Hi all, I’m looking at enclosing my OpenBuilds OX build to reduce the noise whilst running and wondered if anyone had any experience, insight into my idea before I go ahead and build?
So far I’ve designed an enclosure based around an 18mm Plywood/MDF skin (not sure what to use just yet) supported by 50mm thick ribs with sound absorption foam placed in-between. My thoughts are the thick frame should block some of the high frequency sound and the foam should absorb some of the low frequency! I am aiming to make it pretty airtight and may add an additional layer if still noisy!
I’m still to decide how to actively cool the compartment other than occasionally opening the door! I may push cool air in from underneath and incorporate a U bend vent at the top, though I might leave that until later when testing.
Additionally I think I’m going to mount a PiCam inside for viewing, vacuum extraction and LED lighting for spot checks.
The first thought that comes to my mind about your vent was a ported speaker enclosure. I’m not saying your idea will cause an amplification. I’m only stating my thought/opinion.
@Kyle_Kerr agreed, when the door is open (as pictured) the enclosure may very well act like a ported speaker! Though hopefully the sound dampening foam should absorb and distort some of the noise when I open the door to peak in!
Question: How about layered dampening and using vent grills with dampening pads on standoffs above the grills… so that amplification is reduced, you get a free form of “leg” as part of the design AND include venting that you can use fans and piping to reroute?
I am referring to the grill style of two layers offset or angled so that amplification is reduced/removed similar to the A1200/A500 and other older model “Keyboard wedge” computer systems of the early scene and retro 8bit era…
the rear of the case has a grill area as two plastic layers with the grill in each layer offset…
each layer has a common thin opening but the grill opening for the layers individually is wider.
That behind dampening foam will give the heat a means of exit and doing so above and below gives the entire case a breathing airflow in a limited sense (this is where you can use active-fan cooling to direct airflow sideways from an incoming grill and a second fan at a second grill area for outflow.
the door being open then becomes optional without excessively ruining the dampening profile I*think…
just looking at the provided graphic and the requirements of heat + audio made me think about airflow and how sound is changed by air pressure…
I’m not sure if I remember correctly about positive/negative air pressure being the better to dampen… or whether I’m mixing that up with something else.
Just something to think about and consider for your design review in choosing what you think is best for airflow/heat/sound properties of your casework design (^_^)
I wouldn’t like it. The small door is a limit on loading and unloading the machine and access for switching bits. I think it would be much more useful to make a full table size enclosure with large doors and room to lean in for access. Probably with storage to make up for all the space lost by the setup. Maybe some exhaust fans to keep a negative pressure to keep dust contained as well.
You should make some thermal calculations. The enclosure seems quite small for the wattage of a running machine inside. You run 4 motors each of x watts in a tight airspace.
