You can now 3D print a speaker

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jump to Latest
#4
Predictions about the future have historically been way off the mark.

Let's not loose site of the fact that 3d printing it just plastic and most predictions about it involves wishful thinking .
 
Last edited:
#9
JoeDJ said:
Predictions about the future have historically been way off the mark.

Let's not loose site of the fact that 3d printing it just plastic and most predictions about it involves wishful thinking .
Click to expand...

Aside from pointing out the fact that almost everything we use these days are manufactured out of plastic, 3d printing is for quite a few more materials than plastic. Currently there is ceramic, metal, plastic and glass. There is work being done on 3d printing graphene but I think that is at least 10 years off.


I'm pretty sure that once people saw the first train moving that it was pretty easy to see how it could change the world. Same with radio, TV, cars, computers, etc. At this point it's not really a prediction of 3d printings existence, it's already here. It's the question of how it will grow and change our world. The flying car is a poor example. It's not like thousands of flying cars were made and people were predicting how it would change the world. Nobody ever really made one that worked reasonably.


I give it 5-10 years before we really see it in audio outside the high end and DIY group. I think that speaker enclosures are the obvious first place it could make a real impact. I have been dreaming of 3d printing the perfect speaker enclosure since I got my 3d printer. By perfect I mean one that addresses every aspect of wave propagation. I would expect the model to look rather round or eggshape on the outside with no parrallel internal walls with large amounts of diffraction using organically derived shapes based on current models. So many speakers are designed around ease of manufacturing the enclosure. When the enclosure can take any shape there is the potential to actually move audio forward. Perhaps in the first serious way for the first time since the golden age of stereo. It's just so exciting to think about. Anyone want to make a model for me to print and test this out?
 
#10
Yes, I want to.

* It's already in my avatar; just add 3-dimensional depth to it, and when done try horizontally (like it is now), and also try vertically (with the three legs on the floor).
Can you perceive my vision? ...The shape is an eye (similar to an egg shape). It should make a decent speaker enclosure.
 
Last edited:
#12
Northstar

What size would you want the speaker enclosure to be. With my current printer I could print something like that for a 1-4" speaker without having to print a large number of parts. If you wanted that larger, it would have to wait until I have my next printer finished. It should print quite a bit larger.
 
#13
We have a large 3D printer at our university here, it's capable of some fantastic things but it is still way too slow and too expensive for mass-production products.

I think the 3D printer will first revolutionize the world by making things that we cannot make using other production methods, but it will take decades before cars, houses, ..., speakers will be 3D printed for mass-production.
 
#14
I'm very skeptical of this technology. Consider the importance of materials in drivers: polypropylene, rubber, paper, copper, aluminum, magnesium. Then let's say that 3D printing can make parts out of all those materials. Could you print and assemble them at home with an efficiency comparable to a factory in China?
 
#16
Shapeways is quite economical, the fact that you can now print in stainless steel, bronze or gold plated brass.

Im thinking space frame unipivot arm, impossibly made with pivot built in, gold plated brass, hidden cable tidy...

I looked into 3D printing ceramic horns, but the cost was astronomical.
 
#17
JZatopa said:
Northstar

What size would you want the speaker enclosure to be. With my current printer I could print something like that for a 1-4" speaker without having to print a large number of parts. If you wanted that larger, it would have to wait until I have my next printer finished. It should print quite a bit larger.
Click to expand...

If you do the best you can do (allowable size), and that you did a good drawing first (I assume you are a good graphic designer), then you have a mini replica of a yet to come masterpiece (real life loudspeaker of the latest and most innovative shape), I truly think JZ.

Take all the time in the world.


* FINAL PRODUCT: The main "eye" enclosure dimension would be roughly 16" high by 9" wide (a monitor with a coaxial driver; tweeter at the center of a 6.5" mid/woof driver). That is only an estimation, and eventually it could be developed into a full range loudspeaker.
First is to determine the beneficial internal acoustics of such a design, and the final resulting propagation of outside sound distribution.
All the curvatures (in & out) should bode very well with excellent acoustical properties. I think.
{4" is roughly 1/4 scale, and 2" is 1/8 scale.}
 
Last edited:
#19
In a full range speaker, the eyebrow could become a type of transmission line for full tuned bass performance (with room loading).
{Full range loudspeaker (full size tower) could be anywhere from 3 to 4 times the size of the monitor: 48" to 64" high.}

And! The 3D print of the speaker enclosure design (1/4 scale say) could be the maquette (model based design) in which the full range speaker would be built from (using quality wood with aluminum supports).

Tip: Keep it simple.

* If I was equipped at home with all the tools and materials I would experiment myself.
It is something I'd love to do.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom