Xcott Craver built a fully electronic anglo concertina that replaces bellows with a load cell. The two rigid wooden sides measure compression force directly, translating physical squeeze into expressive dynamics without any moving air chamber.
The keys are Cherry MX switches with custom keycaps on a pair of PCBs. A Teensy 4.0 drives the whole instrument. A USB extension cable handles strain relief so a yanked connector does not kill a performance mid-song.
What makes the full build document worth reading is the detail on how bellows pressure maps to MIDI expression, and how Craver solved the ergonomic problem of making a rigid chassis feel like a real concertina under the hands. The video of it playing Petunia's March is the proof of concept.
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