3-D printing of a horn or a lawn dwarf

[Lee in Montreal]

Well. This thread may not last long after the initial enthusiasm. I have several friends who have 3D printers and they use them to build (not just prototype) automotive components, exposed to the outside weather (rain, dust, sun, heat). I suppose that now, the technolgy has evolved far enough that those 3D printers can output strong parts, thanks to an advance in powder/plastic technology. Gone are the days of just fragile prototypes. So, the idea is to produce a model of TAD horn and have it "printed" in one single piece, using the densiest material available. Part of the exercice will involve designing walls no thicker than half inch (12.7mm). SolidWork will most likely be the final model format as it can be read by most softares used in 3D printing. How far will this brain fart go? I don't know, but after CAD woodwork, then we get 3D printing. Isn't technology great?

[10 Watt Street]

Does your clone include the Helmholtz resonant trap that virtually all TAD horn clones disregard?

See the dark dot on the horn flare?

[Mr. Widget]

Does your clone include the Helmholtz resonant trap that virtually all TAD horn clones disregard?

See the dark dot on the horn flare?

I cloned an actual TH-4003. (See the rough prototype posted by JeffW above) When I first cast my clone I had the tuned resonator and my clone didn't measure as closely to the original as when I removed it. I thought this might be due to the mass differential between my clones and the original. I used a very dense material similar to JBL's sonoglass. It is extremely inert and is more than twice as dense as the maple ply used by TAD.


Widget

[honkytonkwillie]

UC Berkeley has a 3D printing vending machine. http://www.ibtimes.com/dreambox-worl...-video-1288777 If these take off, I don't think 3D printing will reach the ubiquity of PCs anytime soon.

I can see myself needing to replace some 2344A horns in another decade when my little ones are teenagers. With luck, newly printed ones will be a lot cheaper than originals.

[Allanvh5150]

I have a few customers here in NZ with rapid prototyping machines. Some of the new print mediums yield a very smooth surface, certainly adequate for making a horn. But most of them are also rather expensive.

Allan.

[pos]

Lee, to what compression driver would you like to mate this horn?

The thin printed skin + damping material it appealing indeed.
This is what Rich did for his H9800 clone, using sikaflex (albeit no 3D printing there...).

[JeffW]

That doesn't look like a TH-4003, I think those are asymmetrical top vs bottom and don't have fins.

Like this

[Lee in Montreal]

Thanks for the comments, guys. Interestingly, this thread is more about the process of "printing" a horn than the actual object being reproduced. Let's start all over again, and let's pretend I will be reproducing a dwarf to put on my lawn. At this point of the project, I don't even mind if the drawing is of an Iwata or a TAD, as long as the process works, I will be a happy camper But 10-watt street is right. Many wood or resin TH-4003 clones skip this device. How paramount is it? I dunno but I will be interested in knowing more. Also I am sure that most people will not be fooled by a plastic copy and thinking I am passing a clone as the real thing...

That being said, I am awaiting a reply from a friend who has a business and uses a couple of 3D printers.

PS - I think that the drawing presented might be of a TAD TH-4001. Those had no Helmoltz gismo and were symetrical.

[Lee in Montreal]

If somebody can 3D print and shoot a "printed" shotgun, then I suspect that I can find the proper quality of plastic to print a horn.

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/1...3d-printed-gun

[10 Watt Street]

Lee, I do think it is a good project and exercise.

[macaroonie]

Excellent Lee , here's a suggestion , scale it down to 25% and see how it comes out. If it's good , carry on .
Then start collecting the G codes for other ' favorite ' horns

BR Mac