Richard H. Lyon
Dept. of Mech. Eng., MIT, Rm. 3-366, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139
Quieter products can be realized by several strategies depending on the condition of the product. A product that is already in the marketplace has far fewer options than one on the drawing board (or CAD screen). Enclosures, isolators, and mufflers are effective and solve parts stocking problems, but they represent pure extra cost without product improvement. Redesign must be incorporated into the product cycle, and can provide combined advantages for both sound and other product attributes. Some examples of design procedures that lead to quieter products will be presented.