Id like to “zip” both sides of a portable external hard drive case with a drive inside and its connector cord (external drive port to USB-C) protruding out.

Its to keep the drive safer or cushion the fall if it falls accidentally.

  • Vitalstatistix@lemmy.world
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    26 days ago

    Punch or drill a small hole in the top or bottom of the clamshell for the cable to pass through while the case is completely zipped, or just run the cable out where the zipper ends. Like zip it 99% of the way closed leaving room for the cable to exit.

    • cheese_greater@lemmy.worldOP
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      26 days ago

      I wonder if that might be too severe a range of possible angles that it might put too much stress/wear and tear on the cord.

        • cheese_greater@lemmy.worldOP
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          26 days ago

          Imagine a small camera case that has one zipper that starts and ends on the same side but it has to go all the way around. The case is like a clamshell with only one zipper

        • cheese_greater@lemmy.worldOP
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          26 days ago

          See update at top for pic

          The drives ports are at the top and the cord goes out the middle top but the zipper cant get around/past it as a consequence

      • tal@lemmy.today
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        27 days ago

        Get a longer USB cable, run it out the base of wherever the zipper is, and up the outside of the case?

        • cheese_greater@lemmy.worldOP
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          26 days ago

          Negative, needs to work with a short cable (the length actually doesnt really matter here ) the point is getting the other side sealed so theres only the small gap required by the cord to go out from the middle to connect to pc

  • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe
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    26 days ago

    First, heat will be a concern of it’s plugged in for any length of time - the zippered case will act like an insulator.

    If you’re still set on doing this, you can either orient the drive so the cables protrude from the closing end of the zipper, or poke holes through the case in a spot that’s ideal.

    That kind of material tends to fray when cut, but melting a hole with a soldering iron works well-it seals the edge.

    If space in there is limited, or you want to have the cables routed differently, there are 90° cables/adapters which can help.

  • Vitalstatistix@lemmy.world
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    26 days ago

    After looking at the picture a little closer, there’s not much room in that case for the rigid portion of the USB connector when it’s plugged in. I think your best bet would be flip the drive so the USB port is facing up (towards the end of the zipper) and plug in the cable and zip the case like 80-90% closed. Good luck!

  • Orvorn@slrpnk.net
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    26 days ago

    I wouldn’t use it heavily while it’s enclosed inside the case. You may run into thermal issues.

  • Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works
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    26 days ago

    Since it’s a one-way zipper you probably have to bring some of the cord around the inside to the end and zip to there. If you’re worried it will unzip you can possibly use a safety pin 🧷 across the zipper behind the pull.