3.5" Floppy PCB Christmas Star

by bobo1273 in Circuits > Art

1602 Views, 4 Favorites, 0 Comments

3.5" Floppy PCB Christmas Star

20111202_180402.jpg
20111202_180634.jpg
20111202_180651.jpg
20111202_180738.jpg
20111202_175550.jpg
20111202_182914.jpg
20111202_183023.jpg
20111202_183202.jpg
20111202_183310.jpg
20111202_171422.jpg
Hello, this is my first tutorial about PCB recycling.
I am from the Bulgarian Scout Organisation and we make a christmas bazaar.Then i came with this idea. 

This is my idea how to convert your old and unusefull (maybe not working) 3.5 Floppy Disk Drive in to lovely Christmas star for the Christmas tree

I havent`n seen such star like mine on the internet, so i decided to make an instructable how to make it.

Tool you will need:

1. Dremel tool,hacksaw or jigsaw to cut the PCB.
2. Screwdriver 
3. Sandpaper
4. Hot Glue gun, or some glue that will stick with PCB and metal.
5. Drill with stand
6. And of course some free time :) (it took me about 50 minutes, because the PCB is getting hot too fast)

So let`s get started.

P.S. PCB-Printed Circuit Boards :)

20111202_183202.jpg
20111202_183310.jpg
20111202_182914.jpg
20111202_183023.jpg
20111202_171422.jpg
Now you take your old flopy and remove all the screws you found to open it.
Then you disconnect all the cables you see on the PCB
Next remove all the screws that hold the motor and the PCB.
Now you have motor board, PCB and the aluminum chassis

For this project you will use only the motor board.
The other board and the motor for the head I will save for other projects, and the aluminum chassis i will return at metal recycle station :D

20111202_171259.jpg
20111202_171422.jpg
20111202_171615.jpg
At this step you must Disconnect the magnet from the motor. Some of them are not connected directly(you just pull up the magnet), some are with one screw or stopping caps.
Then you can desolder the coil with your solder iron, or just cut the wires with knive.If it has screws, remove and save them.

20111202_171436.jpg
20111202_174104.jpg
20111202_174725.jpg
Now grab a pencil, or marker and draw a star on one side of your PCB.Align the star so the coil to be in the center.

Now cut the star with the toll you have, and smooth the sides and edges

Now you have smooth and beautiful PCB star.

20111202_175333.jpg
20111202_175701.jpg
20111202_175955.jpg
Take your tool and drill a hole in the star for the strap.

Now come the assembly part =)
You can use the hot glue gun, if it is without screws.





20111202_180027.jpg
20111202_180216.jpg
20111202_180324.jpg
20111202_180416.jpg
20111202_180314.jpg
The star is almost complete.

I use an old floppy cable for the strap.Just take one wire from the cable, go through the hole that you drill and make a knot.

Finishing touch like remove the marks that you make for the cutting.

Your star is fully complete :D

I hope enjoy my tutorial, and make a great add on for your Christmas tree or a good present for your friends.

Please comment and if you have any questions, feel free to ask

Merry Christmas and Happy new year from Bulgaria.