Introduction: The 512GB Floppy Disk - Micro SD Storage
Floppy disks can't store much, but what if they could?
I thought it would be really interesting to add storage space to an old storage media that no one will use any more. I had some floppies lying around and thought I'd give it a try! My goal was to make it look as original and unmodified as possible.
Supplies
Here are a few things you'll need for this project:
- 3.5" floppy disk - https://amzn.to/3Q3No8B
- Magnets 1x6mm - https://amzn.to/3vgtLlt
- Heavy cardstock - https://amzn.to/3Q0ykbC
- Micro SD cards - https://amzn.to/3vmNctc
- Cellophane tape - https://amzn.to/3betclG
- Super glue - https://amzn.to/3bclpEU
- Adhesive vinyl - https://amzn.to/3S5sszP
Some tools I used:
- Cricut explore air 2 - https://amzn.to/3PU9slQ
- Milling machine - https://amzn.to/3PHKhDi
- Dremel - https://amzn.to/3S3qgc1
- Hobby razor blade - https://amzn.to/3vjiHnM
Note: I may earn a commission from the links above. If you do buy something, that helps me out and I greatly appreciate it!
Step 1: Take Apart Floppy Disk
The first step is to take the floppy disk apart:
- Remove the metal slider at the bottom - be careful to keep the front side undamaged
- There is a spring inside pushing the slider shut - you won't need that any longer
- The actual floppy disk itself isn't needed
Step 2: Cut the Metal Slider
To be able to open and close the floppy disk, you'll need to remove the back half of the metal slider
- I used a Dremel and carefully cut along the bottom of the slider, and kept the front of the slider
- After this, I glued the metal slider back onto the front housing of the floppy disk.
Step 3: Remove Raised Features Inside Floppy
In my floppy, there were a few raised features on the inside of the 3.5" circular area (on the plastic housing). I machined those to be flush with the main surface of the housing, but you could use a dremel or similar tool to make it flat.
Step 4: Install Magnets Inside Floppy
I machined pockets in the corners of the lower housing to get the magnets to sit flush with each other once both halves of the housing were closed. The magnets were glued into place. On the upper housing, I didn't machine any pockets.
The pocket depth was trial and error. I machined and tested several times. Make sure to go slowly and avoid breaking through the plastic housing!
To install:
With the magnets glued to the lower housing (in the pockets), I put the upper magnets directly onto the lower ones, added some glue to the top of the exposed top of the upper magnets, and then put the floppy together - easy alignment. Give it a few minutes for the glue to dry.
Step 5: Cut the Internal Divider Parts
There are two main parts that hold the micro SD cards:
- The dividers (heavy cardstock)
- The vinyl adhesive backer
I cut 4 identical dividers (total thickness should be 0.040-0.050") on my cricut, and then aligned, stacked and glued them together using the disk alignment plate (3d printed) and super glue. The disk alignment plate is removed once the dividers are aligned and glue is on them.
I used a few books to smash the dividers flat during gluing. Find something heavy and flat to use, otherwise the dividers may not sit flat and might not let the floppy disk close all the way.
Once they're glued together, you can add the vinyl adhesive backer (sticky side up) to the divider stack. Then, that entire assembly can be glue into the bottom housing of the floppy disk.
Step 6: Add a Hinge
I used a lo-fi method for a hinge - cellophane tape.
With the floppy disk assembled:
- I added tape in the upper area - wrapping from the front, over the top and to the back - making sure it was wider the the recess in the back
- Next, I trimmed the tape with a hobby razor, to be flush with that recess in the back. It gave it a nice clean appearance.
Step 7: Impress Your Friends
Now, instead of having the same micro sd card holder that everyone has, you have a very unique way to store your cards!
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48 Comments
1 year ago
Interesting idea, but it's just storage for micro-SD cards - and a lot of work for what is just a fancy storage box. I prefer the hidden flash drive by MatiasMamo that lets you hide an operating flash drive out in plain sight - in an obsolete USB cable. The cost is a free old USB cable and whatever size flash drive you choose, which you probably have already. — https://www.instructables.com/Secret-Flash-Drive-inside-an-USB-cable/
Reply 9 months ago
Here's just one of the reason this floppy disk storying micro-SD's is better than the cable idea... The floppy disk will store the micro-SD card much more comfortably in your pocket, than a cable in your pocket. In addition, both the cable and the floppy disk store "out in plain sight", but a disk sitting on the desk or in a drawer would appear a little more natural than a cable sitting on your desk for days on end.
Reply 1 year ago
Yes, it was a fair amount of work. Nice - that's a great idea for a project!
1 year ago on Introduction
In terms of RAW MATERIALS Cost, what is the replacement price of all those little micro sd's when someone cleans off your desktop and throws out those OLD, Obsolete Floppy Discs?
And how many hours of Make It Over Again Time will be spent in recovering all the File Contents contained on them - if you can remember what was on each of the micro sd's.
Reply 9 months ago
Reply 1 year ago
WTF is *someone else* doing "cleaning off" *your* desktop in the first place? Even if you have a shared workspace, labeling the disks as yours should be sufficient to keep others from tossing your stuff without asking you; if your coworkers can't respect your property, you should find somewhere else to work. Heck, my *wife* respects me enough, even after all we've been through, to ask me before throwing out *literal garbage* from my desk, let alone something that might have some sort of value to me.
11 months ago
Love this, thanks for posting!
1 year ago on Step 4
The magnets are part of the closure for the case. But just wondering if there is any concern about data loss if I used some extra-strong neodymium magnets I have that are the size you listed. ?
Great upcycle and storage idea!!
Best Answer 11 months ago
You should be okay - SD cards aren't magnetic storage media.
1 year ago
Great, creative idea! But (and I'm sorry to throw a "But" in) But, once I saw that the micro SD cards were inside, I expect you to slide the data gate open, rotate until the desired SD card was in view and remove it. Then you would put it back when down. But, don't let this idea (you've probably heard a million times) be little your great idea! I love it!
Reply 11 months ago
After building this Instructable and seeing your comment, I created an Instructable to do just as you suggest. It's possibly an easier build, especially if one has a 3D printer. No magnets! https://www.instructables.com/Floppy-Diskette-SD-Card-Caddy-Dispenser/
Reply 11 months ago
Nice work! It's pretty cool to keep the metal slide on the floppy. Good job!
Reply 1 year ago
I also at first thought the disk in the middle was designed to rotate so a SD card would be dispensed via the data gate. AnD then I realised the flip case is a better way of doing things. Flip it open, select a SD card, flip it closed. Easy, Simple AnD Fast.
11 months ago
Sony did make a floppy that held a memory card and I recall a couple of flat cell batteries. It could be read on a regular drive. Just found mine Sony memory Stick / Floppy Disk Adaptor MSAC-FD2M
Yours is a good project though !
Reply 11 months ago
That's really interesting! I had no idea something like that existed.
1 year ago
I’ve always heard to keep magnets away from computer storage devices. Is that risky to put them that close to the SD cards?
Reply 1 year ago
That only applies to magnetic media; SD cards aren't magnetic storage, so they don't really care. You could sandwich an SD card between two rare earth magnets, and as long as the magnets don't physically destroy it, the SD card would be perfectly fine.
Reply 1 year ago
Wow! I had no idea they weren’t magnetic. I’ve always worried about that because I have some kind of magnet fetish and always have some in my purse. So I was always careful to make there weren’t any in the pocket where I put my SD cards and such. Good info! Thanks.
Reply 1 year ago
Thats true. All material or buy 1tb HDD.
1 year ago
After completing my diskette card caddy, I realized that one could once find self-adhesive diskette labels that wrapped completely around the diskette, and could be used in place of the tape. I don't think it would be an easy matter to find those labels, though.