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Help - how hi-hat/bass drum pedals work


DarthWader

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Hey all

 

I'm writing a paper for school on the physics of a standard drumset. I've got a lot of info on drums and cymbals, but I'm looking to stick in some information about bass drum pedals and hi-hat pedals as well. I've been looking around for schematics or explanations of the step-by-step processes by which a hi-hat pedal works and I haven't turned anything up. I understand the direct drive stuff fine, but I'm looking for any additional complexities. Same deal on bass drum pedals (for instance, I might try to include what makes different cams different if I can). I figured hell, might as well try here and see if anyone knows of a link that I can check out. Thanks.

 

Wade

:eek:

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I don't know exactly what you're looking for, but see if this diagram helps. This diagram is neglecting the forces of friction and the weight of the pedal board, cam, and beater. This is basically a description of the forces in a moment of time - since it's a dynamic system, the radii for the moments would change with time (i don't have the patience to write an equation to describe the motion right now). BUT, this diagram should give you an approximate value for the force of the beater, if given the force of someone's foot. As you can see in the diagram, changing the cam (like on the pearl pedal) changes the radius R3. A larger radial cam means less force is needed by the user to get the same force at the beater. However, the tradeoff is a longer travel of the pedalboard downward to achieve a complete stroke.

 

Hope this helps (i can't believe i was actually bored enough to draw this).........................

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Originally posted by drummer_jay




Ya know... I don't really understand that diagram... but I gotta say I have a new found respect for you!! Thats some serious physics man...............



:)

 

Uh oh stapes, the secrets out! No more pretending to be a simple-minded SOB. Everyone's gonna expect more from you now!

 

My philosophy...don't let people know how smart you are, otherwise they expect too much from you. Thinking is hard! :D

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