You certainly could use that to build up a curved box -- there is/was a fellow in eastern europe building Hedlund Horns that way.
One of the strengths of plywood is that alternating layers have grain running in perprndicular direction. You would loose that. With the "gentle curve" like on these you might be able to bend a 3 layer (4mm) BB ply (i don't even know if you can buy it this thin). Even if you could only do it in one direction you'd get a third of the plys perpendicular.
dave
One of the strengths of plywood is that alternating layers have grain running in perprndicular direction. You would loose that. With the "gentle curve" like on these you might be able to bend a 3 layer (4mm) BB ply (i don't even know if you can buy it this thin). Even if you could only do it in one direction you'd get a third of the plys perpendicular.
dave
(wandering way off the original post here- sorry Norman)
Steinway builds its rim (the piece that encloses the soundboard and plate/strings & air cavity) with all the grain running parallel to the floor, & they are quite rigid - of course, they are quite thick too. Once you laminate a few layers, even with the grain running in the same direction, the piece becomes very rigid. I think this would be a non issue, based on cabinets I have seen some friends who were cabinet builders make years ago. Even a single layer, once affixed to a frame, is relatively stiff. If you start with thin pieces and glue them together, they lose their flexibility, even without a frame (or, in this case, shelf bracing). However, I wouldn't use an overly flexible adhesive, like contact cement, to bond the layers.
If you mix different materials - thin sheet metal, for instance - you also get the benefits of constrained layer damping and extra rigidity.
One of the odd properties of laminating in curves is that if you take several plies that are flexible and form a flat sheet, they will retain some flexibility, but will lose that flexibility when glued together in a bend, especially when locked together by a top, sides, and a baffle.
Steinway builds its rim (the piece that encloses the soundboard and plate/strings & air cavity) with all the grain running parallel to the floor, & they are quite rigid - of course, they are quite thick too. Once you laminate a few layers, even with the grain running in the same direction, the piece becomes very rigid. I think this would be a non issue, based on cabinets I have seen some friends who were cabinet builders make years ago. Even a single layer, once affixed to a frame, is relatively stiff. If you start with thin pieces and glue them together, they lose their flexibility, even without a frame (or, in this case, shelf bracing). However, I wouldn't use an overly flexible adhesive, like contact cement, to bond the layers.
If you mix different materials - thin sheet metal, for instance - you also get the benefits of constrained layer damping and extra rigidity.
One of the odd properties of laminating in curves is that if you take several plies that are flexible and form a flat sheet, they will retain some flexibility, but will lose that flexibility when glued together in a bend, especially when locked together by a top, sides, and a baffle.
No problem, box design affects all of us.
The pe boxes are nice, but $150 / pair of .25ft3 can be much for any of us. That'd be more drivers to play with !!!!!!!!!!
I think I may get drivers and drop them in cardboard boxes found at work, material is free, I can cut it out, and even glue multiple layers to add some (little) stiffness.
Sure, It's not as good as wood, but if you are all thumbs, have no tools nor experience, nor desire to do woodworking...........
But to us speaker guys, eventually getting boxes becomes a major hurdle.
How many of us have drivers laying around waiting to be put in boxes ? I know I have a few..............
Norman
The pe boxes are nice, but $150 / pair of .25ft3 can be much for any of us. That'd be more drivers to play with !!!!!!!!!!
I think I may get drivers and drop them in cardboard boxes found at work, material is free, I can cut it out, and even glue multiple layers to add some (little) stiffness.
Sure, It's not as good as wood, but if you are all thumbs, have no tools nor experience, nor desire to do woodworking...........
But to us speaker guys, eventually getting boxes becomes a major hurdle.
How many of us have drivers laying around waiting to be put in boxes ? I know I have a few..............
Norman
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