Introduction: PhoneDrive: a Retractable Flash Drive Built Into Your Phone!
Flash drives contain all of our important information from slideshows and pictures to music and videos. Unfortunately, they are easy to lose because of their small size. With Phone Drive you will always carry your flash drive - cleverly concealed and protected in your phone's case!
Did I mention it's retractable?
Step 1: What You Need
Materials:
-Phone case
-Thin metal strips*
-Micro flash drive
-Jeweler's files
-Sandpaper (optional)
-Drill (or drill press)
-Super glue
-Pliers
-Something to use as a switch (I used a plastic zipper pull)
*I got my thin metal strips from old windshield wipers, but you can use just about anything.
Step 2: Cut Holes in the Case
All phone cases are different, so it's hard to say exactly what to do. Basically, you need to cut two holes: one for the drive to slide out of and one for the lever mechanism. Just be creative and figure out a way to make it work. Use jeweler's files and sandpaper (optional) to smooth the edges of the holes.
Step 3: Inner Framework
This is where the thin metal strips come in. You need to make "tracks" for the flash drive to slide next to. Again you need to be creative as all phone cases are different. When you look at the pictures, notice how the flash drive can only slide in two directions: forward and back. These "tracks' keep the flash drive where it needs to be.
Step 4: Making the Lever
Take a metal strip and super glue one end of it to the flash drive and the other end to the switch.
Step 5: Test It
Slide the switch back and fourth. When you do this, the flash drive should move in and out of the case.
Step 6: You're Done!
Show off your new PhoneDrive and marvel upon it's splendidness!
Sorry if the instructions were difficult to understand. It was hard to explain and this is my first instructable.
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8 Comments
9 years ago on Introduction
what phone is that?
13 years ago on Step 4
instead of sliding the leaver i would of added a pivot point about half way so it acts more like a switch.
13 years ago on Introduction
You know how this phone is supposed to be indestructible... Guess what i did ya i broke it
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Haha yeah mine is also broken... internally. All I get is a blank screen. Verizon won't do anything for me. =(
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
The silver looking natery clip on the back of mine broke i thought it was metal but it is plastic
13 years ago on Introduction
Ha give it a crack with this phone some time. Really well made project and excellent concept for making it a slider. I may have to borrow the thought and try managing to get the drive inside the actual phone...
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
That would be so sick if you could do that! And thanks for the positive feedback. Is the instructable easy enough to understand?
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Yeah it makes good sense. When I get my new phone I'll gut the old one and try, though it's the one in the picture and very beat up. I have another one that broke but inside it's even more crammed.