Steampunk Data Medium

Originally, the plan was to design a simple (and portable) steampunk flash drive. But then this beautiful clock unit crossed my way.

The materials I used:

- clock unit
- flash drive
- male to female USB cable
- copper wire

The tools I used:

- different tongs
- soldering iron, solder and a "third hand"
- forceps
- scapel
- metal saw

As I said, originally the present should have been a flash drive. I went to the clockmaker, to ask for gear wheels.
Well, they gave me the clock unit you'll find on the picture. So I changed my plan and made an "external storage medium".

Having your clock unit, you need to remove the barrel with the spring. This barrel will be the new casing for the circuit board. I could have removed the barrel without opening the whole clock unit. (What I discovered right after I opened the clock unit. It took me over half an hour to put everything back in the correct way.)

Take care while removing the spring out of the barrel (leather gloves can be of advantage)! Or you ask your clockmaker, if he removes it for you.

In this picture I already removed the left barrel with the spring.

I used a male to female usb cable and cut it in half, because I just needed the male plug. For a more "steampunky" look, I removed the plastic cover with a scalpel. Take care that you don't damage the metal cover.

I also removed the plastic cover of the USB-plug and wrapped the copper wire around it.

Finally I had to disclose the 4 wires within the cable to be able to solder them onto the circuit board.

In my case the disclosure of the circuit board was a little tricky, because my flash drive was glued into the cover. But it doesn't matter if you damage the USB-plug, you won't need it anymore.

Now you need to remove the USB plug from the circuit board. I used the soldering iron to do so.

Cut a hole in the barrel and solder the wire on the connection-plates on the circuit board. If you don't know how, there are many explanations on the internet.

Now you just need to put the circuit board into the barrel, what in my case fitted very nicely. Close the barrel again with the lit and reinstall it in the clock unit.

Have fun with your new data medium!