Do-it-yourself housing for usb flash drives. Eternal case for a flash drive. Preparing a new building


There are cases when, during operation, the body of the flash drive does not withstand and collapses (small children do an excellent job of disassembling).

On kickstarter, a similar project was approved and raised the necessary amount of money for its implementation.

We will not collect money and place applications, we will try to implement a similar project on our own.

Suddenly something is not clear, then watch the video:

To make an eternal case, we need:
- titanium BT1-0
- die M18*1.5
-tap M18*1.5
- cutter HSS d 14.5
-machine

1. We make and prepare the workpiece. The total length of the workpiece is 64mm.



2. Cut off the workpiece with a length of 38mm. From this part we will make the lower part of the flash drive case.



3. Making a hole with a diameter of 14.5mm

4. We prepare a platform for cutting external threads using a die M18 * 1.5



5. The bottom of the flash drive almost finished looks like this (it remains only to polish).

6. We prepare the upper part of the flash drive (cap).

7. We make a selection inside the cap.

8. We chamfer the outside and prepare a place for the ring.

9. We cut the thread in the cap using a tap M18 * 1.5.

10. We make a hole for the ring.

11. The body is ready.

12. In my case, we take an 8GB flash drive.

13. We extract from the standard case.

14. Place in heat shrink.

15. Then we place the prepared flash drive in a titanium case. Pour hot glue (so it will be easier to remove the flash drive if it fails). Some are filled with epoxy, this is 100% forever (unless you just burn it out).

16. We check for strength with a car.

Hello my friends. Today we will not consider any schemes of certain designs, the topic for today is the so-called homemade flash drive. Some, of course, may not believe that this is possible at home, and they do it right, since it is quite difficult and it is almost impossible to do it at home without special equipment. But smart people have long come up with a memory card for mobile phones. In stores, you can easily find an adapter with which you can connect a memory card to a computer via a usb port. This adapter only costs $2.

The device works very simply - you just need to put the memory card in a certain place on the adapter, and the adapter itself is made in the form of a USB plug that only needs to be connected to the PC's USB port. For our homemade flash drive, you need to have just such an adapter with a memory card from a mobile phone and one more plug or an appropriate plastic case for usb at hand.

Then we place the adapter in the plug casing and close the cover and see what we got.

Now it looks like a cut off USB plug, but no one will even suspect that there is a memory drive there! Now it's time for the schematics. There are 4 wires, we remove a small part of the insulation from the wires in advance and tin them. Next, we take a couple of brand new parts (it is better to take damaged ones, but so that they look like new ones) and share them with each other. There is no specific circuit here, solder whatever you want, the design should just look like a circuit, of course it will not work! You can use capacitors, resistors, polar and non-polar capacitors and a couple of transistors, as you know, some flash drives have a built-in LED indicator on the back, you can get a simulator of such an indicator so that our homemade flash drive looks believable and does not raise doubts.

To do this, the unpacking of the USB socket and plug is attached to the article, power is supplied through the side channels, which must be connected to our wires, then assemble the simplest flasher circuit for one LED, in which case we have two more free wires to which we can attach a pre-made<блеф>memory storage diagram. So, let's summarize - we got a rather interesting design, when connected to the usb port of the computer, the LED will start blinking and it will give outsiders the feeling that a flash drive is connected, but they will be more surprised when the computer notifies that a memory drive is connected to it! Yes, everyone will begin to believe that you are a genius and ask for a diagram of such a simple miracle flash drive. Try to make the details connection scheme as confusing as possible, so that even the master does not suspect what the deception is. Well, that's all, you can see such interesting gizmos in further articles, goodbye friends - Arthur Kasyan (AKA).

USB drives have firmly entered our lives. With their help, you can transfer information from one computer to another, view images and videos on TVs. The flash drive is compact, durable and weighs little. But most manufacturers offer boring oblong cases that differ only in size and color. Although, the appearance of this gadget is a real field for creativity.

This collection contains original ideas for flash drive cases that you can implement with your own hands.

Instructions for a homemade USB case

Many are interested in the question of what you can make the case at home. For these purposes, a small wooden block, a Lego “brick”, a keyboard button, a spent lighter, or a small children's toy will do.


The shell of a flash card made of amber-colored epoxy glue looks unusual, into which a small object or insect can be immured. Polymer clay lovers can mold the body of any shape. And if there are empty shells left on the farm, then you get a real military gadget.

And although improvised material can always be found at home, some consumables will still have to be purchased.

We buy

When the issue with the drive shell is resolved, it's time to check the availability of the necessary materials and tools. The minimum set we need:

  • an old flash drive for parsing, for example Transcend JetFlash 2 GB;
  • sharp knife;
  • pliers;
  • thermal gun with a minimum power of 20 W and rods for it.

On the Internet you can find photos of homemade flash drives with LEDs. Then it is additionally worth preparing an LED light bulb, a 300 Ohm resistor, a soldering iron and a screwdriver.


Dismantling an old flash drive

The first step is to disassemble the old device and remove the board. For collapsible structures, it is worth prying a seam along the body with a sharp knife with a thin blade, separating the two halves from each other.

If your old device was in a molded case, then we do the same - we open the latch located near the USB connector with a sharp object.

Preparing a new building

For clarity, we will show how to make a case for a flash drive from a children's toy. To do this, divide it with a knife into 2 parts, one of which will be a lid. Hollow rubber or plastic blanks do not require reworking.

Another thing is toys with a "stuffing" of stiffeners or jumpers. We break out everything superfluous inside with pliers, simultaneously cutting sharp edges with a knife. A cavity should be formed inside the workpiece, sufficient for installing a flash board and an LED.


In order for the latter to glow during connection, through holes with a diameter of 2-3 mm are drilled in the body of the toy with a screwdriver.

Soldering the LED

We take the LED and visually determine its positive pole by the smallest area of ​​the electrode. Using a soldering iron, connect this output to a resistor. We install heat shrink tubes on the ends and begin to solder the contacts to the flash drive board according to the following scheme:

“+” of the LED (the place of soldering with a resistor) is connected to the rightmost leg of the board;
"-" solder to the leftmost leg.

We collect a flash drive

The last step in updating and repairing a flash drive with your own hands is installing and fixing the board in the toy case. We insert a flash card with an LED into the toy and fill the cavity with glue using a thermal gun.


Irregularities, excess adhesive composition can be cleaned with a clerical knife, and burrs or sharp edges can be dulled with sandpaper.

In order for the improvised lid - the second part of the toy, to close faster, you can attach a small magnet inside it.

Checking a new device

After assembly, you need to check the drive for performance. If everything was done correctly, then when connected to a PC, the LED backlight will work and the card will be ready for use. But if something went wrong, then you should not be upset. It is enough to know the main malfunctions of flash drives and how to fix them. All breakdowns are divided into mechanical or physical, electrical and software errors.

Mechanical damage

Most often they are the result of user negligence. A flash card used without a protective cap is subject to static, the USB connector may bend. Therefore, portable assistants should only be stored closed or in special cases.


It is not uncommon for a drive to be stepped on or dropped from a height. In this case, the USB legs or contacts on the board that are responsible for power supply may be unsoldered.

You can eliminate the defect by soldering the extreme contacts of the plug. If after that the flash drive comes to life and starts flashing, but still does not work, then the probable cause is the data transfer outputs. The same soldering iron will come to the rescue.

Electrical faults

The most common culprit in electrical damage is water that got inside the flash drive. Such a device is not recognized on the computer. The flooded device must be thoroughly cleaned of salt and dirt deposits, immersed in isopropyl alcohol and dried thoroughly before use.

Other causes of electrical breakdowns include soldering defects, static discharges, overheating due to poor heat dissipation in the case, and power surges. Here you will have to resort to hardware recovery - replace non-working parts, solder defective places again.

Software (logical) faults

These include damage invisible to the eye - failures of firmware or microprograms. To fix them, you can use special utilities or format the drive. Periodically check the flash card system for errors, use only safe removal from ports and do not pull out the device while it is running.

DIY flash drive photos

Flash drives often break and, as a rule, the outer shell - the case - fails. How to revive the drive so that it will serve you for a long time? Read on for how to make a DIY flash drive case: step by step instructions.

Today we're going to look at a few questions:

  • how to properly disassemble flash drives of different designs;
  • what tools are needed for this;
  • how to make a case for a flash drive.

In addition, we will tell you which materials at hand can be used to create a new case, and which ones are better not to use so as not to damage the media. At the end there will be small workshops on how to design this device in the form of a Lego cube and a lighter.

Flash drives are an integral part of modern life. Of course, there are various other kinds of storage media. Computers, laptops have long appeared in everyday life, in the end, some even use their smartphones for this. But despite this, these storage media do not lose their relevance: they can store large amounts of information, quickly and easily connect to various devices, and do not take up much space. They are used to store photos, videos, movies, music, and for many, this is an indispensable thing at work, for transferring reports, presentations and important documents.

Usually they are in a plastic "body", sometimes in silicone - manufacturers like to make such types in funny forms like fruits, cartoon characters and TV shows. And much less often they are more impressive, for example, steel. Plastic data carriers are easily damaged, they can break from an unexpected fall, bend at a break, crack when under a heavy object.

What is the way out of this situation? Spending money to buy a new device, time to transfer information? Why, if you can just read this article and learn how to create your own original case for a flash drive. In the possible options, you are limited only by the availability of materials and your imagination, the methods and types of home-made cases can be different: starting from a Lego cube or a piece of a bar left after repair, and ending with an ordinary cork. Some craftsmen create real works of art in various styles and even sell them. Since there are a lot of options, we will look at the basic principles - how to properly remove a flash drive from an old "body", and how not to damage it, what tools you may need and what items can be used to create a new design, and what materials should not be used.

Removing a flash drive

So, let's begin! First, just in case, transfer all the content to another device. A flash drive is:

  • whole;
  • collapsible.

If the former have a visible gap in the case, then the latter look monolithic. But both of them can be easily disassembled, the main thing is to know how.

Let's start with the "whole" type. Its connector is connected by a latch to the board, and this latch is latched, and it is impossible to disconnect it in the usual way. We need a thin, flat screwdriver. Using this tool, we make a hole between the body and the latch. Carefully, so as not to damage anything, lightly pressing, swing up and down. Such holes must be made in three or four places where the connection goes, now we can easily remove it.

Now about how to remove the case from a "collapsible" flash drive. Such a drive is much simpler and its disassembly requires less effort: there is a small slot along the case that facilitates work. We will also need a thin pen screwdriver. Unlike the monolithic type, there is no latch here, but there are latches that we need to open. We insert a screwdriver into the groove and open the case using the same rocking method. The latches may break, but this will not cause any harm to the drive.

Making a case for a flash drive

Well, we dismantled the flash drive, and now we move on to the main task - how to make a case for a flash drive? Your homemade version, as mentioned earlier, can be of any kind - the main thing is to keep the functionality of the drive. Firstly, the item must be easily connected to the computer, and secondly, the materials must not damage its components.

That is, the protruding edges should not interfere with the connection to the USB port, since an incompletely inserted one may not work, and it is also necessary to avoid collision of components with hot glue, paint and other aggressive materials. The new case must be sealed and prevent moisture from entering the board. The easiest way to choose plastic. It is much more difficult to create a shell made of wood or metal, but it will definitely last a long time and will retain its “presentation”.

One of the options for the case - from electrical tape

We make a flash drive case from a lighter

We will consider the simplest option, made from an ordinary lighter. Almost everyone has an old used lighter lying around somewhere at home, and sometimes they have an interesting design. We will need a clerical knife, a glue gun, a lighter of a suitable size, a screwdriver with a 3 mm drill. Such a lighter is suitable so that a flash drive without a case fits completely into it and only the USB port protrudes. Glue can be used any of those suitable for plastic.

First you need to release the remaining gas from the lighter, then make two holes in the bottom. Next, we make a cut with a knife along the contour framed by holes. Inside we install a USB flash drive and glue it with the case, remove the remaining glue. Our new drive enclosure is ready. We have an interesting and practical flash drive-lighter. As you can see, it is not difficult at all and does not take much time.

Flash drive - Lego cube

Another way to design a flash drive in an original way is to make it in the form of a Lego cube, which almost everyone has. We will need a few Lego blocks, a penknife, pliers, glue suitable for plastic, polish and sandpaper. First, we select cubes that are suitable in size for our flash drive. You can make a body of several cubes of different sizes and colors. We cut all the internal partitions with a penknife, now we break them out with pliers. We use the second same cube for the lid, cutting off everything to the top. At the end, we cut a hole for the USB connector, adjust, install the device.

Using the remains of the brick, we fix the flash drive so that it lies parallel. We fill the empty space, for this you can use transparent silicone. So that there is no gap between the base part and the cover, we rub the joint with sandpaper, glue it. After the glue dries, remove the residue using sandpaper. With the help of a polish, we complete the work.

Your exclusive do-it-yourself flash drive is ready!

So, as you may have noticed, making a case for a flash drive is not so difficult. The main advantage of making it yourself is that it will be truly original. After all, before proceeding with its implementation, you turn on your imagination, choose materials from improvised and more accessible to you, put them together and as a result you have an original and individual flash drive, which 100% will not go unnoticed. It will certainly emphasize your individuality and creativity.

Fpeshka is a modern and very symbolic gift that everyone will appreciate. But the plastic cases of USB drives do not look very presentable. If you want to make your gift pleasant not only in terms of the attention you have given, but also aesthetically spectacular, work hard and make a wooden case for a flash drive with your own hands.

materials

To make a wooden case for a USB drive with your own hands, prepare:


  • the flash drive itself;

  • a block of wood of any breed;

  • wood glue;

  • linseed oil or stain;

  • hot glue;

  • milling machine or hand tool for woodworking;

  • saw;

  • grinder;

  • sandpaper.

Step 1. From the bar you have, cut a piece 6 - 7 mm thick. The section parameters in this case were 55 x 55 mm.

Step 2. After cutting off the bar, carefully sand it for further work.

Step 3. Considering the parameters of the plastic case of the flash drive you have chosen, sketch out its prototype on paper. Attach it to the cut piece of wood, and then start making a groove for the internal stuffing of the flash drive. The depth of each groove should be 2.4 mm.

Step 4. Cut a part of the bar with grooves into two parts of the flash drive body. Sand them down.

Step 5. Disassemble the plastic case of the flash drive, leaving only its internal component and port.

Step 6. Place the flash drive circuit into one of the blanks of the wooden case. Secure it in place in the correct position with a dab of hot glue.

Step 7. Lubricate the halves of the wooden case with wood glue. Clamp it and place it in a vise. Remove excess glue immediately.