Design: The design for this project is based on the concept of spherical acoustic enclosures. Theorized to be superior to cubical enclosures, spherical enclosures are often expensive and difficult to produce. As a proof of concept and for future testing, I chose to base my design on the Bowers and Wilkins 800 Series Diamond speakers, which cost upwards of $10000 each. The interrior dimensions of the enclosure is based on the B & W model, however the final shape takes influence from modern LED lightbulbs. While their designs are more practical than artistic, I thought it added a nice artistic flare to the otherwise simplistic shapes.
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| Reference 1: B&W 800 Series |
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| Reference 2: B&W 800 Series |
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| Reference 3: B&W 800 Series |
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| Reference 5: LED Lightbulb |
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| Reference 4: LED Lightbulb |
Techniques: The original shapes are based on reference images scaled to the proper dimensions for my own speaker. The shape was modeled with simple curve functions and made solid using the revolve command. The exterior shape went through several variations before I decided on the lightbulb inspiration. Most other modeling techniques used were filleting, Boolean commands, and contour mapping.
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| Interior shape |
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| Design 1 |
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| Design 2 |
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| Design 3 a |
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| Design 3 b |
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| Design Final a |
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| Design Final b |
Material: The material will be .25 inch MDF as this is, based on research, optimal for speaker enclosure construction. To build the enclosure, I chose to use a mix of Horizontal and Vertical slices to create the optimal acoustic profile inside the model.
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| Curves |
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| Final Model |
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Cut Sheet Layout
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After cutting the pieces out and gluing the middle section, I realized I made the obvious mistake of assuming MDF is .25 inches when it is not in reality. The result was that the opening in the front which should have been circular was more of an oval. I ended up having to remove material as shown in order for the speaker to fit properly. The mistake was avoidable, however not the end of the world. Thankfully it saved me from making that mistake on my next project.
The rest of the assembly was pretty straight forward. I used a combination of Loctite liquid and Loctite GO2 glue; liquid for placing the pieces, and then GO2 to seal any gaps. GO2 drys in 30 minutes, and has a rubbery consistency, so it was easier to clamp the larger sections in place over night. To finish it, I mounted the speaker and a small wire jack on the side so that it can be plugged in easily
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| The opening which was supposed to be a circle |
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| Material to remove |
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| Final Gluing |
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| Final shot 1 |
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| Final shot 2 |
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| Testing in the Anechoic Chamber |
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