Posted by Chuck(G) on April 05, 2001 at 12:34:04:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: shaping spatulas posted by Rick Denney on April 05, 2001 at 10:33:10:
Another thought...granted, the finger is a wondrous device that can accomodate movement over a varied range. But just TRY moving your finger so that the tip describes a reverse arc. Hard, isn't it? And yet that's the path that conventional paddles move in.
I don't think a redesign of a tuba would be required. The paddle mechanism on a rotary is elevated above the corpus somewhat anyway; an extra half-inch or so isn't going to make much of a difference.
I'm not angling for a major actuator redesign like rack-and-pinion, or cable, or roller chain, or timing belt, or taut-band linkages, though they might be an improvement. Just a rethink on the ergonomics of the matter.
Besides, why aren't paddles made of stainless steel...