Lego USB Stick

Creating a case out of Lego to house a USB memory stick. This has been done before but I haven't seen it done like this :)

Step 1: Creating The Case

Because my memory stick was quite large (in dimensions, not in storage capacity) I had to create a 6x3 Lego brick. I chopped a 4x2 and a 2x2 brick in half using a pen knife and another brick as a guide, the pliers on the same penknife were then used to remove the inner bits of the bricks and then the knife was used once again to remove the sides. Another 4x2 and a 2x2 brick were then used to create the case.

The four parts were stuck together using super glue and a steady hand.

Step 2: Installing the stick

A groove was cut into the case to locate the USB connector and after a small amount of modification to the PCB the stick was installed.

Step 3: Securing the stick

I stuck an offcut of one of the bricks at the bottom of the case as I found this made the stick sit at the right height. I then packed the whole thing full of clear silicone to made it stronger and reduce any movement from the stick.

Clear silicone was important as it still allows light to shine through.

Step 4: Stick it together and polish

I stuck a flat 6x2 and 6x1 brick to the top of the case to enclosed it all. Because of the amount of joins and glue lines some of the bricks weren't totally level so I used some fine wet and dry paper to level the edges up. Two different grades of metal polish were then used to make the edges smooth and shiny again.

Step 5: Finished

The finished product, the second image shows the original case for the memory stick and the final image shows the LED in action.

I was tempted to make an end cap, but it'd annoy me and I'd only loose it.

Have fun :)

Comments

[kendrick90]

This is what mine ended up looking like, it has a regular lego bottom too so you can build around it.

[kendrick90]

Pictures:

[ianhampton]

I bought a 'Kingston Minifun' memory stick a few months back to do a follow up to this article, my plan was to fit the 1gb memory stick inside a 2x2 lego brick (I reckon the minifun would fit) the design is already loosely based on lego anyway. I liked it too much when I got it as it made a very useful addition to my keys so i'm yet to chop it up, I may have to buy another :P

[cornflaker]

Hey I have an old 512mb one of those, did you know that if you pull the metal thing off (the usb connector part) you can get a really small flash drive? it's kinda hard to get out though and you need to jam a bit of paper in behind it cause it's too thin...

[scowmoo]

Hey, Would you mind giving me a sort of "Mini Instructable" on how to make your version? I can't figure it out :(

[indrog]

Hello, I was inspired by this instructable and decided to make a Lego usb "BLOCK" :) The stick is a Sandisk 4 GB drive, and this model was like a retractable one, and IT FITS PERFECT inside of lego bricks, but I still had to throw some leather strips in so it didnt stay in the computer when I try to remove it ;-} 1.Here are the pieces I used, and also a pic of me modifying the piece... 2.Here are the finished pieces when chip is ready to use (NO GLUE OR CUT PIECES, all natural legos surrounding the drive) 3.Drive plugged in and lit up :) 4.Drive plugged in and lit up :) 5.My fav new lego creation (carrying precious cargo :) this brick is kinda big for a usb port, but it had to be that way because I just built with legos around the chip until it was coverd in legos... Indrog

[kendrick90]

I used two 4X2 bricks and a 4X4 flat plate. I hollowed out the insides of the blue bricks. I also cut off some of the pegs that were sticking up on the bottom grey piece so the usb drive would sit just on top of the base. I cut off a layer from the bottoms of the two blue bricks so that when I put the blue ones on the grey one they were the standard lego height. I cut out a spot on the side to let the usb part stick out. I didn't have any silicon so i used hot glue instead. I just filled up the entire inside with hot glue, stuck the drive in and squished all the pieces together. I don't know if the hot glue is bad for the drive like some people have suggested. I only used this drive to store a few games on and rarely used it but it does still work. Also this usb drive is shaped weird, it came with the piece shown here which plugs into another piece with a standard looking plug. Also it has no lights so i didn't have to worry about making anything clear.

[joozey]

Here is my result :) Thanks for this Instructable!

[tonye]

Here's mine. Notice that one of the bricks is clear/red. That makes the little light on the USB drive visible. Thanks!

[President.Nulagi]

I saw this, and though it was amazing. However, I think its a bit too bulky. I present my attempt- A six-stud blue brick with black base and a matching 2 stud cap (slides on and off perfectly!). A keyring is fitted, and a blue led shines as a stud at the rear. - I hope this gives inspiration to all of you wanting to try this build!

[neivadan]

say how do u build this?

[Ganoderma]

 I made one also, just put a thin plate below it so it can still be used in lego buildings (even though it will probably never be used for that)

Images attached, sorry for the bad quality. They are made with my phone. 

[Ganoderma]

 Forgot to say, the white bit in the cap is from my G19 keyboard. It fits nicely over the USB connection without damaging it (it's silicone/rubber like) and it stays in place. That's how the cap stays on without problems and no magnets or some kind of click system. 

[wout smeets]

my usb stick

[gogglepoofs]

do u think i could pu the original cap inside the end piece? no magnets or whatever

[Ganoderma]

Depends on the cap really. If the cap clicks on the casing, it won't be much help. However, if the cap stays on by friction on the usb connector it will work (providing your cap is small enough to fit in the lego block of your choice)

[gogglepoofs]

thank u

[HeyJD]

Thanks. I made one my self. It took a whole day... But it was worth it!
(Sorry the pictures seem worse quality than it is on my computer.)

[frenzy]

This posting has won today's "I Made It" Challenge. For winning you will receive a 3 month pro membership!

Thanks for using instructables!

http://www.instructables.com/community/I-Made-It-Challenge-Is-Back-Win-A-Pro-Membership/

[HGUJK117]

Awsome USB!!! it tried making the same one but couldent get all the parts because i live in Oman(near Dubai) the only place is raidio shack.

[whereswatson5270]

all you have to do is build lego bricks around i dont really lke this on worst one so complicatedd people think it has to be SO complicated

[Monster Muncher]

I love the idea and its very clever

[Banaczech]

I loved this idea - nerds n lego! As a nerd I have advice.

Try and find wafer usb sticks as they take less effort to insert in to one of the bricks. I used a 2X4 for the stick and a 2X2 for the cap then simply inverted flat 2x4 and 2x2 for the bottom coverings.

If you use plumbing goop it takes 48hours to fully harden but holds like crazy. Then if you use some small super magnets (rare earth) and insert them in to the inside of the lego casing while the glue dries; you get a cap that holds itself on.

I attached the pic with dimes simply to show the magnet placements. Also I would suggest you make a template or use slow speed on the dremel to avoid making a bumpy line on your holes.

[SIRJAMES09]

problem is, you DON'T want magnets anywhere near a computer...it will mess it up.

you could loose all your memory, the Hard drive could turn into a large paperweight,...the CPU could go south permanently....there is all kinds of things hat can go wrong having magnets near the computer.

[orangetj]

That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. There is so much wrong with that statement I dont know where to start! first off any computer novice can tell you that the biggest component of a hard drive other then its metal disk is the motor in the middle and anyone with a brain can tell you that a motor is a magnet. secondly the arm that writes to the hard drive is you guesed it a magnet!

[the dashing hero]

dude ask kibou, its true.

[battlebotbob]

Sounds like fun BUT magnets might erase any credit cards or hotel room keys you keep in the same pocket or purse. I used to keep a couple of magnets on my keys to play with, but when i traveled i had to go to the front desk often to get my room card re-done, until i figured it out. When they go to RFID that might stop the problem.

[bigferret]

I have worked on, in and around computers for over three decades. It has been my "sacred duty" to keep magnets away from data storage devices. As this may apply to a laptop, closing the laptop would also imperil the display screen as it is rendered closer to the magnet. Am I just imagining this?

[eidlyn]

Your laptop already has magnets in it. They are so the computer can tell when the lid is closed. Your sacred quest is over. You must find a new path.

[marcoceppi]

For those with high fears of magnets you could place the rare earth magnet in the lid only, leaving a metal of some kind on the actual stick portion. Thereby satisfying the fear of magnets by computers while still retaining a functional cap.

[SIRJAMES09]

this is true...but I still wouldn't do it...my data is too valuable to me.

[eidlyn]

Your laptop already has a magnet in it. Its to tell the computer the lid is closed. This will not present any more of a problem than that.

[Banaczech]

A magnet won't have any effect on an LCD screen. They style used is also to low power to effect change on a drive in the machine. You'll find there are actually a lot of companies making sticks in this fashion. There are bamboo, silicone, metal and plastic cased drives being produced with magnetic lids.

See some of the other comments below too. :)

[Jedrokivich]

I heard that some types of silicon can dissolve the solder on the stick, so be careful.

[mikeeve]

And a fun project becomes even more fun. Thanks!

[prodo123]

Thank god the magnet doesn't wipe the drive out like it would on a hard drive.

[kcls]

If you inserted that into a laptop, at least on my laptop, it would be INCREDIBLY close to the screen. That would be bad.


_microdots

[joeofloath]

LCD screens aren't affected by magnetism. It's only CRT's that are. Of course, on some laptops the hard drive is near the USB slots, that WOULD be bad.

[Banaczech]

Additionally the power ofthe magnet isn't enough to through off the drive- unless you left it in there 24/7

[joeofloath]

I dunno, you could corrupt enough data for the OS not to boot. Unless it's an SSD of course XD