content=text/html;charset=iso-8859-1> <META content="MSHTML 5.50.4134.600" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>Well, there's rather a lot that can be done to 'improve' the piano = and bring it into the 20th century (no, that's not a misprint -- we can = worry about the 21st century after we get the piano up to the last one). Just what = did you have in mind?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What have you done and where are you going with this?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Regards,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Del</DIV> <DIV>Delwin D Fandrich<BR>Piano Designer & Builder<BR>Hoquiam, Washington  USA<BR>E.mail:  <A href="mailto:pianobuilders@olynet.com">pianobuilders@olynet.com</A><BR>= Web Site:  <A href="http://pianobuilders.olynet.com/">http://pianobuilders.olynet.com= /</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=smissoum@aoe.vt.edu = href="mailto:smissoum@aoe.vt.edu">Samy Missoum</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> April 18, 2001 1:28 = PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> General = information</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Dear piano professionals,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I am a researcher in Mechanics/ Mechanical = Engineering and more precisely in what we call "Structural Optimization". </FONT><FONT = size=2>Structural Optimization is for example to achieve the minimum = weight of a structure (let's say a piano) still satisfying some stiffness = requirements. There are some techniques and computer tools which allow to find those = "optimal designs".</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Well, beside my research I am a passionate amateur = pianist and I would love to apply my research to the design and improvement = of  pianos.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>That's where you guys can come into picture and = help me to define what can be "optimized" in a piano. I already have some ideas = like minimizing the weight of the cast iron frame, improving the hammer = mechanism etc... There might be some need in accurately modeling the structural = behavior of the piano too.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I am open to any idea or hint about what could = possibly done on a piano to improve it.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Thanks very much for your time.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Sincerly,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Samy Missoum</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Research Associate.<BR>Aerospace = and Ocean Engineering Department.<BR>Virginia Polytechnic = Institute.<BR>Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061. USA.<BR>Tel : (540) 231 - 2046<BR>Fax : (540) 231 - 9632</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>