# Assembly Manual — Modular Pedestal Drum Stack Builder-facing step-by-step. Assumes all parts have been fabricated, finished, and laid out per `fabrication-plan.md` Phase 7 complete. ## Tools required - Drum key (square 5/16" or 6 mm) - Allen/hex set (for M4 setscrews) - 10 mm wrench (for M8 levelling feet) - Drum dial or strobe tuner - Mallet pair (for final tap testing) - Soft cloth + Loctite Blue ## Parts checklist - [ ] 1× base plate with welded socket and 4× levelling feet installed - [ ] 1× pole, 25 mm OD × 1350 mm - [ ] 5× drum shells with internal brackets pre-welded - [ ] 5× counter hoops - [ ] 5× drum heads (300, 250, 200, 150, 100 mm) - [ ] 30× lugs with anchor screws - [ ] 30× tension rods with washers - [ ] 30× claw hooks - [ ] 4× rubber pucks (inter-drum isolators) - [ ] 10× M4 setscrews - [ ] Loctite blue ## Step 1 — Stand the pedestal 1. Place base plate on a flat, level surface. Use a bubble level to confirm horizontal; adjust the 4 levelling feet until level. *(Photo placeholder: base plate level-set)* 2. Insert pole into the centre socket. Push fully down until the pole bottoms on the welded floor of the socket. 3. Tighten the 2× M4 setscrews on the side of the socket to lock the pole. ## Step 2 — Install lugs in each shell Repeat 5×. 1. Hold drum shell upright, batter-edge up. 2. From outside, align a lug with its two pre-drilled holes. 3. Hand-thread 2× M6 lug anchor screws from inside the shell into the lug; do not fully tighten yet. 4. Repeat for all 6 lugs. 5. Once all 6 lugs are seated, tighten each anchor screw with a hex driver. Add a drop of Loctite Blue on the threads. *(Photo placeholder: lug install detail)* ## Step 3 — Mount drum-1 (300 mm) on pole 1. Slide drum-1 onto the pole, bottom-up first (open shell end facing down). 2. Lower until the drum-1 head height matches `drum1_Z = 720 mm` above the base plate (target measurement; refer to `parameters.csv`). 3. Tighten the 6× M4 setscrews on the 3 internal brackets into the pole (2 per bracket × 3 brackets). 4. Verify drum is level using a bubble level on the bearing edge. ## Step 4 — Mount drums 2–5 Same procedure as step 3, in ascending order (2 → 5). Between each drum, drop a rubber puck onto the previous drum's lug-ring top to act as inter-drum isolator. The puck centers itself on the pole. Target heights: - drum-2: 890 mm - drum-3: 1050 mm - drum-4: 1200 mm - drum-5: 1380 mm *(Photo placeholder: 5 drums mounted on pole)* ## Step 5 — Head + hoop on each drum Repeat 5× (drum-1 down to drum-5 in this order is fine; small drums sit on top and are easier last). 1. Drop the head onto the drum's bearing edge, flesh-hoop facing up. 2. Drop the counter hoop over the head, lining up with claw-hook slots. 3. Hook a claw over the counter hoop at each of 6 lug positions. 4. Thread a tension rod through each claw and into its lug, with a nylon washer between rod head and claw. 5. Hand-tighten each rod until snug. ## Step 6 — Star-pattern tensioning Per `tuning-notes.md` procedure. 1. Add 1/4 turn to each rod in star pattern: rod 1, rod 4, rod 2, rod 5, rod 3, rod 6 (using 1-6 ordering around the rim). 2. Continue 1/4 turns per round until the head feels firm with no slack. 3. Center-strike with a stick handle and listen — note the pitch. 4. Cross-tap at each rod position: equalize tap pitches to within 3 cents. 5. Bring center pitch to ~3% above target Hz (see `parameters.csv` `drumN_target_freq`). 6. Let head rest 10 min. Re-check. 7. Fine-tune to target ±5 cents. ## Step 7 — Final inspection - All lug screws Loctite'd and snug - No exposed rod tips poking outward (cap with rubber if any extend > 5 mm) - Stack feels stable when pushed at the top with 5 kg force - No rattles when struck — tap test each drum, then strike adjacent drums and listen for sympathetic ring on the silent ones (some is OK and expected) - Each drum within ±15 cents of target after final tune Sign off in `validation.csv` `measured` column, then play. ## Disassembly note To break down for transport: remove each drum top-down by loosening setscrews and lifting off the pole. Heads and hoops can stay tensioned. The pole and base disassemble by loosening the socket setscrews. Total break-down ~10 min.