pBone®

pBone Music formulated an idea for a plastic trombone that would not only be lower cost and more durable than traditional brass instruments, but would also provide excellent sound quality and playability to be enjoyed by both professional musicians and children alike.

This musician-led company approached Optima to help it develop and perfect the all plastic ‘pBone’ and also design different ranges of professional standard plastic instrument on an ongoing basis.

Detailed CAD design and fully manufacturable injection moulding base engineering. Due to the exacting requirements of airflow, particular attention had to be paid to surface transitions, wall thicknesses and overall adherence to optimal interior surface shapes.

The product has been a phenomenal success, and has become the No.1 selling trombone worldwide, allowing a whole new generation to engage in the joy of playing. The pBone® and Optima were also featured as a centre spread article in Develop 3D magazine, which can be viewed the Develop 3D archive website.