MIT Uses 3D Printing to Recreate Ancient Instruments

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April 5, 2026 News 9589

MIT and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, have partnered to produce playable replicas of ancient instruments from the museum’s collection using CT scanning, vibration measurement, and 3D printing technology.

The team used CT scanning to capture internal and external dimensions of the instruments, combining this data with non-destructive vibration and acoustic testing to create digital acoustic models. Physical replicas were produced by converting 3D printed copies into plaster mold negatives and then slip-casting them.

To date, the team has scanned approximately 30 instruments, with a target of reaching 100. At an event late last year, they successfully demonstrated a playable replica of a Paracas whistle from Peru, dating back to 600–175 BCE. In the future, the team plans to collaborate with luthiers to replicate wooden instruments using old-growth wood.

According to the museum, this research aims to protect the original artifacts while allowing audiences to hear and experience these ancient instruments in the way they were originally intended.