i want to build a 6-way system where the top 3 frequency bands are horns
although i could just go with off the shelf horns i'm toying with the idea of making the horns myself
for the smaller horn i am thinking about 3D printing the entire thing in one piece ...
for the bigger midrange horn i'm thinking about 3D printing just the throat and making the mouth out of flat Plywood pieces, so it will be somewhat square looking but should not affect performance that much compared to a perfectly curvilinear horn ...
i don't have a 3D printer and would have to use a 3D printing service of some kind ...
anybody do this ? any tips ? what sort of material to use for 3D printing ? what kind of software to use to design the 3D printed part ? what software to use to design the plywood part ?
are there any sort of known issues with 3D printing horns ? i have never 3D printed anything.
i have a good understanding of acoustics i don't need help with design of the horn itself just in translating my vision into physical reality ...
i have access to SolidWorks software but i am not married to it ...
thanks in advance for any help.
although i could just go with off the shelf horns i'm toying with the idea of making the horns myself
for the smaller horn i am thinking about 3D printing the entire thing in one piece ...
for the bigger midrange horn i'm thinking about 3D printing just the throat and making the mouth out of flat Plywood pieces, so it will be somewhat square looking but should not affect performance that much compared to a perfectly curvilinear horn ...
i don't have a 3D printer and would have to use a 3D printing service of some kind ...
anybody do this ? any tips ? what sort of material to use for 3D printing ? what kind of software to use to design the 3D printed part ? what software to use to design the plywood part ?
are there any sort of known issues with 3D printing horns ? i have never 3D printed anything.
i have a good understanding of acoustics i don't need help with design of the horn itself just in translating my vision into physical reality ...
i have access to SolidWorks software but i am not married to it ...
thanks in advance for any help.
For my home horns, I use the standard PLA. Until you heat PLA more than 60 °C, it is pretty stable and mechanically fine. PETG would be better, but slightly more difficult to print (not an issue when using print service). It is slightly more flexible, but my horns both from PETG and PLA work fine. I made all my horns in Fusion 360 - using both 3D printing and CNC, SolidWorks would work fine too. Even the flat plywood parts are easy do design in 3D, so you do not have to calculate any angles, etc.
The only issue with 3D printing the horns is that they are large and it takes a lot of time. Preferably more perimeters and less infill (e.g. 5 perimeters and 15 - 20 % infill) and also the orientation for printing matters (again, the print service company should know this). You can also print larger horns in parts, see the ATH thread for inspiration. With a print service, the price goes up fast, so it might be worth getting your own printer.
What are your 6 way intended frequency bands? What drivers do you plan to use? Maybe it would be worth considering reducing the number of ways, especially in the HF.
The only issue with 3D printing the horns is that they are large and it takes a lot of time. Preferably more perimeters and less infill (e.g. 5 perimeters and 15 - 20 % infill) and also the orientation for printing matters (again, the print service company should know this). You can also print larger horns in parts, see the ATH thread for inspiration. With a print service, the price goes up fast, so it might be worth getting your own printer.
What are your 6 way intended frequency bands? What drivers do you plan to use? Maybe it would be worth considering reducing the number of ways, especially in the HF.
i keep going back and forth between 5 and 6 way
i will post the design tomorrow after i get some sleep
The Moderation Team concluded that axiperiodic's approach did not meet with the site's aims and ideals. As a result this user has been banned.