Introduction: COMBO USB DRIVE WITH ALTOIDS CAN
This is my first instructable and I've decided to make a new gadget with ALTOIDS can. This one is a COMBO USB drive, that you can group all your old flash drives into a one, original and custom shape drive. Enjoy and comment please!
Yet, I am brazilian, so sorry about English language mistakes, ok? :)
Step 1: What You Need
- Old Flash Drives (4 is a good amount)
- Empty ALTOIDS can
- Old mouse pad
- DREMEL
- Hot Silicone Glue
Step 2: Marking and Cutting
Mark the exact size of an USB por of your USB flash drives on the top side of the ALTOIDS can. Use a sharp pencil to mark EXACTLY the size of the port. DO NOT CUT MORE THAN NECESSARY or you cannot glue the flash drive after, ok?
Cut with DREMEL windows for all your flash drives you want to use.
Step 3: ELETRIC ISOLATION
Use an old mouse pad to cover the internal metal bottom of the can. It is a necessary step in order to make internal eletric isolation and avoid chocking hazard and hardware destruction. Place the rubber side of the mouse pad upwards.
Step 4: Glue Flash Drives
Now, all you need to do is place each flash drive inside each window and glue it with hot silicone glue. DO NOT USE EPOXI or other fixing materials in order to avoid hardware damage. Use a generous dose of glue to make it very solid!
Step 5: Final Details
In thesis, your COMBO Drive is ready to use, but you need an extension USB cable to connect it on PC. Use a small cable in order to keep it inside the ALTOIDS can.
Step 6: DONE!
Your ALTOIDS COMBO USB DRIVE is done and ready to keep all your data. You have now an original flash drive and with lots of space! The size in GB of your combo drive depends of how many space are on your flash drives. Enjoy!
71 Comments
8 years ago on Introduction
I don't get why you can't just pack your USBs inside the Altoid tins. I could pack about 6-8 average USBs in there...
10 years ago on Step 6
Awesome! I really like it!
11 years ago on Introduction
I like it, I reallly like it!!!
At last I can make use of all the old flash drives in my house! Thank you Cesar!
I would attempt to protect the male ports of the drive, because you removed the casings, they might shear off the PC board.
I feel you on the language front. I'm for South Africa, English is only spoken here in self defence, or by the remaining British! :P
14 years ago on Introduction
You spelled "electric" or "electronic" wrong.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
You got the idea though right?
Play nice, the guys is a self taught english speaker...
Respect Cesar! Cool Instructable!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Thank you very much, my friend, for your explanation. You don't know how hard is to learn English by myself in order to improve my chances for a better job or even for meet new friends around the world. I really appreciate your tip and promise to do my best to speak well your Language! Regards!
12 years ago on Step 5
so wait... how does this work and What is it good 4?
13 years ago on Introduction
lol, why wouldn't you just set your flash drives in the tin? well i guess thats not as much fun.
14 years ago on Introduction
i would put the drive's connectors on the inside somehow, to protect the connectors better and also to make the tin look more ordinary. anyway, nice project!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
OH! the purple kinkston drive is 4GB, right? and also, wat are the other ones?
14 years ago on Introduction
is it possable to put a usb hub in there and sut up the drives to all come up as one big one.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Ofcourse it possible, the question is can you? :P
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Ahh I didn't read the last part of your comment yeah I think its possible to set them up in some kind of raid configuration but I don't know how exactly, I do remember something from a while ago where this guy set up 4 iPod shuffle's in raid
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
probably.
14 years ago on Introduction
This is a really cool idea. Using a mouse pad for the bottom is a good idea too, a lot easier than trying to cover it with electrical tape.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Its true. Using mouse pad was the only solution I had in hands, because when I build the Multi Drive, I havent eletrical tape. Yet, mouse pad is very soft and protect the flash drives better. But you can use byke tire air tubes, rubber slices, old rubber gloves or any material that promote eletric isolation. If I can ask you something, please give some stars to my instructable, OK? I received more than 80 comments, but only 5 votes. Regards!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
All right. 4.5 stars
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I say 100 stars I tried it and it really works my husband is a computer programmer he knows all about that stuff
14 years ago on Step 6
http://www.hacknmod.com/store/images/uploads/sku_4412_1.jpg
add this to it and ur set. all mounted together
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
never mind; i just got confused.