Anyone into 3D Printing...???

[FerdinandII]

The size of the bed may be a limiting factor, but this sure looks like a great way to build (small) back-loaded horns.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4668173

[David McGown]

That is pretty neat! 3D printing of tweeter horns or waveguides should be a piece of cake for a smaller machine. One of these days I will have to get a 3D printer just to play with.

Back a few years ago there was an article in the journal "Early Music" concerning a project of 3D printing a cornetto (a lip blown woodwind instrument used from 15th-18th centuries). It is complicated to make since it has a curved form and the complex conical bore and ornamental exterior were traditionally carved out of two long blocks of wood in halves, which are then glued together and bound by parchment or leather. It is very difficult to make in a reproducible fashion (though I imagine very precise CNC routers could do it). Anyway, the authors could go from radiographic measurements of a museum instrument, create a 3D computer model and then print a copy. I tried one of these (back when I still had cornetto chops), and it played extremely well, like a decent wooden instrument. It is also much cheaper than a handmade cornetto.

David

[tomp]

At the 2016 MWAF speaker design competition, one of the entries was done on a 3D printer. It was basically stacked spheres with drivers. The plastic used in the lower and upper spheres was different. Here is a photo.

Tom

Attachments

[mix4fix]

What is the cost of a printer and the supplies?

[DaveR]

Personally, no experience. David Jantzen was 3D printing his electrostatic headphones, at least the prototypes. Not sure about the production models.

[FerdinandII]

Dalek-inspired, for sure....

At the 2016 MWAF speaker design competition, one of the entries was done on a 3D printer. It was basically stacked spheres with drivers. The plastic used in the lower and upper spheres was different. Here is a photo.

Tom