Flash drives often break and, as a rule, the outer shell - the case - fails. How to reanimate the drive so that it will serve you for a long time? Read on for how to make a case for a flash drive with your own hands: a step-by-step instruction.
Today we will consider several questions:
- how to disassemble flash drives of different designs;
- what tools are needed for this;
- How to make a case for a flash drive.
Learn how to make a case for a flash drive yourself and properly
In addition, let us tell you which materials at hand can be used to create a new case, and which ones should not be used in order not to damage the carrier. In the end there will be small master classes on the design of this device in the form of a Lego cube and a lighter.
Flash drives are an integral part of the life of modern man. Of course, there are various other types of media. For a long time computers, laptops appeared in everyday life, in the end, some even use their smartphones for this. But despite this, these data carriers do not lose their relevance: they can store large amounts of information, quickly and easily connect to various devices, do not take up much space. They are used to store photos, videos, movies, music, and for many - it is an indispensable thing at work, to transfer reports, presentations and important documents.
There are many varieties of them. Usually they are in a plastic "body", sometimes in silicone - these types of manufacturers like to do in funny forms like fruits, cartoon characters and TV shows. And much less often they are more impressive, for example, steel. Plastic media, on the other hand, is easily susceptible to damage, they can crack from an unexpected fall, bend at a jog, crack, being under a heavy object.
Ways to make your own flash drive body
What is the way out of this situation? Spending money on buying a new device, time to transfer information? Why, if you can just read this article and learn how to create your original case for a flash drive. In possible cases, you are limited only by the availability of materials and your imagination, the ways and types of improvised buildings can be different: starting from the Lego cube or a piece of bar remaining after the repair, and ending with the usual cork. Some craftsmen create real works of art in various styles and even sell them. Since there are a lot of options, we will consider the basic principles - how to remove a flash drive from the old “body”, and how not to damage it, what tools you may need and what items you can use to create a new design, and which materials you should not use.
There are many options for making a USB case
Removing a flash drive
So, let's begin! To start, just in case, transfer all the contents to another device. A flash drive happens:
- whole;
- collapsible.
If the first ones have a visible gap in the case, then the second ones look monolithic. But they both can be easily disassembled, the main thing is to know how.
Let's start with the "solid" 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 will need a thin, flat feather screwdriver. With the help of this tool, we make a hole between the case and the retainer. Carefully, in order not to damage anything, slightly pressing, we swing up and down. Such holes must be made in three or four places where the connection is going on, now we can easily remove it.
Using a feather screwdriver, unclip the retainer with the card.
Now how to remove the case from the "collapsible" flash drive. Such a drive is much simpler and its disassembly requires less effort: there is a small slot along the body that facilitates the work. We will also need a thin feather screwdriver. Unlike the monolithic type, there is no retainer here, but there are latches that we need to open. We insert the screwdriver into the groove and in the same method of swinging we open the case. The latches may break, but this will not do any harm to the drive.
Making a case for flash drives
Well, we disassembled the flash drive, and now we turn to the main task - how to make a case for a flash drive? Your self-made version, as mentioned earlier, can be of any kind - the main thing, while maintaining the functionality of the drive. First, the object should be easily connected to the computer, and secondly, the materials should not damage its components.
That is, the protruding faces should not interfere with the connection to the USB port, since not fully inserted may not work, and you should avoid colliding components with hot glue, paint and other aggressive materials. The new case must be sealed and not allow moisture to enter 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 last for a long time and will retain its “presentation”.
One of the variants of the case - from electrical tape
Making the case of flash drives from the lighter
We consider the most simple option, made from an ordinary lighter. Almost everyone has an old used cigarette lighter somewhere at home somewhere, and sometimes they have an interesting design. We will need a clerical knife, glue gun, a lighter of a suitable size, a screwdriver with a 3 mm drill bit. Such a lighter will fit, so that a USB flash drive without a case fits completely into it and only the USB port protrudes. Glue can be used any suitable for plastics.
First you need to lower the remaining gas from the lighter, then make two holes in the bottom. Then we make a knife cut along the contour, framed by holes. Inside we install a flash drive and glue it with the case, remove the remnants of glue. Our new case for the drive is ready. We had an interesting and practical flash drive lighter. As you can see, it is not difficult at all and does not take much time.
It's not difficult to make a case out of an old lighter
Flash Drive - Lego Cube
Another way to create 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 several Lego cubes, a penknife, pliers, glue suitable for plastics, polish and sandpaper. First, we select cubes that fit our flash drive. You can make a case of several cubes of different sizes and colors. Use the pen knife to cut all the internal partitions, now we break them out with pliers. The second same cube is used for the cover, cutting everything to the top. At the end we cut a hole for the USB connector, adjust, install the device.
After a small fit with a penknife, install the device into the body
Using the remnants of bricks, fix the flash drive so that it lies parallel. Fill the empty space, for this you can use a transparent silicone. So that there is no gap between the base part and the cover, we rub the joint with an emery paper and glue it together. After the glue dries, remove the residue using sandpaper. With the help of polishes we complete the work.
Using sandpaper, remove burrs and glue stains from the side edges of the housing.
Your exclusive DIY flash drive is ready!
So, as you can see, making the case for a flash drive is not so difficult. The main advantage of making it personally is that it will be truly original. After all, before proceeding to its implementation, you turn on your imagination, choose materials from handy and more accessible to you, put them together and as a result you have an original and individual USB flash drive, which 100% will not go unnoticed. She will certainly emphasize your individuality and creativity.