DIY: 3+ Cone Builds!!!

[MisterE]

Thanks for your reply. My cones are from foam, but quite hard ones. Once you paste the link to to Amazon I'll buy the softer ones you have and we'll see.

For my other DIY snare builds I have found that the placement and size of the foam dot beneath the piezo matters a lot. In case you might not be aware, be sure that the foam overlays just the ceramic portion. If it sticks also to the metal portion, it limits the signal. If your adhesion method varies from piezo to piezo, that could mess up a multi-sensor design. For that reason, the ones that come with the dots pre-applied should work best (provided they are manufactured consistently.( Consistency is likely important for this build.

[MisterE]

Erroneous post.

[MisterE]

Oops

[AKA Wayne]

Here are the cones I use. BQLZR Piezo Trigger Cone for Electronic Drum Percussion Parts 1.38x1.46inch Pack of 5 https://a.co/d/5dKOrlC
Hard foam cones would definitely be problematic and I would expect your results actually. Thanks for the informative post Mr E. I misspoke, the dot should only cover the CERAMIC. Not the brass at all. That will inhibit triggering for sure.

[nemo]

Thank you AKA Wayne and MisterE.

I'm a bit confused now.
So the piezo should be ceramics up or down?

The foam dot under the piezo should be the size of ceramics, not brass, got it.
The cone has probably its own sticker - it's bigger than piezo's brass anyway. If there is no sticker, what size and material did you use AKA Wayne?

[AKA Wayne]

I can see how this was confusing. Definitely ceramic UP. The dot should only cover the brass where the ceramic is on the other side. The edge needs to flex.

[nemo]

Thaaanks!

[MisterE]

I can see how this was confusing. Definitely ceramic UP. The dot should only cover the brass where the ceramic is on the other side. The edge needs to flex.

Great points. To further clarify in case this isn't obvious, there are two pieces of adhesive. The one on top is just double sticky tape to stick the cone to the piezo. (Since the cone is foam, this one doesn't need to be foam). The one on the bottom is a double-adhesive foam to stick the piezo to the surface it's mounted to. The one below the piezo, should be the diameter of the ceramic, which faces up. Oftentimes cones are manufactured (the better ones typically) with a slot cutout on the bottom to make room for the wires and solder so that the cone sits relatively flat (in plane) on the piezo. Here's a picture from Quartz Triggers' site as well as a sketch I threw together. Note, some instructions I've found say that the ceramic should face up. Some say it should face down. The key detail is that the foam on the bottom of the piezo needs to be the diameter of the ceramic side of the piezo so that the energy from hitting the head, to the cone, "squeezes" the piezo (allows it to flex, vibrate and send the waveform out the two leads.)

[nemo]

Thanks guys,

Stuff ordered, will keep you posted

[AKA Wayne]

Please report back.