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| Before continuing this description of my profiler/shaper
tools I want to explain the close tolerances that have been required
in all of the critical parts. Depending on the part, all of the parts
are within .002 of an inch or less. Three thousandths of an inch is
the equivalent of the thickness of a human hair. Many parts have a
required tolerance that is in ten-thousandths of an inch. A ten thousandth
of an inch is one tenth the thickness of the cellophane wrapping on
a pack of cigarettes. To attain these tolerances, practically all
of the parts are ground. Grinding is the best way of machining hardened
parts to close tolerances. Each part is then measured separately in
a laboratory before being accepted in the machine or shaper assembly.
I have also rechecked parts with the measuring equipment I have assembled.
For example, although it is not required, I am able to measure in
millionths of an inch. |
| There is a strong case to be made for producing
reed blanks that are precise, symmetrical, and consistent. Profiled
and shaped cane, whether purchased or made on one’s own equipment,
is finished to a certain point. Whereas the maker of a successful
hand made reed lacks the ability to reproduce it in order to repeat
his success, the precision of the Herzberg Shaper/Profiler enables
the reed maker to repeat all of the measurements of a successful reed.
When the cane is made into a reed blank and the tip is clipped, the
early trials of the reed reveal for the first time the quality of
cane and the subsequent final trimming the player requires. The level
playing field that each reed maker can produce with this equipment
facilitates the reedmaker’s decision whether to continue with
a reed blank, change the adjustment(s), or go on to another blank.
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| The designs of this profiler and the shaper are
such that an infinite number of variables in trimming patterns can
be accomplished with no loss of precision, symmetry, or consistency
over a long periods of time. The profilers that I produced over twenty
years ago are still functioning as they did when they were new. The
tools I am presenting now have the same requirements as those of the
past. The differences are certain improvements that advance the versatility
of the trimming patterns. These advancements can be retrofitted to
my earlier profilers of twenty years ago. |
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