Home made ports? Opinions on my first attempt :)

[vnsmanual]

Hi I am currently making up the box for my first install, had a lot of help from HVCP.
First ill run you through the set up:

- Mach 5 IXL 12 Sub - running one ohm 1000wrms.
- Suitable amp, most likely a Response aa0406 or something on the cheaper scale that will punch out at least 1000wrms at one ohm.
- Purpose Built Ported Enclosure Tuned to 36hz (i think)
Box is 700 wide by 536 deep by 400 high.

Currently ive got the Sub sitting here and im making the box.
As part of the box building i need a port, it needs to be 16-18inch long and 6 inch in diameter.

I whipped up this mould using 3mm plate for a base, 6inch tubing and some liquid metal (metal bog) to create the radius.

I have never made a port before but this was my first attempt. We used a blow torch which burnt the plastic away, for the next one were using this special heat gun, which will make it even cleaner.

My main question is, will this port be fine to use? like the next one i do, it will be flared at each end as one peice. Im hoping i can get away with using this as to buy a port this size is almost one hundred dollars and in my opinion my rough one is almost exactly the same!

opinions please!!!

[holdenboy]

Great first attempt!

It will be perfectly fine to use, although i am confused with the last two pics, is that a larger mounting plate for the port?

[vnsmanual]

THe last two pics are the jig we made to actually flare the pipe, Its made of 3mm plate for the base, a peice of 6 in stainless steel tube is welded to that. we tHen smooted a radius form the plate to the pipe using liquid metal. (pic 2). So the Pvc is placed over this jig and heated and pressed down to create the flare, ie the Port.

So this should be fine to use?

"Holdenboy" have you heard much about Mach 5 gear? HVCP highly recmoended it to me.

Latly anyone needs any 6 ionch ports, or would like a jig made up let me know

[sweefu]

Hey mate looks good,
do you have pictures of the box? What thickness mdf are you using? What internal volume are you aiming for?
I just had a shot at my first ported box, i usually do sealed. the thread is on here if you want to look, i think it turned out pretty well.


Cheers.

[holdenboy]

Yep your method to flare the PVC is great, definitely put more effort into making a correct parabolic flare than most

Mach 5 are getting great reviews, for the money they certainly are one of the best options out there atm.

[vnsmanual]

THe mdf im using is 18mm, To be honest im not sure on the volume, the original box HVCP designed was 52 litres but we then desinged the box another 200mm wider and the port as 6in instead of 4 inch.
HVCP "If you want, i can send you the cut out's for the smaller enclosure, which uses a 4 inch port.Up to you, but you will get a better low end kick out of this enslosure.Basically it will hold the notes for longer.Meaning it won't be as responsive in sound quality as the smaller tighter enclosure, but the bass will be more prominent, and those really low notes will hold out for ages, until they get another beat.


After researching more on the IXL 12, they can go down basically as low as 20hz,(you won't hear 20 hz, but you will feel it) which is how people will design them for home theartre use when using this sub .Where tuning much higher, around 32-34 on the port, but that's because it's musical.So the larger enclosure will make the most of it's ability to play low, and hold notes, whilst still being as musical as possible for day to day use.It's a pretty good compromise in my opinion."

Im un sur eof the exact length of port needed to obtain 32-34 hz. I think its about 16in but im not sure.

The internal size i will have to fill you in on next week when i build. its 536mm deep, 400mm high and 664mm wide. Thats the internal i think.

Ill check out your thread, did you cover your box?

[HCVP]

That enclosure is based on a 4 cu ft, without taking into account driver and port displacement, with a tuning fq of 32hz.

Originaly the OP was concerned about space. The original enlcousre design was to fit in the space oppisite the spare. Once he decided he wa willing to sacrifice space, a larger 4cu ft enclosure was designed.

Some will probably argue that this is too big of an enclosure. However i think it is ideal to suit his taste, and expectations. Bass over clarity was always the target given his tight budget, hence also the move to a 6'' port vs the 4'' port on the previous design.

At any point if he is in happy with the sound, he can experiment by adding additional sheet's of MDF to the enclosure and reducing the port lenght.

[vnsmanual]

Alright so everthing is pretty much sorted, I brought the wrong terminals from jaycar so ill have to go swap them, i think my local one has got the ones you said.

All i need to know build wise is what length should the port be? To get a frequency of 32hz what should the overall length of the port be? because an inch more or an inch less will throw out the tuning.

HVCP, what did you think of my port by the way?
THanks

[HCVP]

Go with a 16 inch port, and the port you made looks very nice.

[vnsmanual]

cheers, will post up the final port that i do with heat gun early in the week. Just gotta wait till to cut the side panels of the box so i can do one end, install in side of box and then do the next side
.

[HCVP]

Trim it in shagpile, you know you want to

[vnsmanual]

I dont wanna sound stupid but whats shagpile? lol

[holdenboy]

[vnsmanual]

Need some help quickly to mount the port should i cut out a 6 inch hole (dia of pipe) then round the edge at the radius of the the flare?

How do i mount a flare so its sits flat and seals properly???

[Tasmaniak]

first though that comes to my mind mate is the heavy vibrations that will be inflicted on that vent, are you sure your medium won't crack? with high pressures and vibrations pounding on it? if your sure...awesome!

[vnsmanual]

the pvc is still extremely strong, and will be screwed glued and siliconed into place. I have no doubts in the strength of the port im just checking the best way to mount it.
many people have done it befor eme
ideas?

[holdenboy]

Yep just cut out the hole to the outside diameter of the pipe then round off the edges so it sits flush......i assume you have a router?

To seal the port you can use a variety of sealants (whatever you want). Then if youre not happy with how well the port sits in you can use screws etc to hold it in place.

Heres one a member of MEA uses in his Street C Australian record holding car:

[vnsmanual]

I dont have a router, Im getting the local hardware to cut out the box peices so i might see if they can cut the port hole and router it.

The pics didnt work could you fix them? id love to see!

[Tasmaniak]

I know many people have done it before you....I'm one of them. Hence why I was asking, I have seen many home made ports fail. If your happy with its strength...awesome.