Construction

The construction of the Jam-O-Drum was carefully considered and executed, and design decisions dictated many of the construction methods:

The table would be round, with a square base of steel

This would allow for the CircleMaze to fit neatly into the design as well as creating the communal space which is one of the goals of the Jam-O-Drum platform. The square base contributes to the simple design while also making the device easier to build for the students. The sides of the base would also have to be transparent to sound, as the subwoofer would be stored inside.

The table would be built to disassemble easily

The device would have to come apart easily in order to be packaged and sent across the U.S. from where it was built in Pittsburgh to the Zeum venue in San Francisco. This would add complexity and construction time, but would save time and effort down the road.

The design for the table would have to be updated and shared between several parties during construction

The table, with all framing and harware, was modeled in scale in AutoCAD. The scale drawings also allowed us to keep a common record of the construction as well as communicate the design with the client and hardware vendors. The fact that the table was modeled in 3D also allowed the group to generate and update perspective and detail views as the design continued to evolve.

Click the links to view PDF files of the construction drawings:
      Table Plan and Section Views tableCAD1.pdf
      Table Drumpad Mount Details tableCAD2.pdf
      Table Perspective View tableCAD3.pdf
      Turntable Detail Perspective tableCAD4.pdf

group member Scott Nestel stands by tabletop with the turntable prototype

the tabletop with white laminate projection surface, speaker holes and turntables.

the incomplete tabletop after installation in User Studies Lab