Altoids Tin Mouse (with Fan)

By musick_08 in Circuits Computers

4,855

I was looking around at all the instructables for computer mice. i found a lot of altoids tin mice so i decided to make my own version of one. i believe this my own invention (to put a fan in an altoids tin mouse) because i havn't seen any other altoids mice with fans in them, but i know its the first one on this website :) ( i take no responsibility if you get hurt or mess up your computer mice or anything else)

Step 1: Materials

Parts:

usb computer mouse

altoids tin

small cpu fan

small switch

cardboard

duct tape

safety glasses (not shown)

Tools:

dremel (not shown)

screwdriver

hot glue gun

soldering iron

tin snips (not shown)

Step 2: Open the Mouse

Unscrew the screws in the case and remove the circuit board.

Step 3: Solder

Find the section where the usb cord connects to the circuit board, then use a multimeter to find the + and - points where there is 5v. now solder the negative wire from the fan to the negative point on the circuit board and solder another wire to the positive point. solder the other end of the positive wire to the switch and then solder the positive wire from the fan to the other point on the switch.

Step 4: The Case

use a marker or something to mark where to cut. i used tin snips to cut the tabs for the top and for the wheel to fit. i also used them to make a slit in the front for the wire to come out. then i used a dremel to drill holes in the top for the fan to blow threw and on the side for the switch to fit. I also used the dremel to make a hole in the bottom for the led. finally i glued 2 pieces of plastic (you can use cardboard) so the circuit board will be slightly elevated from the base so the plastic part where the led is can fit inside the case. (make sure you use safety glasses when using the dremel)

Step 5: Assembly

Now take some cardboard and fold it zig-zag (sorry i don't know the technical term for this). then put some duct tape around it to secure it. make 2 of these and glue each one on a tab on the inside of the mouse. (these help the tabs to reach the mouse buttons).

Step 6: Assembly Cont.

Now put the circuit board in the mouse and hot glue it in place. (make sure the led section is alligned). now put in the switch and glue it in place. (make sure it can still move to both positions). finally put the fan on the inside of the lid and glue in place. (make sure it is blowing out of the case and not it)

Step 7: Final Touches

I had to bend the led legs in opposite directions, you may also have to bend some components.my case also didn't fit on right so i took the lid out of the hinges and just set it on top. then i hot glued in place. finally i put some duct tape on the bottom of the tin to help it glide better because i didn't take time to file the edges where the led goes. I hope you enjoyed this instructable. please rate and comment. thanks for viewing :)