Figuring cubic Ft or liters on odd shape or curved side speakers?

[bigbardmusiq]

I want to design some extreme curved side speakers but getting exact cubic feet is kinda tough when your not dealing with a rectangle, square, etc.. I have a program called Bassbox6 which has many different shapes for measuring but not curved sides with slanted top! and suggestions? This is a rough idea I'm toying with...

[---k---]

There are plugins for Sketchup that will calculate the volume for you. I've used one a while ago to calculate the volume in some funky pyramid shapes. It takes a little futzing with, but it will work well. You might have to erase your driver cutout and ports.

Since you're doing the Statements, you can also contact Todd Premo at PE Tech Talk and ask him for his measurements. He did a nice set of curved Statements.

[bigbardmusiq]

Thanks K, I didn't know sketchup had plugins. I'm wet behind the ears on just about everything. Oh and I also plan to start a build thread when I get closer to hammering the design.

[DancesWithBeers]

Sketchup can tell you the area of any surface. Just calculate the area from that given the internal height of the enclosure. This will only work if you have modeled the insides as well.

Right click on any surface and select, "Entity info":

[bigbardmusiq]

Sketchup can tell you the area of any surface. Just calculate the area from that given the internal height of the enclosure. This will only work if you have modeled the insides as well.

Right click on any surface and select, "Entity info":

I can only get it to work with flat area surfaces! ops:

[bigbardmusiq]

There are plugins for Sketchup that will calculate the volume for you. I've used one a while ago to calculate the volume in some funky pyramid shapes. It takes a little futzing with, but it will work well. You might have to erase your driver cutout and ports.

any chance you remember the name of that plug-in? I read through a bunch of descriptions but was unsuccessful. ops:

[CraigG]

I can only get it to work with flat area surfaces! ops:

That's all you need--get the area of that flat spot at the bottom and multiply it by height, and you've got volume.

I can't tell for sure from the pics, but it looks like the top might be sloped (not parallel to the bottom), so you might be a little off there, but not much. You could calculate total volume using the height at the back, then calculate again using the height at the front, and you'll know that your actual volume is somewhere between the two, and closer to the larger value.

[bigbardmusiq]

That's all you need--get the area of that flat spot at the bottom and multiply it by height, and you've got volume.

I can't tell for sure from the pics, but it looks like the top might be sloped (not parallel to the bottom), so you might be a little off there, but not much. You could calculate total volume using the height at the back, then calculate again using the height at the front, and you'll know that your actual volume is somewhere between the two, and closer to the larger value.

:T :T

[Solid7]

I don't know if it is still available, but there used to be a free version of a software called Alibre, which is a true CAD system. I'm not terribly fond of sketchup, as I use CAD for a living. (am I, therefore, a CAD snob?) Maybe check it out, and see if it works for you. Then, you can take accurate volumetric measurements, with no additional downloads, or add-ins.

[bigbardmusiq]

I don't know if it is still available, but there used to be a free version of a software called Alibre, which is a true CAD system. I'm not terribly fond of sketchup, as I use CAD for a living. (am I, therefore, a CAD snob?) Maybe check it out, and see if it works for you. Then, you can take accurate volumetric measurements, with no additional downloads, or add-ins.

I have Autocad 2010 version on a home pc but dont ask me how to use it, lol.

[meb46]

I use some softare I downloaded from the net called Solid Edge 2D Drafting. It's easy to pick up and you can use it to calculate areas and volumes etc. Its pretty large, but definitely worth the download time, its also free . Its also useful to have a DXF and DWG output which can be used for CNC machining if you want to get "fancy" panels cut with real accuracy

[Solid7]

Solid Edge and AutoCAD are both great for doing panel layout in 2D. But a good 3D modeler makes it much easier to calculate internal volumes.

When I post my design and build project, I'll throw in some screen shots of my curved cabs, with the internal volume created. (for analysis purposes)

If anyone ever wants/needs volumetric calculations on exotic cabinetry, but doesn't have the time to learn CAD, I can be of help. Of course, there is always a catch - I like to barter. Willing to consider trading my time for just about anything that I find useful