3D Print Speaker – Italian acoustics manufacturer NTEK recently revolutionized their production process of their Omni 4” series with 3D printing technology. Partnering with Crea3D, they developed a new dodecahedral speaker that radiates sound uniformly in all directions.
Previously, the production was entrusted to an external supplier who required high quantities and long delivery times for tooling costs. Any change required a new mold and would delay production.
Materials
3D printers come in a variety of materials. Plastics like polylactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and polyvinyl alcohol plastic (PVA) are popular for their strength and low cost.
Composites are another option. Carbon fiber, for example, is a popular choice because it can be used as an alternative to metal.
A 3D print speaker can also be made from a material called graphene. This material is often used in electronics and solar panels because of its strength and conductivity.
The latest addition to the 3D printing world is a fully functioning loudspeaker that was printed using an integrated system of materials. This is an advancement that could revolutionize speakers and other devices. The project was created by a team at Cornell University, and was published in the journal Science Advances. It’s an example of how the maker community is changing the way we make electronic products.
Design
Additive manufacturing technologies allow industrial designers to create all sorts of shapes for objects. This includes speakers, which can be designed to amplify sound in more complex ways and also to add lighting effects.
While most 3d print speaker projects are made to look cool and are designed around an off-the-shelf driver, there are some designs that take advantage of the material’s acoustic properties. These include a tetrahedron-shaped speaker by Alienology Audio, which is designed to reduce standing waves and edge diffraction.
It was designed by Ashley May and David Evans, who worked with an acoustic engineer to help them develop the technical aspects of the design. They also used selective laser sintering (SLS) and a DuraForm composite material to build the speaker layer by layer.
They then inserted strips of addressable RGB LEDs operated by a LumiGeek microcontroller, which can be controlled by an iPad app. You can even customize the light show to your tastes.
Printing
Speakers are essential for computer workstations, movie rooms, and many other purposes. They also help to enhance the overall audio experience.
One of the best ways to make a speaker look more professional is by using 3D printing technology. This is especially true when it comes to speaker enclosures.
However, speakers are difficult to 3D print because of their cones. To compensate, Paul Ellis of Polymate3D designed some speakers with drivers that can be 3D printed without a problem.
Thomas Sanladerer 3D printed a few of these FD52 speaker designs and put them to the test. He discovered that the speakers actually sound pretty good for their size.
The speakers are made from FDM Nylon-CF10, a nylon composite thermoplastic filled 10% with chopped carbon fiber for increased strength and stiffness. They’re printed on an F370CR composite printer with other composite and engineering-grade polymers.
Assembly
Putting together a 3d print speaker is a great way to demonstrate how electronics interact with magnetism. It’s also a fun and educational project that can be used by kids of all ages.
The first step in the assembly process is to create the back face of your speaker. Use the 3D corners and edge pieces to create a back face assembly that is symmetrical in both directions. Stick two edge pieces into the vertical holes of each corner.
Repeat with the cross brace pieces and rods until you have a front face assembly. Then use the two bottom clip pieces and the mini rods to attach the speaker’s back face to the front face.
A 3d print speaker can take the form of anything, making it an attractive and versatile design component for a variety of products. It also allows for both audible and non-audible sound to be produced, which could have applications in gaming and other interactive systems.
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