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Easy to build dual trigger pad with adjustable cone height

PostPosted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:54 pm
by r0bbie
Hello to everybody.
Now I have finished building my Megadrum http://www.megadrum.info/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=166&p=7139#p7139 I started chopping up my acoustic drum-kit for A/E conversion and started with the dual trigger snare.
After reading on several forums I build the crossbar design with double sided foam tape and rubber rings to isolate x-talk between the piezo’s.
After a lot of tweaking with the settings I was not satisfied with the x-talk results.
Then I found this old thread,
http://www.toontrack.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=35197
And have somewhat improved the original.

So here is my promised post of the “easy to build dual trigger pad with adjustable cone height”.

Parts needed:
1 piece of foam about 20mm high cut from a cheap paint roller.
1 Ice hockey puck.
4 small screw-eye’s.
1 M8 bolt, nut and wood insert.
1 large steel ring.
1 piece of plywood 18mm.
4 Steel springs.
And some other minor hardware.

This is how the puck looks with the screw-eyes, springs and piezo put together.

Re: Easy to build dual trigger pad with adjustable cone height

PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:09 am
by r0bbie
The crossbar ( yes there still is a crossbar) is about the same width as the diameter of the puck.
The wood insert is put exactly in the middle, the large steel ring is riveted on top of the M8 bolt.
This is how it looks assembled.

Re: Easy to build dual trigger pad with adjustable cone height

PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:13 am
by r0bbie
My drum-shell has eight lugs so I have to use four spring, for my other smaller six lug shells I will only use three springs. I bend 8-shape double rings from thin metal wire and put those under the lug-screws like this.

Re: Easy to build dual trigger pad with adjustable cone height

PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:15 am
by r0bbie
Then I attached it with (way to big) L-brackets to the shell and stuck the paint roller foam to the metal ring with double sided tape.

Re: Easy to build dual trigger pad with adjustable cone height

PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:16 am
by r0bbie
And viewed from the bottom.

Re: Easy to build dual trigger pad with adjustable cone height

PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:18 am
by r0bbie
Now with the earlier assembled puck attached to it.

Re: Easy to build dual trigger pad with adjustable cone height

PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:19 am
by r0bbie
To avoid resonating of the springs I have put thin pieces of foam in the center of the coils.

Re: Easy to build dual trigger pad with adjustable cone height

PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:20 am
by r0bbie
This is how it looks with the DIY mesh head on top.

Re: Easy to build dual trigger pad with adjustable cone height

PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:22 am
by r0bbie
And to finish it for the looks, I have put a piece of stretch cloth between the shell and the rim.
Cone height adjustment is very easy, just undo the counter-nut on the bottom and turn the M8 bolt.
As I have already stated, you can hit as hard as you can, x-talk is no problem with this design.

Hope you like it.. :D

Re: Easy to build dual trigger pad with adjustable cone height

PostPosted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:08 am
by Ken Forgettable
The foam (I used pipe lagging) absorbs the high frequencies whilst the high mass puck does for the lows and gives a firm base for the sensor. But I wonder what you gain from the spring mounts; couldn't you glue the puck to the form?