Nintendo controller into a PC card reader

Put a card reader inside a Nintendo Controller for your desktop or laptop computer.

Any mention of this project must provide a link to www.zieak.com with credit to Ryan McFarland.

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Step 1: Tools and materials

You'll need some stuff for this project.

A Nintendo Controller
A card reader of your choice
Small screwdrivers
A rotary tool
A hobby knife set
Glues

Step 2: Make some space

Glue the buttons in place and use the rotary tool to open up the case to make room for the card reader. Remember that you might want to get back in so try and leave the four corner screws something to bite into. Also think about the cord for the reader and how it will fit in the space available.

Step 3: Make the necessary slots

Mark the areas for the cards you want to be able to read. If you have a 12 in 1 card reader but only use one or two types of cards why bother with all the extra openings? Use the rotary took to cut the initial hole and then the razor to trim it up nicely.

Step 4: Figure out the cord route

If you can, trim away the cord and route it through the opening in the back of the controller. Then use hot glue to anchor everything in place. Remember to make sure you don't block acces to any of the slots you will be using for the cards.

doodlecraft6 months ago

Super cool! :)

Moneegreen3 years ago

That is so freaken cool yo

ivondudley3 years ago

Very clever

diyluke6 years ago

Heck if you have two controllers around why not make the USB hub to go with it?

zieak (author) diyluke6 years ago

I made an optical mouse out of the other one. Check it out...
http://www.zieak.com/2005/08/08/nintendo-mouse/

Soopah Steve zieak4 years ago

OMG THATS FREAKING AWESOME! I WOULD 40/5 * THAT IF POSSIBLE.

zieak (author) Soopah Steve4 years ago

Thank you! My very first instructable and one of my favorites too!

WMILLER73 zieak5 years ago

That is really cool. I don't have anything that I can post in a step by step on here yet. I have a old Nintendo. I'll have to try this

robots1996 years ago

I love this instructible, 5stars, But shouldn't the title be pc card reader into Nintendo controller

zieak (author) robots1996 years ago

Perhaps best worded as "PC card reader inside a Nintendo controller case"

sail4sea8 years ago

I saw this and had toI make one too. I had a few questions. How did you get the buttons to stay glued in? I am afraid someone will pick it up and try to push the buttons and ruin it. What do you do with the guts of the Nintendo controller?

NetReaper sail4sea6 years ago

use a plastic glue, the inside of the controller for a science project or for decoration. but remember, the solder on the circut board has lead in it, wash yourhands and dont have prolonged touching of it.

Derin NetReaper6 years ago

not with RoHS standards

SARAN8 years ago

WHAT KIND OF CARDS DOES IT READ

NetReaper SARAN6 years ago

whatever kind of reader you put in it

gw8127 years ago

A suggestion: once you razor out the holes go back with a needle file to smooth them and cut precise corners. It'll look even better! Fantastic instructable, btw. Gonna do this to my dead controller!

mutant8 years ago

At first I thought it was to play an SD card on the NES, to play NES ROMS. Sadly it's not.

DannyHunt mutant8 years ago

Yep... I thought the same thing :(

zieak (author) DannyHunt8 years ago

I just changed the title and summary to better reflect that it is a card reader for a computer.

Bobfrizzle8 years ago

fucken tight man!

zieak (author) 8 years ago

Mine just does compact flash and sd cards - they are the only ones i use but the cardreader has slots for others. Just use a cardreader that has slots for the type you need.

popphoto8 years ago

Hey zieak, I'm an editor at Popular Photography, and I might like to put this in our June issue. Will you write me at dgrossman(@)hfmus.com? best, Debbie

zieak (author) 8 years ago

I tried superglue but it wasn't strong enough so switched to Elmer's Probond Ultimate Glue. You need to use water to make the glue set up though so just follow the label's instructions. I seem to have managed a very strong bond.

sail4sea8 years ago

And here is a picture of mine.