Introduction: USB Hub Inside Altiods Tin
This Instructable will teach you how to mount an USB hub inside an Altoids tin.
Step 1: Gather Materials
For this Instructable you will need:
an Altoids tin(obviously)
an USB hub
Scissors
small piece of card board
a drill
Dremel (optional)
Step 2: Drilling/ Cutting the Holes
Cut the holes depending on where the ports are on your hub. On mine there was two groups of two (see pic). I drilled a few holes in the side and started cutting with scissors. Then I smoothed out the rough corners with a Dremel but I'm sure sand paper would work also.
Step 3: Installing Cardboard and Hub
After you have cut your holes glue in a piece of card board cut to the size of the Altoid tin. I used hot glue but anything will work. The reason you glue in the card board because the circuits on the bottom of the hub overload when it touches the tin. Also if you haven't taken your hub out of the case yet do that now but be careful because when I took off my cover I snapped off a resistor and had to solder it back on. Once you have glued in the card board you can glue in the hub. Make sure the ports are sticking out a little so plugs can stick into them. One way to test this before you glue it is stick a plug into all of them. Also if you want to have the hub plugged in while the tin is closed then drill a hole in the side for the cord.
Step 4: Try It Out
Try out your new hub and bring it to work or school and look at peoples faces when they see you plugging in an Altoids tin into your laptop. Thanks for reading my Instructable hope you are satisfied.
17 Comments
8 years ago on Introduction
Nice a great gift 4 whom I'm giving it 2
8 years ago
dude you butchered that tin, try a dremmel, plus that cardboard will probably burn.
9 years ago on Step 4
cool
Reply 9 years ago on Step 4
Thanks!
10 years ago on Introduction
Where did you get that USB hub, where can I buy it, and how much is it
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
I just found that hub around my house but here are some links to where you could find one.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=usb+hub&_sacat=See-All-Categories
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwcanoniccom-20&index=blended&link_code=qs&field-keywords=usb%20hub
Cheers!
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Ok
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
The two main places I shop are amazon and ebay...
13 years ago on Introduction
cool i like it!
13 years ago on Introduction
could you just put the amount of holes you need for the USB hubs and put them in and solder each color to its color and solder them and add like a twenty five foot cord with at least 4 wires on it and then solder them and add another male USB and do the same and solder them to.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Could you please explain what you are trying to do and your question. What are the colors? thanks
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
I was saying put the amount of holes you need for the hubs and wire that correctly together and at a twenty-five foot cord coming from the altoind can then hooked up to a male USB.Does that answer your question. If it doesn't i'll add a pic if my camera still works.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
kind of why do you need the 25 foot long cable?
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Where I can use it just about anywhere
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Cool sounds good
14 years ago on Introduction
Although I probably have no right to comment as I don't have a Dremel and don;t know how hard it is to use one, Similar projects seem to look better around the edges, is there a specific reason why your edges look so rough? Either way, great idea.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I could have made the edges a lot more smooth but I was crunched for time and I don't really care if my edges are rough. But thanks