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Author: Paul Morton Click HERE to view our complete list of auto sound related articles. Originally appeared in the April 1997 issue of Truckin' magazine. © All rights reserved. |
Last month we showed you some of the finer points of the Term-PRO loudspeaker development software. This time around we will continue our enclosure design software discussion with Term-CAD 3D - Wayne Harris Enterprises' enclosure fabrication software.
Once a particular woofer's numbers have been run through Term-PRO, an enclosure architect should have a design that will suite his or her projected enclosure size and accurately depict the sub system's response. To date, enclosure design programs ended at this point, leaving the enclosure builder with only the appropriate air space and related port information - if any. Term-CAD 3D bridges the gap between present enclosure design software and actual enclosure fabrication. Rather than moving from computer to pencil and paper, today's enclosure builder can now perform all of his or her dimension calculations right on the computer.
Here's how it works. After designing an enclosure in Term-PRO its files can be exported to the Term-CAD software. Once this is done, numerous pre-designed enclosure shapes and sizes can be chosen from or the user can generate virtually any design that they desire. Term-CAD's first screen (which is pictured here) is divided into the three viewports each with a different enclosure dimension - height, width or depth. Modifications made to any one of these viewports will instantly be made on either of the remaining viewports that would actually be affected. Enclosure angles and panel dimensions can be changed to suit the designer's requirements as well - all in real time.
In fact, a variety of 3D editing commands are at the designer's disposal making it easy to design and save blueprints for any custom enclosure. The last box on the initial screen is Term-CAD's unique Isographic 3D viewport that allows a designer to view his or her enclosure design at virtually any angle.
One the design process has been completed, Term-CAD still has a few tricks left. The program will automatically generate Cut Sheets and Blueprints for each panel of a particular design. Table saw blade angles are even calculated automatically! All of the panels from an enclosure can be displayed on the computer screen or printed out for use in the shop. Term-CAD will also show the optimum way to cut the enclosure's panels out of readily available 4x8 foot material based on either minimum fence movement, minimum waste or crosscut orientation. This program will even generate a detailed materials list including construction material, covering material, lining material, hardware, glue, sealant, and even define the total cost of these materials.
Both Term-PRO and Term-CAD could prove to be invaluable tools for the professional box builders. Even the serious enclosure building hobbyist could justify the cost of these programs due to their versatility and ease of use. The bottom line is that anyone who is serious about enclosure design and fabrication needs to check out Wayne Harris Enterprises' Term software.