I need to build a sound enclosure for my Shapeoko S5 pro V1. Looking for advice on materials and how to build around it so that it minimizes the sound I am considering moving the CNC on castors so I can move it to the far edge of my garage so that it does not carry into the house. I’d greatly appreciate any advice of materials how to put things together and get the lowest possible sound as possible.
“Rock Wool” is a notable material which should be on your radar:
I think you might want to share a budget as well. The quietest possible enclosure puts you at a few thousand USD with standard practices and materials.
That being:
Mdf for the walls (weight and good dampening properties)
Acoustic insulation (rockwool is common but there is better out there)
Isolating glues/caulk for laying up the layers (green glue for example)
Mass Loaded Vinyl or Lead sheet (2+lb/square foot is ideal)
Extruded aluminum is common for the structure but that also adds a good chunk of change.
You also need to decide if you’re going to soundproof your vacuum and compressor as they’ll be the new loudest items in your shop.
It is considerably easier and cheaper to achieve “pretty quiet” compared to “extremely quiet” ![]()
I’d recommend getting yourself a cheap decibel meter to gauge what kind of sound dampening you really need to achieve. Record some cutting sounds, put a speaker where your machine is, and use the decibel meter to set the volume where you find most appropriate. (Not a perfect test but it’s a decent analog)
It would be a small investment that could save you a ton of time and money…not to mention you could use it to quantify the improvement of your enclosure ![]()
3/4" thick horse stall mats
No need to buy a decibel meter…download one on your phone. Yeah it may not be as totally accurate as a specialty tool but it gives you a good idea of what the noise level is.
Yeah the apps are ok, I just always hate the experience when using them and I’ve never calibrated one to see just how far off it is. For the cost, I’ll prefer a dedicated tool.
“a few thousand” for an enclosure sounds a little high, no?
I mean, you can run up the budget with really expensive aluminum extrusion, but extrusions are about looks and convenience and don’t help with noise or dust. For the critical items you mentioned i.e. Rockwall, MDF, the final cost wouldn’t be close to thousands.
A few thousand is a little high yeah, but that’s not too out of left field for fit-for-purpose materials.
Sourcing 2lb MLV itself will run you many hundreds and that’s assuming you can pick it up locally to save the freight cost.
There’s certainly ways to do it cheaper but going all out is anything but cheap. Luckily, all out is almost never necessary ![]()
Assuming it’s an attached garage, sound will be carried through the attic to the rest of the house unless you can isolate up there as well. Have you considered building an internal room in the garage for the whole setup? CNC, dust collection, etc. I guess it also depends on the size of your CNC. 2x2, 2x4, 4x4? And how you’ll access it if you put it in a big box. Just a few thoughts.
I’m building an enclosure in a an open alcove space in my apartment. My only goals are to reduce the noise so that my neighbors won’t come after me with pitchforks, and to contain enough dust that I don’t choke myself.
The other (surprisingly) expensive component is acrylic, so I’m gluing some small panels jigsaw puzzle style to make a larger panel. My enclosure won’t be much to look at, but it should get the job done and come in in well under a thousand :- )
Can we expect a build log ![]()
Also depending on where you are. Facebook marketplace in NYC has a surprising number of full size polycarbonate and acrylic sheets for very reasonable prices. If you’ve got a little battery powered saw it’s a heck of a lot easier to transport too ![]()
I honestly don’t think you can beat Rockwool or Rockwool Comfortboard80 in terms of price/dampening effect. I used Comfortboard80(it’s basically Rockwool batting compressed into stiffer 1-1/2" boards) directly on a fencboard frame I mounted over my machine all the way around. It’s in a basement space of a small condo. For the most part it’s been enough. Maybe at some point I’ll put a layer of OSB or MDF atop the Conmfortboard80 to reflect the noise back thru the batting. Or another layer of batting…or both…Plus the Comfortboard80 is basically fireproof in case your house burns down - your CNC just might survive to rebuild. And it still lets air move thru it so you don’t need extra holes for dust colleciton make-up air. I’ve found it to be the overall simplest & most effective solution. If you make an enclosed cabinet with plywood/OSB/MDF(which I have before), lining the inside surface with Rockwool/Comfortboard80 will make a very noticeable improvement to the noise dampening. It’s great for use around door edges to act like an acoustic sealant.
It is a 4x2” btw I could build a stand alone unit and then move it anywhere
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