MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

[DDF]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

Ed is applying a few layers of CAE VB1x to the aluminum backed rubber that was applied to the walls. PE part number 268-256. Here's the first coat sitting and waiting to dry.

Did the similar: epoxy coated (insides though + corner fillets), damping layer, 2" baffles. You will be very happy with the result. Small/Med cabinets built this way are a non-factor IME.

[DjDisturbed]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

How are the outer baffles going to be covered (paint, leather, veneer, etc...)?
I just was trying to get an idea of what it was going to look like.
Btw, they look awesome already.

[Pete Schumacher]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

How are the outer baffles going to be covered (paint, leather, veneer, etc...)?
I just was trying to get an idea of what it was going to look like.
Btw, they look awesome already.

Ed's going to paint this particular set of baffles, and the cabinet veneered by DoubleTap. In a future version, he's going to build the outer baffle/WG from a piece of hardwood, curly narra, with the disc created from the woofer cutout, with the enclosure painted piano gloss black. And it's funny you mention leather . . . that's an option Ed and I have discussed for a year now.

[Pete Schumacher]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

Waveguides cut, and baffles readied for paint.



Inner baffle epoxy sealed.

[r-carpenter]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

did he cut the wave guide profile by hand?
Reason I asked is because I've ordered custom rosette cutter knifes that can be used in a large drill press with a designated head. Something to think about if this is going to be repeated.
Also, Pete, how does mounting the woofer behind the baffle with a bit of a round over like you have here, affect the FR? Do you have surface mounted vs rear mounted as shown here by any chance?
Thanks, R.

[Pete Schumacher]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

did he cut the wave guide profile by hand?
Reason I asked is because I've ordered custom rosette cutter knifes that can be used in a large drill press with a designated head. Something to think about if this is going to be repeated.
Also, Pete, how does mounting the woofer behind the baffle with a bit of a round over like you have here, affect the FR? Do you have surface mounted vs rear mounted as shown here by any chance?
Thanks, R.

He used a machine called a RadarCarve. Basically, a router on an arm that is controlled by a stylus you use to follow a pattern, in this case, a waveguide. It can be used to duplicate objects, like guitar patterns and such.

There's likely to be some FR variance due to the rear mounted woofer. I'm hoping it takes place in the stop band for the most part, based on the geometry of the configuration. Target is a 1KHz XO point, maybe just a tad lower, but not much, and thats about where you'd expect the woofer to begin beaming. The lower frequencies, which might "see" the rounded edge, will be quite a bit longer than the dimensions of that roundover. But that's all guesses on my part.

Problem is, I don't have the parts yet to take the measurements. Ed's building this in Detroit, and then sending it here to St. Louis for Ryan and I to finish. I dropped him the woofers to make sure he got a perfect fit. If we find we need to modify the baffle to fix a glaring problem, then you can bet we will. But I've got high hopes for this. ;)

[DoubleTap]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

I had my Seas W22EX mounted fairly similarly, and the measured FR below 1000hz was for all intent identical to being flush mounted ... so I'm not worried about it at all.

[Pete Schumacher]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

I've been told by Ed that the paint of choice is going to be a dark gray with metal flake, the same color as his truck.

Dark gray with metal flake . . . ties in real nice with the look of that Vifa cone.

[DoubleTap]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

I hope it's REAL dark grey, or else it limits veneer options that's work with it.

[Pete Schumacher]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

I hope it's REAL dark grey, or else it limits veneer options that's work with it.

Ed says it's almost black. Paint color is carbon metallic.

[Pete Schumacher]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

Ready for the epoxy seal coat.

[D, Rose]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

Has anyone here tried to clamp drivers in place to reduce mechanical coupling to the cabs? How effective was it?

[davepellegrene]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

Has anyone here tried to clamp drivers in place to reduce mechanical coupling to the cabs? How effective was it?

Yes, I've done several. Not sure if it really made much difference. From my experience so far any material that will hold the speaker in place has to be solid enough that it allows vibrations to get threw. To truly decouple them I've only found a couple of materials that will work. One is a thick layer of silicone. I'm working on a sub structure to mount the woofers to that I'm trying to suspend from the cabinet. So far I have one that seems to be working pretty well just haven't' had time to work on it lately with my ski season if full swing.

Here is a pic of one that I clamped in place with a rubber gasket to the baffle and rubber between the clamps. Not the best pic but the only one I can find that shows it.



Here is a pic that shows a constraint layer between the front and rear baffles. The clamp screws are only into the inner baffle. If you can find a flexible enough material to put between the driver and the baffle it would work pretty well. The rubber seems to transfer to much vibration. Something flexible like an 1/8 layer of silicone or a soft flexible rubber would work well.



Hope that gives you some ideas.
Dave

[D, Rose]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

Thanks Dave! I bet we could come up with something!

[davepellegrene]

Re: MiniByzy (Mini Byzantium) Build Thread

Thanks Dave! I bet we could come up with something!

I'm sure we can. What I've found is the woofers need to be mounted to something solid for the energy to transfer to and dissipate from. Otherwise the energy stays in the driver frame. So that is were I came up with a sub structure to dissipate the energy and it is easier to decouple from the baffle then a driver. I'll send you picks when I take some. I'm also working on some very solid light weight cabinets that I think are going to help dissipate energy. I've done some sample pieces and have one cab almost built.

If nothing it's a lot of fun learning.

Dave