[piotrus-g]

Newark had CI and TWFK drivers. Personally I bought CI drivers from them.
Sonion drivers sells colsanmicro and audiotronics.it.

 

[deadsea]

Quote:

I have been reading through this thread for a couple days now and must say that I am very impressed with everyone's knowledge and builds. Over the recent discussion on shell materials I would like to add that Polycaprolactone (shapelock, instamorph, friendly plastic, etc.) is actually used in the medical industry and in dentistry. In fact on its wiki page it even stated that it has been used as a drug capsule for time release medications. If you can consume the stuff it would be safe to say that having it rest in your ear would be perfectly safe. I am also curious where people are sourcing their sonion driver/receivers from? I believe I read that Newark Electronics has some of the better pricing, however they don't seem to carry Sonion and they don't have the KA CI or TWFK models.

 
The Polycaprolactone is very safe and it's bio-degradable too (Good? Bad?). There is the potential to need replacement every 2-3 years since in the proper conditions, it's supposed to fully break down in around 2 years. It's supposed to degrade faster when wet and exposed to sunlight. Fairly high potential for those conditions in earphones?
 
But no better excuse to upgraded the drivers then they broke i guess. =)
 
 

 

[Yroc]

Polycaprolactone is by no means the end all of iem materials, but for the diy'er it would seem to be one of the better choices. Furthermore, you could always take a heat gun/ hair dryer to it to try and re fit it, just don't leave them on the dash board of your car . I must have been looking in the wrong place on Newark because on second inspection I found them, though they don't seem to be in stock at the moment. Colsan and Audiotronics.it do not list what they stock or pricing so I suppose one would have to contact them for this information. Also, I can only find the 3000 series on Colsan, this could very well be my searching error though. Regarding multiple drivers and the use of crossovers, it may be fun to use an additional socket on the iem or a three prong plug/wire combo so as you could add them externally. I am not as well educated in the subject as the rest of you, but it would make experimenting and tuning easy.

 

[piotrus-g]

Quote:

Colsan and Audiotronics.it do not list what they stock or pricing so I suppose one would have to contact them for this information.

I have already put pricing here. Go back to page around 40, I believe.
Audiotronics has better prices AFAIR. Something like €12 for one 3300.

 

[Yroc]

Quote:

I have already put pricing here. Go back to page around 40, I believe.
Audiotronics has better prices AFAIR. Something like €12 for one 3300.

Thank you sir for the information.
 

 

[deadsea]

Polycaprolactone is by no means the end all of iem materials, but for the diy'er it would seem to be one of the better choices. Furthermore, you could always take a heat gun/ hair dryer to it to try and re fit it, just don't leave them on the dash board of your car .

Oh no, I'm not saying if it's good or bad. Just wanted to put the fact that it's biodegradable out there and preferably in caps and bold flashing neon lights.

I've actually seen a website dedicated to trashing the material because some idiot decided that it's a good idea to make artworks out of that material semi-professionally. Guess what happened 2 years down the road. Don't want anyone to regret the "wasted" effort so to speak.

 

[howzitboy]

great thread win so much info! gratz on all who contributed. reading this sure makes you want to try make one...

 

[Fredrichs]

Would it be possible to use acrylic nail resin for the shell's?

 

[piotrus-g]

Quote:

Would it be possible to use acrylic nail resin for the shell's?

And how are going to cure it?

 

[Fredrichs]

I ended up getting a hold of some of the stuff and tried some in a failed silicone mold. It seemed to work, cures pretty hard. Supposedly its basically the same as dental acrylic and once cured, shouldn't be reactive to skin. You just mix the powder with the liquid and rotationally cast it. Heats up and gels very quickly. Surface finish is slightly porous, but could have been the mold. Still needs some testing.

 

[Yroc]

Quote:

I ended up getting a hold of some of the stuff and tried some in a failed silicone mold. It seemed to work, cures pretty hard. Supposedly its basically the same as dental acrylic and once cured, shouldn't be reactive to skin. You just mix the powder with the liquid and rotationally cast it. Heats up and gels very quickly. Surface finish is slightly porous, but could have been the mold. Still needs some testing.

Pictures perhaps? Do you have a source for the acrylic?

 

[Fredrichs]

The piece is pretty malformed but, ill see if i can get a picture up. The acrylic I used I got from my sister. It's a powder and liquid available at Sally's Beauty Supply. Preferably Actual dental acrylic would be ideal it's suppose to be harder. http://www.fxwarehouse.info/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=FW&Category_Code=Fangs. Haven't used that stuff yet though. Still needs testing. The acrylic looks very promising. Though for the time being my project is at a standstill from lack of funds.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/542359/homemade-custom-sleeves-for-westone-1
Also check out this link he uses dental acrylic for the same idea.

 

[edba2000]

This is the most interesting thread I know!!!
 
You have to agree that is not easy to read all the posts and collect the valid information to start a purchase list!
It would be great if someone can post store links selling the materials (Europe if possible):
 
1) Acoustic tubing
2) White and red filters
3) Sonion drivers (already know one: www.audiotronics.it)
4) Knowles drivers
5) Connectors and wire for the cables
6) acrylics/silicones
 
Thanks to all.

 

[nekatrall]

Quote:

This is the most interesting thread I know!!!
 
You have to agree that is not easy to read all the posts and collect the valid information to start a purchase list!
It would be great if someone can post store links selling the materials (Europe if possible):
 
1) Acoustic tubing
2) White and red filters
3) Sonion drivers (already know one: www.audiotronics.it)
4) Knowles drivers
5) Connectors and wire for the cables
6) acrylics/silicones
 
Thanks to all.

i think acoustic tubing u should ask audiotronics
 
as for knowles and white/red filters try mouser u just need to change the country (spain, italy as local sites)
 

 

[edba2000]

Here is what I have found:
 
 
1) Acoustic tubing
   ???
 
2) White and red filters
   http://www.audiotronics.it
 
3) Sonion drivers
   http://www.audiotronics.it
 
4) Knowles drivers
   http://search.digikey.com/us/en/cat/audio-products/speakers/720966?k=knowles
 
5) Connectors and wire for the cables
   http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MCX-plug-male-crimp-connector-right-angle-4-RG316-RG174-/320713942955
   http://www.ebay.es/itm/MCX-Jack-female-PCB-Board-straight-connector-adapter-/220799181887
 
6) silicone for the mold:
   http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RTV-Silicone-ZA-40-Thixo-Skin-Safe-Mould-Making-500g-/320441993158?pt=UK_Crafts_Other_Crafts_EH&hash=item4a9bd4c7c6
 
7) plastic for the shell:
   http://www.amazon.co.uk/Easy-Cast-Clear-Casting-Enamel/dp/B0053TQ1QK/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1318329688&sr=1-1-catcorr
 
8) silicone for the impressions:
   http://dentala2z.co.uk/epages/eshop133027.sf/en_GB/?ViewObjectID=185273&Currency=EUR