How to Turn a Cassette Tape Into an MP3 Player

This is an Instructable on how to turn a cassette tape into an MP3 player. This is my "remixed" version of BrittLiv's, but I was not able to enter it into the Remix Contest. Her version can be found here. Keep in mind that I essentially did exactly what she did, I just decided to keep out the magnetic tape that she had put back into the cassette. I may also use a different template. But I really enjoyed her Instructable, and had never seen anyone make something like this before, and definitely wanted to try it as well.

NOTE: This Instructable is not yet finished. These are just a few steps that I had to add on here to meet a deadline for a project. The rest will be posted as soon as the product is finished. Anyway, let's get into it!

Things You Will Need:

• Cassette Tape (needs to be held together with screws)
• Block USB MP3 Player
• Copper Wire
• Screws
• Screwdriver (to take apart the cassette tape with)
• Soldering Iron
• Dremel
• Diamond File
• Glue (JB Weld, 5 Minute Epoxy)
• Miniature Snap Action Switches (four are needed)
• Micro SD Card (I used an 8GB)
• C-clamps (optional)

First take apart the cassette tape. Once I did this, I took everything out (wheels, magnetic tape, etc.) and put it off to the side. Next, you're going to need to create the openings for the switch, the USB and the headphone jack. I used the diamond file to do this. I have not yet received my Block USB player in the mail yet, so when doing this, I had to guess and create an opening I felt would be large enough to solder the components in.

Next, you will have to cut slots into the wheels. I used the diamond file for this as well. Because the space is limited, you will have to cut the wheel also, in order for it to fit into the cassette tape along with everything else. I used the dremel to cut the outer part of the wheels. I glued the wheels in place using the 5 Minute Epoxy & Epoxy Hardener. You just mix them together, and apply them to the cassette tape and the wheels. A C-clamp is optional if you want to hold the wheels in place while they dry, though I decided not to use them. Once that has dried, you will need to glue the screws into the slots. I did not have M3 screws available, as used in BrittLiv's Instructable, so I used what I felt would be a good size. It was about the same size as an M3 screw in height, but I had to dremel the head and part of the screw off so there was more room for the snap action switches. At the time, the Epoxy glues were unavailable, so I used Epoxy Resin and Epoxy Hardener. Again, I mixed these two together and applied it to the wheel slots and the screws. This obviously took more time to dry compared to using the other glue, so the 5 Minute Epoxy glue is recommended. Because I did not put the magnetic tape back into the cassette, it seemed almost pointless to cut the 10 cm of magnetic tape off for later, but I did it anyway, as BrittLiv had instructed.

Remember: I have not yet received my Block USB Player in the mail, and that is an essential part in finishing this step, so please bear with me. The rest of the steps to this Instructable will be up as soon as they arrive.