3D printed waveguides

[TN Allen]

Talk to Matt Filkin, I've already done a good job of confusing him. You might also ask him how thick he recommends the guide be. It probably will be honeycomb, but he may have suggestions to save on filament and time. I do suggest we speak, perhaps while you are at Redrock. If he likes, I can send a file direct to him to look over before you sign your life away.

[TN Allen]

A follow up to #136:
The guide wall will be thinner and the honeycomb smaller, this saves filament and maintains rigidity. It's remarkable how "smart" 3D printers are, the honeycomb pattern specifications are "decided" by the MakerBot software.

[augerpro]

I found a makerspace at the Denver Public Library. They have a Lulzbot TAZ 4 3D printer and Makerbot Replicator (5th Generation) 3D printer.

[TN Allen]

Great! I'll do the file with a .2" wall thickness.

[TN Allen]

A link to a 3D printing demonstration, and probably a sales talk, that arrived in my mailbox:

http://www2.3dsystems.com/webmail/1004/728945012/181af5e517aaefc9a89cee9c0b991c215f05437a86842e6a782cb1d5cc48c25a

Sometimes these gatherings are informative, and this may be an opportunity for anyone interested in 3D printing to look closer and ask a few questions.

[augerpro]

Just got back from library. I have two projects with them, should take about a week to finish. They usually use PLA but ABS us available too, not sure what the advantages are for our use. PLA should be strong enough?

[TN Allen]

Augerpro, it's really great you're exploring this, I suspect the library personnel are pleased to have a patron with an interesting forward looking experimental project, what a resource for your community. If anyone else want files, or wants a variation on files discussed in this thread, I'll do what I can to assist.

Probably either filament will do. I don't recall what I used, but it was easily sanded to remove irregularities, which may be good if you want to sand the surface for smoothness.

[augerpro]

So the TangBand tweeter is promising. The faceplate and screen can be removed without disturbing the diaphragm. Everything is flat with screw holes for easy attachment. Only question is where to start the throat. You can see the surround is a flat piece of foam rubber, and is quite wide. The factory faceplate ends at the raised lip where the surround attaches to.

[TN Allen]

Was there an earlier version of this tweeter that PE sold a year or so ago? I think I bought a set, but am not at home to check.

Guides for these will be an interesting challenge, finding an appropriate throat configuration in particular may require some experimentation. It's unlikely it can easily be done, but it might be interesting to try the surround as a rubber continuation of the guide, rather than attached to the tweeter body.

[Mayhem13]

Given the SBAcoustics 26ADC's already class leading distortion and off axis response out to 20khz, my gut says this is going to be an amazing device once fitted and loaded to the proper waveguide. I wish I had the time to participate in this project but I'll keep checking in on progress from time to time.

[augerpro]

Agreed. That's why I wanted to focus on the SB tweeter first.

[ani_101]

Just got back from library. I have two projects with them, should take about a week to finish. They usually use PLA but ABS us available too, not sure what the advantages are for our use. PLA should be strong enough?

PlA is better, if the guide is not going to sit in extreme heat... It is strong and rigid enough.

I missed part of the thread... What guide are you printing and for which tweeter?

[augerpro]

Right now just testing the capabilities of the Library and working out the bugs. Once that is done it we'll be starting with 5" x 1" deep circular guide for the SB26.

[TN Allen]

I came across this photo(which I tried in several ways to reduce in size) on this website: http://www.monoandstereo.com/2015/05...akers-new.html

It might be interesting to try something similar with a 3D printed guide. Given what the price appears to be for the product in the photo, it certainly would be less expensive.

I'm wondering if there would be an advantage in this configuration for maintaining the drivers in the same plane, other than a possible advantage, there are probably many disadvantages.

[Sydney]

... there are probably many disadvantages.

I reckon
( wink ;) )