I’d advise to do some research on its safety. I remember i looked into this and i decided not to use it (at least on a regular basis) due to its formaldeyde contents.
MDF varies heavily based on glue used and density it is packed to. So you could possibly find a source of MDF for which even 1/4" was not possible on the Glowforge. But… most distributors probably supply MDF which would cut very easily at this wattage. (note: unfounded opinion. I have minimal experience with sourcing MDF)
I know it sounds condescending, but I mean it as a precaution: Go read the specs on the machine. It has been a year since you ordered, so you may have forgotten exactly what kind of limitations you are working with. 4-5 inches won’t even fit in the machine, so it cannot cut that thick of ANY material.
But… you can do a lot with glue and layers. So it is possible to build a 4-5" thick box.
I’ve not found any domestic (U.S.) MDF that wouldn’t cut with a 40W laser. I don’t use it for a lot of stuff (usually just some set props) so I get it from a local big box building supply store. If you’re using it for a lot of stuff, there is laser MDF that is certified formaldehyde free and glue safe. It gets a bit dirty using MDF a lot. Also with the GF it might lead to early filter clogging as it is a dusty mess.
The more I work with MDF with my CNC the more I hate it. I’d love to make some custom speakers but if I was going to go to that much trouble I think I’d use baltic birch plywood or from solid wood.
The problem with using “real timbers” for speakers is the lack of uniformity and how it can effect the sound produced by two, seemingly identical, boxes. Veneered, or painted, MDF is a much better proposition.
That may have been a bit tongue-in-cheek but when I was a very small lad, in the ‘60s, my father bought a kit to fit large Wharfedale speakers onto the top of 4’ x 2’ concrete water/sewer pipes. The inside was filled with baffles and wadding. True story!
I couldn’t find an image to show you but there are references to the system on the web.
No, not all that tongue-in-cheek at all. Would be at least as much of a pain to work with as MDF but the acoustical possibilities! Definitely not for a nomadic person though.
Concrete is popular in car stereo competition for damping behind body panels. Yes, the wet mix is poured right into the cavity between the outer and inner panel! Making the damping material lighter defeats the purpose, the process is referred to as Mass Damping because of… well… Mass.
On the flip side, I recently built a subwoofer enclosure using carbon fiber. The enclosure weighs about 5lbs, the driver installed into it weighs 45lbs LOL… it sounds beautiful! Granted it’s all frequencies below 80Hz.