College
College of Engineering and Polymer Science
Date of Last Revision
2026-05-06 06:31:13
Major
Computer Engineering
Honors Course
ELEN/CPEN 401+402
Number of Credits
5
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2026
Abstract
The traditional method of creating music box sheet music involves manually punching holes into a paper strip using a hand-operated hole punch. This process involves precise knowledge of each note’s location and the ability to achieve perfect accuracy for hours.
The goal of this system is to automate this process, significantly reducing the time required while greatly improving the accuracy of the resulting music box playback. The user simply uploads a MIDI file of their choice into a user-friendly application. Here, the file is modified based on the user’s needs and sent to an automated hole-punching system to punch the notes onto a paper strip. Paper is fed into a solenoid array, which punches holes corresponding to each note. Once the process is complete, the finished sheet is ready to be played on any standard 30-note music box.
This system expands the capabilities of traditional sheet music, enabling composers to create longer, more complex pieces more quickly and with greater precision. Additionally, these advantages make creating sheet music for music boxes more accessible to a wider range of users.
Research Sponsor
Michael Lichter
First Reader
Michael Lichter
Second Reader
Yan Zhang
Honors Faculty Advisor
Yilmaz Sozer
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Community Engaged Scholarship
No
Recommended Citation
Lewis, Chad; Murawski, Caleb; Smith, Zion; and Tibbs, Bryan, "Printer for Music Box" (2026). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 2178.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/2178
Included in
Electrical and Electronics Commons, Software Engineering Commons, VLSI and Circuits, Embedded and Hardware Systems Commons