do you guys think making an enclosure out of metal would sound right? probably have to pad the inside dont ya think? reason i ask is cuz i work at a factory that cuts all the metal for our lawn mowers. we have tons and tons of steel, and on the plasma cutters, i can have everything cut out to exact lenghts within a couple thousands of an inch... and it will all be free, major downside is the weight, but to hold one 15 it probably wont be huge and wont need to be nearly as thick as wood, and it will be welded air tight, probably half inch welds all the way around... just an idea, dunno if it will work or not, the metal may not produce the proper sound if that makes any sence, thanx in advance
Replies (7)
uochronos on 10/8/2004 02:35:52
biggest issue i would see here is flexing. 3/4 inch MDF well flex a hell of alot less then 1/4 inch stainless steel. mattering what grade steel. with a small sub should be fine but if you get into a power hungry sub the metal may flex bad without bracing.
other then thaqt i see no reason it would be really bad. i have seen this befor. weld a sheet of metal over the spare tire hole cut a hole in that and mount a sub. it sounded good in the application i saw.
Chronos
compvr15s on 10/8/2004 02:40:20
yea i can brace it plenty with either solid rod or tube stock, that actually what i cut on my machinge, anything round thats less that 3inch in diamater and less than about 20 inchs. but if i need larger we have band saws for that, i can get upto 1 inch think steel but i wont need that thick i dont think....
uochronos on 10/8/2004 03:06:30
naw for most subs i would think good 1/4 steel braced would work. for big subs 1/2inch steal may be needed. as for it sounding bad i wouldnt think it would sound bad. a bit of poly fill needed perhaps.
P0werLifter on 10/8/2004 14:21:39
I think it could be a good plan, as long as you have sufficient bracing etc and use polyfil to slow the waves down so it doesnt have an "echo" effect if you know what im talking about. Another issue could be weight and possibly the ability to mount the sub...are you going to use bolts? Self Tapping Screws?Drill holes then tap them and use bolts to secure the driver?
I know ive seen competition SPL vans use Metal to seal the rear of the enclosure rather than wood. But i havent seen an enclosure for a regular automobile made out of metal could be interesting.
If you do it...get some pics id love to see the finished project
BTW weld and fabricate with metal as another one of my passtimes =)
-Jason
cplkittle on 10/10/2004 19:40:52
I have seen several enclosures that incorporated metal into their design for cosmetic looks, but it is not sound friendly. Since an enclosure can be built for under $25 using 3/4 MDF, I don't see a reason for a cheaper alternative unless it is for looks.
ttocs on 10/10/2004 23:03:41
I have seen only one. Metal is not normally used because of its resonance... You will need to dampen the heck out of it......
Victor on 10/16/2004 20:54:53
hey dude.... u r a lucky fella.. i have always wanted to make an enclosure out of metal.. i have been designing bandpass enclosures since last 2 yrs.. i now have atleast a 100 enclosures to my name.. (i sell them .. ofcourse).. ok.. now lets talk more about ur project.. i am really excited to help u out regarding this... there are a certain major issues to be addressed.. the first is the grade of metal u r using.. second its resonating properties. . third would be strength of the material.. and last but not the least the type(design) of the enclosure.. i got a nice one for ya if u want me to send u a rough sketch.. gimme ur mail id.. its a bandpass.. but i wud suggest making a tube woofer to minimise the standing waves .. its becomes very necessary to address the issue of standing waves because of the high resonating properties of metal.. of-course the other physical properties of the enclosure wud be a problem. ( it wud become too heavy) but if u dont mind a heavy enclosure u r sure an adventurer...also a lot of bracing and poly-fill wud be needed.. and i wud also suggest lining the inner surfaces of the enclosure with foam sheets.. well thats all i can think of now.. do let me know if u need some help regarding the designs.
Replies (7)
uochronos on 10/8/2004 02:35:52
biggest issue i would see here is flexing. 3/4 inch MDF well flex a hell of alot less then 1/4 inch stainless steel. mattering what grade steel. with a small sub should be fine but if you get into a power hungry sub the metal may flex bad without bracing.
other then thaqt i see no reason it would be really bad. i have seen this befor. weld a sheet of metal over the spare tire hole cut a hole in that and mount a sub. it sounded good in the application i saw.
Chronos
compvr15s on 10/8/2004 02:40:20
yea i can brace it plenty with either solid rod or tube stock, that actually what i cut on my machinge, anything round thats less that 3inch in diamater and less than about 20 inchs. but if i need larger we have band saws for that, i can get upto 1 inch think steel but i wont need that thick i dont think....
uochronos on 10/8/2004 03:06:30
naw for most subs i would think good 1/4 steel braced would work. for big subs 1/2inch steal may be needed. as for it sounding bad i wouldnt think it would sound bad. a bit of poly fill needed perhaps.
P0werLifter on 10/8/2004 14:21:39
I think it could be a good plan, as long as you have sufficient bracing etc and use polyfil to slow the waves down so it doesnt have an "echo" effect if you know what im talking about. Another issue could be weight and possibly the ability to mount the sub...are you going to use bolts? Self Tapping Screws?Drill holes then tap them and use bolts to secure the driver?
I know ive seen competition SPL vans use Metal to seal the rear of the enclosure rather than wood. But i havent seen an enclosure for a regular automobile made out of metal could be interesting.
If you do it...get some pics id love to see the finished project
BTW weld and fabricate with metal as another one of my passtimes =)
-Jason
cplkittle on 10/10/2004 19:40:52
I have seen several enclosures that incorporated metal into their design for cosmetic looks, but it is not sound friendly. Since an enclosure can be built for under $25 using 3/4 MDF, I don't see a reason for a cheaper alternative unless it is for looks.
ttocs on 10/10/2004 23:03:41
I have seen only one. Metal is not normally used because of its resonance... You will need to dampen the heck out of it......
Victor on 10/16/2004 20:54:53
hey dude.... u r a lucky fella.. i have always wanted to make an enclosure out of metal.. i have been designing bandpass enclosures since last 2 yrs.. i now have atleast a 100 enclosures to my name.. (i sell them .. ofcourse).. ok.. now lets talk more about ur project.. i am really excited to help u out regarding this... there are a certain major issues to be addressed.. the first is the grade of metal u r using.. second its resonating properties. . third would be strength of the material.. and last but not the least the type(design) of the enclosure.. i got a nice one for ya if u want me to send u a rough sketch.. gimme ur mail id.. its a bandpass.. but i wud suggest making a tube woofer to minimise the standing waves .. its becomes very necessary to address the issue of standing waves because of the high resonating properties of metal.. of-course the other physical properties of the enclosure wud be a problem. ( it wud become too heavy) but if u dont mind a heavy enclosure u r sure an adventurer...also a lot of bracing and poly-fill wud be needed.. and i wud also suggest lining the inner surfaces of the enclosure with foam sheets.. well thats all i can think of now.. do let me know if u need some help regarding the designs.
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