Matt Clark
Research and Design Assistant — Chicago, IL
Specimen Products (2011-2012): Speakerhorns
I was hired when I convinced a fantastic sculptor and luthier, Ian Schneller, that I could transform the painstakingly slow handmade process of his speakerhorns, speaker cabinets, amps and more to a CNC driven operation. Time savings alone is 3 months minimum for any significant quantity. I modeled everything in SolidWorks and have been cutting some of the materials myself as well as sourcing local CNC router/knife/laser and waterjet cutting for a variety of applications, including instrument production. Most of the horns are made from molded recycled paper, dryer lint and baking soda. Towards the bottom you'll see new silicon and vacuum infusion molding experiments we're working on.
Full Size (highres_width x highres_height)
Laser cut mahogany veneers, paying close attention to grain orientation.
Full Size (highres_width x highres_height)
All the horns and amps you see are hand built and designed here in Chicago!
Full Size (highres_width x highres_height)
Working out shipping containers
Full Size (highres_width x highres_height)
Before we sold off most of the speakerhorns built for the Museum of Contemporary Art show that Ian titled "Sonic Arboretum," there are a few remaining
Full Size (highres_width x highres_height)
Custom project
Full Size (highres_width x highres_height)
Hornlings being prepped for their natural finishes using the same nitrocellulose lacquer we use on our stringed instruments
Full Size (highres_width x highres_height)
Building models is essential for figuring out geometry
Full Size (highres_width x highres_height)
One of our larger horns commissioned by a very exciting Chicago restaurant
Full Size (highres_width x highres_height)
First coats
Full Size (highres_width x highres_height)
Jig for setting the correct angle and height of each horn. Each horn comes out perfect.
Full Size (highres_width x highres_height)
Our smallest horn only measures a few inches tall
Full Size (highres_width x highres_height)
Thin layers
Full Size (highres_width x highres_height)
Vacuum infusion molding, only the biggest mold I built due to the flange, but otherwise such a better way to mold.
Full Size (highres_width x highres_height)
First vacuum infusion molded part
Favorited by 16 people
Previous
Previous
