# DIY expression pedal **URL:** \ **Category:** DIY STUFF\ **Created:** [August 5, 2020, 11:48am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/diy-expression-pedal/1547 "2020-08-05T11:48:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![eric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@eric](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/eric)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2020, 11:48am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/diy-expression-pedal/1547/1 "2020-08-05T11:48:43Z")
Hello everybody, I found this pedal (I know it is just a switch, not a pot… yet…): > **[250V 10A Aluminum Antislip Foot Switch SPDT NO NC Electric Power Pedals...](https://www.banggood.com/250V-10A-Aluminum-Antislip-Foot-Switch-SPDT-NO-NC-Electric-Power-Pedals-Momentary-p-1330202.html)** > > Online Shopping at Banggood.com！ It looks like it is screwed together, so should be easy to gut and replace the innards with a pot and some 3D printed gears. So my question is : Is the travel big enough ? It looks a lot shorter than on “genuine” expr-pedals. What do you think ? ---
**Author:** ![Farabide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecc23a/32.png) [@Farabide](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/Farabide)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 12:02am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/diy-expression-pedal/1547/2 "2020-08-06T00:02:35Z")
I’d have to say no. You may get enough travel for a two or three stage switch like they used in the early organs. That said anything that moves could use dial cord (like the old radio dials) and then it’s just a case of having enough space to increase the diameter of the pots. ---
**Author:** ![analogoutput](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/analogoutput/32/29663_2.png) [@analogoutput](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/analogoutput)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 12:05am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/diy-expression-pedal/1547/3 "2020-08-06T00:05:17Z")
What’s your reason for wanting to try this rather than just buying an expression pedal? ---
**Author:** ![Hanged-Man](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/hanged-man/32/5715_2.png) [@Hanged-Man](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/Hanged-Man)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 12:32am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/diy-expression-pedal/1547/4 "2020-08-06T00:32:58Z")
Not to speak for OP, but maybe just because. I find that’s my reasoning a lot of the time. ---
**Author:** ![eric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@eric](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/eric)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 4:43am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/diy-expression-pedal/1547/5 "2020-08-06T04:43:44Z")
“Just because” 🙂 Mainly because I am not a musician, and just want to try what a pedal feels like. And for the DIY aspect too… It is also about how “precise” you can control somewhat with your feet, so it looks like the travel of this one is a bit too small. ---
**Author:** ![Farabide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecc23a/32.png) [@Farabide](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/Farabide)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 8:23am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/diy-expression-pedal/1547/6 "2020-08-06T08:23:58Z")
I often get ideas looking at parts and materials especially ones that mean using the part in an unintentional way. To me it’s a major part of the fun. Sing out if you spot anything else. Now JFDI ---
**Author:** ![fredrik](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/fredrik/32/682_2.png) [@fredrik](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/fredrik)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 8:37am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/diy-expression-pedal/1547/7 "2020-08-06T08:37:27Z")
If you’re 3D printing parts anyway, you could consider printing the entire thing. > **[Expression pedal by alvarudras](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2749430)** > > This is basic expression pedal. I created this to be used as midi controller via arduino. The pedal has turning angle of 45 degrees, which drives potentiometer for 270 degrees. This is version 0.2 and probably I ( or someone else ) will do more... (first model I found, I’m sure there’s more out there) ---
**Author:** ![eric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@eric](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/eric)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 12:21pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/diy-expression-pedal/1547/8 "2020-08-06T12:21:03Z")
This one looks flimsy to me… But yeah, I might search a bit and find one that fits my feets 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jos](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/jos/32/151_2.png) [@Jos](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/Jos)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 3:54pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/diy-expression-pedal/1547/9 "2020-08-06T15:54:14Z")
I printed this one a while ago. It is small, ehm. I’m sorry I’ll say that again: **it has a small foot print** 🙂 But it works. The design is from **[thingiverse.com](http://thingiverse.com)**: ![20200616_111557](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/2X/1/1b9651f803453774bc6e58fd062cff7226df4932.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![eric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@eric](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/eric)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 6:02pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/diy-expression-pedal/1547/10 "2020-08-06T18:02:48Z")
Look much more sturdy. But also so much higher… is that comfy having one foot so high ? (I mean, I have never used one… I really don’t know much about pedals) ---
**Author:** ![Jos](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/jos/32/151_2.png) [@Jos](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/Jos)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 6:36pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/diy-expression-pedal/1547/11 "2020-08-06T18:36:52Z")
> [@eric](#): > > s that comfy having one foot so high In this picture you see an M-Audio FX-pedal next to the printed version, so that you can compare the sizes. ![20200616_112136](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/2X/e/e529804049bc4608a525f6ca3080fe2a0dbcda0a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![eric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@eric](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/eric)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 7:44pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/diy-expression-pedal/1547/12 "2020-08-06T19:44:16Z")
Looks like the 3D printed pedal is just slightly thicker than the M-audio one. The M-Audio is articulated at the “back” and you have to push it down with your heel ? And the 3D printed one you push down with your toes ? I clearly prefer the second way, that’s how the accelerator on my car work 🙂 I think I will just put the one I found in my next order and see what can be done with it, it’s not even $7… ---
**Author:** ![analogoutput](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/analogoutput/32/29663_2.png) [@analogoutput](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/analogoutput)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2020, 8:05pm UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/diy-expression-pedal/1547/13 "2020-08-06T20:05:50Z")
> [@eric](#): > > The M-Audio is articulated at the “back” and you have to push it down with your heel ? Near the middle, the pivot is a little closer to the heel ![IMG_20200806_160221](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/2X/e/e6affe9a5235c144b581bdba982334f1591984fb.jpeg) ![IMG_20200806_160234](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/2X/3/3a46fe9614a37642699aa5bc40c598f8d4e1c02b.jpeg) ![IMG_20200806_160310](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/lookmumnocomputer/original/2X/0/02beff4947d03e36ff9c4adffc2807c1a6733e3b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![eric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@eric](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/u/eric)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2020, 4:29am UTC](https://lookmumnocomputer.discourse.group/t/diy-expression-pedal/1547/14 "2020-08-07T04:29:09Z")
Much better this way, would have been weird otherwise.