Fane trapezium
An example of the Fane 250TC in a closed cabinet. This is a highly constrained cabinet of 85 ltrs. According to the TS parameters the drivers would be happy in a closed cabinet of about 350 litres. The sim places this tuning at 56 hz with a very slight rise in response at about 100 hz. The driver was popular and well received around 2017-2018 which was when this design was drawn. The plan was unused until 2026 when the last pair of drivers and the last of the 18mm ply were put to use. The alternative would have been the plywood going to the tip.
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Building
The trapezium form requires an 80 degree angle on the acute corners so templates were cut to allow clamping from both directions. The templates were cut on the bandsaw using a sledge.
Showing the reinforcement and clamping considered necessary to acheive an accurate build.
The templates were accurate enough to guarantee that the obtuse angles would automatically come out at 100 degrees.
Clamping and gluing the back panel. This relied on the sides being positioned and glued precisely at the right angles.
The mitres for the quadrant were cut on the bandsaw. The correct mitre angles were marked on the bandsaw sledge.
The quadrant trim, confirming that the bandsaw and sledge were accurate enough.
Completing
Veneer applied before the top and bottom of the cabinet. Using construction pva proved less than satisfactory with such large sheets of veneer and edges required extra attention.
Preparing to route for the quadrant. All cuts had to be climbing to avoid damaging the veneer as experience showed that some edges would tear with normal routing cuts.
cabinet side routed ready for the quadrant..
The outcome
This driver has been well received and documented and could even have been considered hyped, it has been so praised. I was ever conscious that it was the product of a stage equipment manufacturer and was reluctant to consider it as a hifi unit. I've been wrong before and I'll be wrong again!. Having heard a pair at a demo some years ago I determined that one day I would make a pair.
So, nearly 10 years after first hearing The Fane 250TC, I have a pair.
They are constructed of the same Chinese hardwood ply as the Seas triangles mentioned in another chapter. This time I elected to veneer them with some brown ebony that had been in storage for 15 years, to avoid the problems with sanding. Contrary to what is mentioned on the plan, this example uses pine quadrant and oak framing for the trim.
more to come