Personal project
3D-Printed Electronic Drum Shells
An industrial-design exploration using advanced CAD and 3D printing to create expressive replacement shells for Alesis Strike electronic drums.
What I built
I designed a family of replacement shells for Alesis Strike and Strike Pro electronic drums, treating the project as an industrial-design exercise rather than a simple replacement part. The open honeycomb pattern gives the drums a visual identity that would be difficult to produce with conventional manufacturing methods.
Electronic drums are not constrained by the acoustic resonance of a traditional wood shell. That freedom let me explore form, pattern, color, and structure while keeping the original drum hardware and playing surface.
How it came together
- Modeled the shell around the existing electronic-drum hardware and physical interfaces.
- Explored lattice and geometric patterns that take advantage of additive manufacturing.
- Refined the CAD for printability, fit, visual rhythm, and efficient material use.
- Printed and assembled the final shells on an Alesis Strike kit for real-world use.
What I learned
The project strengthened my advanced CAD and 3D-modeling skills while giving me room to think like an industrial designer. It also brought two of my interests together: the technical world of electronics and digital fabrication, and the musical world of drums.