Modding Flash Drives
USB drives (commonly referred to as flash drives) have become indispensable attributes of PC users, gradually replacing floppy disks and optical disks as a means of transferring data. The reasons for this are quite obvious - very small dimensions, large capacity and rather high protection of the information carrier from external factors. And the price of flash drives has been quite acceptable for many users for a long time.
Manufacturers produce USB drives with different speed characteristics, memory capacity, and attract potential buyers with various bonuses. At the same time, the design of devices is one of the main selection criteria for an ordinary consumer - the brighter, more original it is, the more chances a particular product has for success in the market. The reason for this is simple - a person always wants to stand out among friends, relatives, acquaintances, and flash drives as one of the attributes of urban homo sapiens have become an integral part of their everyday image. Surely many of you have a good old flash drive that fully satisfies all the requirements put forward for it. Minor flaws do not particularly affect the quality of work - a worn out, worn out body, a lost protective cap ... Stop! Why not turn the existing ordinary drive into a more interesting and original design product, sometimes even combining business with pleasure? Novice modders often undertake the manufacture or alteration of computer cases, a little less often their hands reach various kinds of peripherals (mainly manipulators), monitors. At the same time, few are turning their attention to USB sticks as blanks for future masterpieces. Their main purpose of this material is to demonstrate that a flash drive can also be an excellent option for the embodiment of interesting design solutions. Why exactly a drive? Once again, we list the main arguments "for": widespread use, mass availability, the presence of a large number of old flash drives in worn-out cases on the hands of users, ease of use (no moving parts, compact dimensions). All things considered, this is a great option for training and practicing the professional skills of a novice modder. Ideas related to changing the appearance of USB drives are born literally at every step. Judge for yourself: build a flash drive into bricks from a LEGO set, pour it into a special mold made of epoxy resin or liquid plexiglass, put it inside a keychain or into a small stuffed toy, flashlight, marker, or you can make a new case out of natural wood. This list is almost endless - the possibilities of modification are limited only by the imagination of the craftsman and the availability of the necessary blanks, materials, tools. At the same time, many ideas, to one degree or another, have already been implemented in practice, and you can familiarize yourself with the manuals for the manufacture of original versions of cases for flash drives by searching the Internet for the necessary information. From words to deeds So I decided to experiment with modding flash drives. The most difficult, perhaps, was to decide on the ideas and design concepts. I settled on putting one stick in a lipstick case, the other in an exclusive clay case. Before starting work, decide if you want to replace the boring case of your old drive. If the answer is yes, and the flash drive is functioning normally, let's get down to business (by the way, those who are afraid of spoiling something the first time can practice on non-working drives - probably several of them in the form of key fobs and just various kinds of junk are available on in the hands of friends, acquaintances). The first stage is disassembling the old drive case (if it is not broken yet, of course). To do this, use a clerical knife or a thin small screwdriver to separate the halves of the plastic case.Be careful - do not overdo it, because inside there is a board with miniature smd components soldered on it, damage to which can damage the flash drive. After successfully completing the disassembly procedure, once again make sure that the drive is fully operational, and then take care of increasing its dust and moisture protection. To do this, wrap the USB connector with "electrical tape" or tape, and cover the entire board on both sides with several layers of varnish or paint. By the way, at this stage, the modifications can be completed - the disassembled drive looks very extraordinary, and the coating layer protects the PCB and components from moisture and accidental damage. However, keep in mind that such a solution has a reduced mechanical strength, and extra care must be taken when handling it. One of the drives, as mentioned above, I decided to put in a lipstick case, which first needs to be obtained somewhere. We carefully remove the lipstick itself, wipe the case. Please note that flash cards have different dimensions - some will turn out to be too long, thereby preventing a successful repetition of the mod I described. The next stage is trying on a flash drive. In my case, the board turned out to be slightly wider than the inner diameter of the case. It was possible to slightly reduce its dimensions with the help of a file - there are no contact pads on the sides of the PCV by about 0.5-1 mm from the edge, so you can safely repeat such manipulations. However, be extremely careful - one extra movement, the only worn-out guide - and the flash drive will become inoperative. After successful fitting, install the drive in the case and fill it with silicone sealant. Depending on the skills and desire of the modder, you can keep the retractable mechanism of the new case or make our "lipstick" immovable. It remains only to wait until the sealant hardens, and the updated flash drive can be successfully used. I decided to place the second drive in an exclusive case, made in the folk style. To make it, I need some sculptural clay, which can be bought, for example, in art workshops or large stationery stores. Carefully study the instructions for using this material, remember the lessons of plasticine modeling in kindergarten - and forward, to the embodiment of the most extraordinary ideas! Since I varnished the PCB sticks, there is no need to worry about additional moisture protection. When the new body takes on its final appearance, we leave alone our creation to harden. The cured clay can then be painted and / or varnished to add extra shine. Such a solution in terms of strength is no worse than a plastic case, but still be careful if you end up making a very small flash drive - thin ceramic walls will be too fragile. Outcomes In this article, I told how, after spending just a few hours, radically change the design of an existing old flash drive. The good news is that due to the simplicity of handling the drive, there are practically no limits for the flight of fancy for modifications. The actions I have described are not at all difficult to repeat - even a child can cope with them. Likewise, you can find a worthy replacement for the old drive enclosure at least every month. As a result, there will be an occasion to show off an exclusive device to friends and acquaintances. And imagine the expressions on the faces of amazed observers when you take out of your pocket ... "lipstick" and insert it into the USB-connector of your computer! I think such a gadget will make a splash, and will regularly amuse not only its owner.
