Hi folks,

I have a 16" Orphenion disc musical box that is badly in need of a new
set of dampers.  Because the box is of a relatively uncommon design I
doubt very much that these can be obtained from the usual sources and
expect that they will have to be made.  (Needless to say, if you know
of a source, please speak up!)

The question is how to go about it, and I'm seeking ideas.

The originals are made from flat steel shim stock, 0.25 mm (.01") thick
and with outside dimensions 12.2 cm long by 3 cm wide (4.8" X 1.1").

Now comes the hard part.

(I have simplified this a bit, but the essentials are covered.)

The finished set of dampers looks very much like a fairly finely-spaced
musical box comb cut from shim stock.

The slots between the "teeth" are 0.33 mm wide (0.013") and each
"tooth" is 2 cm long (2/3 the width of the "comb").

Each "tooth" is 1.6mm (0.063") wide at the base.

A notch 1 cm (0.39") long is cut into the same side of each tooth,
leaving each with a "tip" 1 mm (0.038") wide.

The final appearance is that of a very thin comb with flat-tipped
step-shaped teeth.

I would appreciate any suggestions as to how I might fabricate (or get
fabricated) such an item and still have the whole thing come out flat.

I have thought of using a slitting disc, but this would require that
the "comb" be well-supported top and bottom necessitating a lot of
extra grinding to cut through the supporting medium which would
probably have to be of steel.  (I supppose, though, this would leave me
with a jig from which I could then make endless copies ?)

Another thought comes to mind and that is laser cutting.  Anybody with
experience on this, costs, etc. ?

Any ideas appreciated.

Jim, in Sechelt,¶
on the Sunshine Coast¶
of Beautiful British Columbia.