paradiddle, an open-source 3D-printed drumming prosthesis by dominic siguang ma

‘paradiddle’, an essential rudiment of drum beats, is an open-source 3D-printed upper-extremity prosthesis designed specifically for amputee drummer by young china-born and USA-based designer dominic siguang ma. to develop unique features that would allow the drummer to play more intuitively and comfortably, the designer worked with renowned amputee drummer greg anton.

video by dominic ma

paradiddle is made of 3D-printed HP 12 glass filled nylon plastic with existing mechanical parts, which allow the user to simply download the file, print it and use it! one of siguang ma’s main challenges was to design a mechanism that can mimic the control of the drumstick’s bounciness, which would allow the user to play the ‘drum roll’. by adjusting the length of the polycarbonate spring, the drummer has a whole spectrum of the bounciness control.

paradiddle in use
all images © joshua skirtich

to adjust the spring, the drummer pushes his leg against the control bar and the adjuster is released and possible to slide in the slot. in a neutral state, the aluminum stop, pushed by the spring, drops into the hole and prevents the adjuster from sliding around in the slot when playing.

close-up

while most current drumming prostheses are fixed or have low adjustability, paraddidle provides quick, high adjustability actuated by single hand. to guarantee a comfortable fit, the inside of the socket is covered with layered EVA foam, which is both soft and smooth. the holder of the drumsticks accommodates various sizes from 0.4 in to 0.625 in. 

front view

amputee drummer greg anton using paradiddle

testing process

paradiddle with one of the blue foam models

3D model

ecxploded view

sketches

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: maria erman | designboom