DIY trigger pad for Roland TM-2 trigger module or electronic drums + rack clamp

I have designed and built a DIY trigger pad.

And since the costs are rather low compared to bought products, I don't want to withhold the idea from you.

I connected this pad as a quad trigger to a Roland TM-2 trigger module and connected it with the self-made rack clamp to my e-drum rack.

Principle:

The necessary sensors are easy and inexpensive to buy in online stores and the wiring is a breeze. But you have to solder a cable sometimes. The piezo sensors are glued to a non-deformable plate, which in turn are embedded between layers of rubber or neoprene. A blow on the rubber makes the sensor vibrate.

The connectors of the sensors can be soldered directly to a jack plug without additional electronics.

With this kit you can build a dual or quad trigger pad (see photos).

Material:

• 4x piezo sensor

• Impact resistant thin plate made of 2mm aluminum (alternatively made of another material, which can not be deformed by the impacts)

• 2x 3D print of the frame

• 2x stereo jacks

• 1x 3d print of the connector for the jacks

• Impact resistant material e.g. rubber or neoprene

• Glue to fix the rubber and the sensor

• Various screws (see photos)

• plate made of wood or other material to the pads and to attach the rack clamp

**Rack clamp

• 2x 3D print of the clamp

• 2x ring hooks, nuts and washers

• 1-2 Roland rack L-rods depending on the usage.

Procedure for the quad pad:

*Step 1

Cut 4 plates from the 2mm aluminum so that they are slightly smaller than the inlet in the frame. The rubber will be glued on later to fit and hold the plate in the middle without touching the sides.

**This is extremely important to prevent crosstalk between the sensors.

The sensors are glued onto the plates with the glue in the middle. I still had some silicone left. The connecting cables of the sensors have to be extended with some cable.

*Step 2

For the actual striking surface, rubber is cut out exactly the size of the window and centered glued onto the opposite side of the sensor. The impact hits the plate dampened by the rubber.

The sensor is protected behind the plate.

Then rubber is cut out, which fills the whole frame of one sensor pad. I glued 2 layers on top of each other - between them I laid the cable. There are holes in the frame to be able to lead the cables towards the connector.

*Step 3

The sensors built this way can now be inserted into the frame and the cables can be led through the holes to the connector.

For the wiring of the sensors just look here:

connect piezo sensors to stereo jack for roland trigger

At Roland, head/rim are actually connected with different polarity. But I didn't do it that way, because I made a setting for solo trigger in the TM-2. But both work.

Solder the cables to the jacks and install the jacks in the middle part.

*Step 4

Cut carrier plate to size and make the necessary holes with the drill guide. The drilling aid is designed for a dual trigger. With the quad pad, simply use the drilling aid, then turn it 180 degrees, and use it again.

Screw on the carrier plate - from now on you can already test the trigger pad.

*Step 5

For my e-drum rack I got additional 2 clamps + L-rod.

The 3D clamp offers the possibility to fix any plate on the L-rod.

For the quad pad I recommend 2 L-rod clamps, for the dual pad one L-rod is enough.

Mechnism: Through the screw the O-ring presses the L-rod against the printed round shape and clamps it there.

By the two knobs the pressure is held in position and

the connected plate is clamped securely and tightly on the L-rods.

Connect and ... enjoy drumming!

layer 0.2 mm

infill 50%

material: PETG, but PLA may be ok, too