Design progress

[MSaturn]

My cabinet is now locked in. I've modelled it in google sketchup, and I like the look.

In the panel nearest the viewer will be an 8" passive radiator, and there will be drivers on the baffle, of course. The rear baffle, sides, and top will have 3/4" multi-layer dampening, and the box will be lightly stuffed, with heavy stuffing in front of the rear baffle. The box should contribute absolutely nothing.

I fully intend this to be the highest-performing design I've ever created. I'm really looking forward to getting my baffles from lunchmoney. :D

Link to the full-size image is here. (http://1000by1000.net/images/speakerrender2.jpg) My hosting company didn't like me posting things directly to forums.

Also, that is the real color I'm going for. I've got some premium automotive-grade lambo yellow (not the official, but clone) paint, and I fully intend to use it, muaha.

[Brewski]

Are you going to have the sides rabbited as well? From the drawing it looks like only the top and bottom have a surface to seal against.

Take it easy
Jay

[Steve Henry]

My cabinet is now locked in. I've modelled it in google sketchup, and I like the look.

Also, that is the real color I'm going for. I've got some premium automotive-grade lambo yellow (not the official, but clone) paint, and I fully intend to use it, muaha.

+1 on the Lambo paint. I've got some Ferrari Red that I'm saving for the right design.:D

[greywarden]

Looks... uh ... Stiff ;)

Lambo yellow will be sweet, like that one brand that makes the enormous bookshelf speakers... Ah! The Eventus Metis...

[Wolf]

I like yellow speakers...

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/wolf_teeth_speaker/Mn-14/Sunset.jpg

Later,
Wolf

[lunchmoney]

I just finished machining up the baffles for these... they came out great (if I may say so)...

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg210/djnelsen1/ed843e44.jpg

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg210/djnelsen1/5d104747.jpg

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg210/djnelsen1/0e0e7842.jpg

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg210/djnelsen1/81734a18.jpg

[Mark65]

I just finished machining up the baffles for these... they came out great (if I may say so)...

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg210/djnelsen1/ed843e44.jpg

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg210/djnelsen1/5d104747.jpg

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg210/djnelsen1/0e0e7842.jpg

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg210/djnelsen1/81734a18.jpg

Boy, did they ever!:)

Good stuff!

Mark

[captainobvious99]

Looking very, very clean.
One question- Since you chamfered the whole diameter on the back, are you going to have any issues with screws/mounting the woofers? How do you plan to secure them?

Looks great so far !

[mtmpenn]

Is that a roundover or thumbnail pattern on the vertical edges?

[lunchmoney]

roundover

[MrkCrwly]

Now those are clean cutouts and recesses. Gonna have to say I am impressed.

[MSaturn]

New renderings as things go along.

3/4 assembled view (http://1000by1000.net/images/new34.jpg)

Drivers exploded (hurr) (http://1000by1000.net/images/newdrivers.jpg)

Interior detail (http://1000by1000.net/images/newdetail.jpg)

I really like this sketchup program.

Yes, I've added more braces. Yes, it's totally overkill - but I'm aiming to totally eliminate box contributions, here. Don't mind the 'gaps' - that's because I can't run double precision on a gaming card.

I don't think I'm going to use the yellow after all - I've been looking at 'metal' wilsonart laminates and I think they could work well.

I experimented a bit with PCD this afternoon and discovered a passive verison of this design is not impossible. It's not to the absurdly linear quality of the active version, but it comes pretty close.

[gregbegland]

New renderings as things go along.

3/4 assembled view (http://1000by1000.net/images/new34.jpg)

Drivers exploded (hurr) (http://1000by1000.net/images/newdrivers.jpg)

Interior detail (http://1000by1000.net/images/newdetail.jpg)

I really like this sketchup program.

Yes, I've added more braces. Yes, it's totally overkill - but I'm aiming to totally eliminate box contributions, here. Don't mind the 'gaps' - that's because I can't run double precision on a gaming card.

I don't think I'm going to use the yellow after all - I've been looking at 'metal' wilsonart laminates and I think they could work well.

I experimented a bit with PCD this afternoon and discovered a passive verison of this design is not impossible. It's not to the absurdly linear quality of the active version, but it comes pretty close.

Have you checked on laminate prices? Pretty steep for the nice quality stuff like metals or basically anything that approaches a realistic finish. I thought I might use the bamboo look-a-like, but the price per sheet changed my mind back to the real thing in plywood.

Greg

[r-carpenter]

ahhh use real metal. Laminates suck.;)
Clean work btw. I'd laminate fist before driver cutouts.

[blue934]

what will the three layers of dampening consist of?

david

[MSaturn]

Laminate sheets (enough to cover both speakers with ease) are about $60 at Lowes, which is very reasonable considering their quality. I'm still debating.

I'm thinking of this (http://samples.wilsonart.com/p-376-satin-brushed-smoke-aluminum-6281.aspx) for the sides and front baffle - and I then a have a full roll of the cherry veneer PE sells to do the top, back, and bottom in one continuous piece. I think that'd be very modern (and possibly swedish-looking).

The dampening is whatever makes up the multi-layer material PE sells (http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=260-530), unless someone can recommend something better that doesn't totally break the bank. I'm already above my usual cost/material point.

Also, to lunchmoney's credit, I think it's great how similar the cut baffles look to the renderings. That never happens when I go near power tools.

[emilime75]

Laminate sheets (enough to cover both speakers with ease) are about $60 at Lowes, which is very reasonable considering their quality. I'm still debating.



I could be wrong, but that $ might only apply to what they keep in stock and some of the standard colors and finishes. Prices go up for any of the "special" colors, patterns, finishes. Some of those could be quite costly.

[emilime75]

It might be an illusion, but it looks like one of the baffle bottoms is cut at an angle. Is there a reason for that, or am I just seeing something that isn't there?

[Face]

The dampening is whatever makes up the multi-layer material PE sells (http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=260-530), unless someone can recommend something better that doesn't totally break the bank. I'm already above my usual cost/material point.

I don't believe you'll find anything better for the $. Blackhole 5 and No Rez are superior IMO, but I wouldn't buy either unless they were on sale or someone's surplus for cheap.

Excellent work Lunchmoney!

[lunchmoney]

It might be an illusion, but it looks like one of the baffle bottoms is cut at an angle. Is there a reason for that, or am I just seeing something that isn't there?

Just an illusion. Dramatic camera angle.

[lunchmoney]

Looking very, very clean.
One question- Since you chamfered the whole diameter on the back, are you going to have any issues with screws/mounting the woofers? How do you plan to secure them?

Looks great so far !

Still plenty of remaining material for good 'ol wood screws.

MSaturn, drill pilot holes, choose the bit carefully... Slightly smaller than the core of the screw.

[gregbegland]

I could be wrong, but that $ might only apply to what they keep in stock and some of the standard colors and finishes. Prices go up for any of the "special" colors, patterns, finishes. Some of those could be quite costly.

I was thinking the same thing. The piece I got a quote for was closer to $140 per sheet special ordered, but all of the standard laminates WERE closer to $60/sheet. This was at Lowes, not HD.

Greg

[r-carpenter]

I was thinking the same thing. The piece I got a quote for was closer to $140 per sheet special ordered, but all of the standard laminates WERE closer to $60/sheet. This was at Lowes, not HD.

Greg
I assume you guys are aware and considered prior to ordering, different thicknesses of laminate and price/thickness relationship as well?

[emilime75]

I assume you guys are aware and considered prior to ordering, different thicknesses of laminate and price/thickness relationship as well?

Typically, there are really only 2 choices when it comes to laminate thickness, at least as far as Wilsonart goes. There's the general purpose laminate, which is about 1.2mm and then there is the vertical surface stuff at about .7mm. The vertical surface stuff is made for very light duty use and where nothing will ever be placed on it, like on a flat, horizontal counter top for example. Formica has 3 grades(thicknesses). Grade 10 is for general purpose applications, grade 12 is a combination for general/vertical surface applications which allow for bends up to a 1/2" radius, and grade 20 is for vertical surface only. So, the answer is yes, the laminate thickness was considered as far as that the vertical surface stuff should not even be considered as an option. Also, Wilsonart tends to be a bit more brittle than other laminates so I wouldn't recommend it easily for the radiused corners on your baffles. The Formica grade 12 would be a better choice.

[MSaturn]

I ordered some wilsonart samples, so I'll be able to judge thickness and such then.

I'm not concerned about depth - I can always "shim" the drivers out with silicone washers and thick foam (to move them while maintaining their seal). This also provides some isolation from the baffle, which is beneficial.