Sputnik 17: Dodecahedron loudspeakers

thingiverse

A dodecahedron loudspeaker radiates sound in all directions and looks cool. This DIY project allows anyone to create a dodecahedron speaker using a parametric program with any size speaker, like our chosen three-inch speakers due to cost and availability. The first step is to decide the speaker size; we opted for 3-inch speakers from Jameco (part number 1954800). These round speakers have an ideal impedance of 4-16 ohms, with 8 being the most common. Larger speakers might be problematic due to the laser cutter's workbed size. Choose your material, usually 1/4 inch birch plywood, although experimentation is encouraged. The speaker template.SVG file can be customized for a different size speaker using the provided Python program, which generates a new .SVG file with custom parameters. Once satisfied with the template, it's time to cut the material. We initially tested three sample pieces and found that the fingers were too long, necessitating a fix before cutting more pieces. Wiring the 16-ohm speakers in series and parallel combinations is necessary for an acceptable impedance range of 4-16 ohms. The finished speaker can be viewed in a 3D MPO file format, suitable for those with 3D display capabilities. Future steps include using 4-inch speakers and thinner plywood for better sound quality. An improved generator script is available at http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:21272 for further project updates.