Jam-Pack
A compact and portable drum kit and case
Jam-Pack is a portable acoustic drum kit designed for life on the move. Ideal for beginners, small-space players, and gigging musicians, it sets up quickly and stores compactly in a 16" x 16" bass drum that doubles as a protective case. The full kit, including a snare, three toms, and a drum seat nest neatly inside. Plywood hoops secure each drum and slot into the flower petal rack system for a quick, stable setup. With discreet wheels and integrated internal storage for cymbals and hardware, Jam-Pack delivers an authentic acoustic tone without compromising portability, ready to jam anywhere.
Tools: Rhino, Solidworks, Keyshot, 3D printing prototyping, Adobe sweep, Fusion CAM, ShopBot 3-axis CNC
Duration: 10 weeks, Spring 2025
Working prototype
Jam-Pack reimagines the drum kit to fit your life on the move. The bass drum doubles as a protective hard case, splitting open to nest a 12” snare, 8”,10”, and 13” toms plus a drum seat inside a compact 16” x 16” shell. Unique plywood hoops around the center of each drum secure the rim and head with tension rods, hold the drums in the plywood flower petal rack system, and create a smooth nesting experience when stacked. The drum seat fits perfectly within the 13” tom, securing the nested drums in place within grooves under the seat.
Equipped with wheels discreetly placed on the bottom corner, the case glides easily like a suitcase, improving transportation anywhere, whether you’re on public transit or loading into a gig. With integrated storage for cymbals within the lid and additional hardware in the bottom corners, it’s a full setup in one portable case.
Equipped with wheels discreetly placed on the bottom corner, the case glides easily like a suitcase, improving transportation anywhere, whether you’re on public transit or loading into a gig. With integrated storage for cymbals within the lid and additional hardware in the bottom corners, it’s a full setup in one portable case.
Assembly - 8” tom
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CMF
Survey insights
“it bothered me not being able to just grab my kit and jam anywhere quickly”
“some venues are a pain to bring drums - parking, stairs, etc. out of town I usually rely on house kits which are generally low quality and poorly maintained.”
“I've used a suitcase as a kick and lightweight hardware that fits inside the suitcase sometimes.”
“Any venue that has a back line or house kit, i will use. I hate lifting drums and setting them up”
“some venues are a pain to bring drums - parking, stairs, etc. out of town I usually rely on house kits which are generally low quality and poorly maintained.”
“I've used a suitcase as a kick and lightweight hardware that fits inside the suitcase sometimes.”
“Any venue that has a back line or house kit, i will use. I hate lifting drums and setting them up”
The flower pedal concept
Prototyping
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Initial PrototypingLazer cutting countless flower petal shapes and sizes. 3D printed 1/4 scale drums to pair with interchangable petal prototypes. Repurposed drum shells from various sets to find the 5 piece shell set for Jam-Pack. 3D printed full scale drum rim hoop for 8” tom on Prusa XL.
Full-scale PrototypingI built a to-scale prototype as soon as I could. The prototype on the left acted as the design’s skeleton and offered the first clear look at the full-scale structure. Without the final materials, the skeleton made decisions about height, reach, spacing, and storage efficiency much easier to evaluate.
Full-scale PrototypingI built a to-scale prototype as soon as I could. The prototype on the left acted as the design’s skeleton and offered the first clear look at the full-scale structure. Without the final materials, the skeleton made decisions about height, reach, spacing, and storage efficiency much easier to evaluate.
Shaping the case
The full-scale skeleton informed the development of the exterior bass drum shell, which needed to deliver both structure and portability. From the earliest sketches, the shell was conceived with prototyping and production in mind. It is more than a casing. It defines Jam-Pack’s portability, structural integrity, and overall playability. The integrated wheels and efficient storage geometry allow the kit to travel easily, while the reinforced shell withstands transport and active performance, supporting the pedal tom rack system. Rivet details nod to the tradition of classic riveted black drum cases, combining contemporary functionality with familiar visual language.CAD form iterations
Prototyping
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Prototyping
