Computer Cases & Towers

DIY Custom USB Memory Sticks

You don't need to be good with a hammer, chisel or trowel to build your own custom USB memory stick – it's not that sort of DIY project. But if you are looking for something a little challenging, interesting and fun then building your own custom USB stick is a great idea, incredibly rewarding and it'll certainly get people talking.

The core component of any USB memory stick is a module that incorporates the USB connector, the flash memory and a controller chip for the flash memory. These three elements combine to give you a way of connecting your USB stick to a PC or Mac, to store data and to control the way the stored data is managed. The way in which this "module" is packaged is what gives you overall look and feel of a memory stick.

Commercial USB memory sticks are typically "housed" in standard rectangular plastic or plastic/metal shells some with a removable cap and some with an integral cap or cover like the ever-popular Twister USB flash drive. When you build your own USB drive you can be as creative as you like and we've seen all sorts of weird and wonderful examples over the years.

If you're looking for a hands-on challenge for say a club a school class or Scout Group then a "build you own USB competition" is a brilliant idea. Children are typically avid users of USB flash drives and the idea of being able to design and build their own custom version is sure to get them fired up and get them thinking about all aspects of design, production and functionality.

If you are interested in custom USB flash drives for your business, school or university but you don't want to build them yourselves then don't worry because there are lots of companies offering a professional design, build and supply service. Do bear in mind that you'll pay a little more for a custom USB stick but the end result will be worth it. Lead times are also longer at around 4 weeks compared to the standard 2 weeks for printed USB sticks.

Custom USB sticks are getting more and more popular because they are a sure fire way to get your USB memory stick(s) to stand out from the crowd. A few years ago very few branded or printed USB memory sticks were given away but today millions are given away so it's increasingly important to get yours to grab people attention from the "get go".

At USB2U we not only supply self-build USB kits but we offer a full design and build service so if you're interested in Custom USB Memory Sticks give us a call and speak to one of the team.

 

 

About the Author

Phil is part of the team at USB2U. Launched in 2002 USB2U has now establised iteself as one of the leading supplier of branded flash drives and custom USB memory sticks in the UK. USB2U offer a free design and mock up service couple with great prices and outstanding customer support. Contact us today for a quote. We'd love to hear from you.

Shopper's Information To Lavatory Faucets

This text explains the key questions that you need to take into account when buying new faucets for your bathroom. The knowledge is aimed at shoppers within the United Kingdom.

Query 1: Whats the faucet product of ?

Faucets may be created from a variety of supplies of various high quality and cost.

A normal rule of thumb is that the heavier the tap the higher the quality of supplies used!

Plastic

Plastic taps are very low cost and very low quality. They're very light and are supplied in quite a lot of colours. Plastic taps cannot be recommended for lavatory use because of their poor performance and short anticipated operational life.

Commonplace Brass ABS/Mazac

Customary brass is commonly used to fabricate the bodies of mid-priced, medium quality taps.

Many faucet components (corresponding to handles) could be made from ABS (plastic) or an alternate material generally known as Mazac (Pot Metallic). These are cheaper than using brass, and whilst the quality is frequently excellent, brass gives a greater end and lasts longer.

Customary brass faucets are suitable for lavatory use, with or with out ABS or Mazac components.

DZR Brass

While, normal brass has gained complete acceptance in lots of aspects of the water distribution business, in sure circumstances when exposed to particular mixtures of pH and concentrations of chlorides, they can expertise a serious type of corrosion often known as dezincification.

The answer to this is a dezincification resistant alloy, usually referred to as DZR brass.

This is the Rolls Royce materials for faucets and the very best quality product might be created from DZR brass with none ABS or Mazac components

Query 2: Will the taps work along with your system strain ?

First the good news, you probably have a combi-boiler or un-vented hot water system you then dont need to stress about stress, each excessive pressure and low strain faucets will work nicely with your system.

Nevertheless, you probably have a conventional gravity fed system, with a chilly water storage tank in the attic, and a scorching water cylinder then you will want to be more cautious.

Firstly you wish to work out how much water pressure you've gotten:

Calculate the space, in meters, from the bottom of the chilly water storage tank, to the outlet of the tap and multiply by 0.1 to provde the stress in bar:

e.g. 1.1 Meters x 0.1 = 0.eleven bar

2.5 Meters x 0.1 = 0.25 bar

If you want a shower/shower mixer with a showering handset, then you could decide the space from the foot of the chilly water storage tank to the peak at which the handset will likely be used, not the height of the tap, or the handset when it rests in the support.

You also have to be aware that elongated pipe work runs quickly expend any strain inside a system, so if your faucets are a long way from the chilly storage tank then it would be best to reduce the calculated strain to take account of this.

Once you have a good suggestion of your water strain then you should confirm that whatever faucets you want to purchase will work at that pressure.

As a rule of thumb many designer taps come from Europe where the water systems have superior stress than within the UK and these faucets wont work when you've got very low pressure.

Designer faucets made specifically to work on low strain techniques are normally costlier and the retailer will highlight the truth that the faucets are appropriate for low pressure systems. If it doesn't say specifically that the faucets will work with low stress then assume the worst and do not buy with out asking the retailer to confirm the pressure requirements.

Question 3: What is the working mechanism of the tap ?

Ceramic disc and spindle seek advice from the 2 alternative ways in which the inside mechanism of a faucet can operate.

Ceramic disc expertise is normally used on extra expensive taps, as they function higher and last longer. When the lever is turned, {two} ceramic discs are parted opening the valve and permitting the water to pour.

The traditional spindle design is often used on inferior high quality, cheaper tap designs. The faucet has a spindle via the core, with the valve seat attached via a screw thread. A normal faucet washer is fastened to the tip of the valve seat. As the knob is turned the spindle rotates and the screw thread strikes the valve seat up and down to adjust the circulate of water

Ceramic Disc Faucets Advantages Drip free never change one other faucet washer again ! Lengthy Life should never must be replaced under common use Simple to Operate only 1 / 4 flip is required to go from full on to off Variety of kinds works with modern lever designs and spherical handles

Draw Backs Inferior stream charges - Unsuitable for very low pressure methods

Spindle Taps Advantages Superior movement rates appropriate for most programs, excessive or low strain

Draw Backs

Hard to operate - deal with has to be turned many instances from off to full on Higher upkeep - washers will want changing typically Less alternative of style - can't be used with fashionable lever designs

There are {two} key things to consider.

1. Until you might have a really low strain system or are looking for the lowest possible price then it's best to go for ceramic disc taps.

2. When comparing faucet costs all the time be sure that both faucets use the same mechanism. They may look the identical, but if one is ceramic disc and one makes use of a spindle then the cheapest faucet may very well be the worst value!

Question four: How will the taps connect with your system?

Mono Basin & Bidet mixers are connected to the water provide by connectors, sometimes referred to faucet tails. These are available {two} varieties, flexible and inflexible and the purchaser normally does not get any possibility inside a variety of taps.

Each types be part of directly to regular 15mm copper pipe work.The tap producer often decides what type of connectors each vary of tap he makes will have.

Which type is best suited for you relies on the place the taps are being put in and who's doing the installation.

Flexible Connectors

Greatest for DIY Installers: You dont require any plumbing abilities, the bendable hose will simply trasnsform into whatever shape is critical and the connection is made easily by tightening the compression nut with a wrench.

Best for small areas with difficult access. The versatile hose allows connections in places that will be almost impossible to get into with inflexible pipe work.

Inflexible Connectors

Greatest for skilled installers: The inflexible connectors become part of the sturdy copper pipe run that connects the supply to the tap. The connections are made with capillary fittings, lead free solder and a blow torch. The tip product looks neater, lasts longer and is far much less liable to leaks.

Finest for more open areas with simple access. Even probably the most professional installer will need a big sufficient space to bend and match the copper pipe run from the supply. If the house is too compact then versatile connectors will be the only viable option.

Query 5: Does the Tap meet the required Bylaws and/or Requirements ?

British Requirements

The very first thing that confuses many individuals is that British Requirements for faucets should not high quality guarantees. They just state sure issues {that a} faucet assembly with the standard should do. There's also no requirement that any product is tested by a third occasion to confirm it really meets the standard, so an assertion {that a} product meets BS5412 is simply as reliable because the business making the declare !

The British Standards signify the minimum {that a} tap ought to meet to perform a specific application.

The important thing British Requirements utilized to taps are:

BS5412 The specification for low-resistance single faucets and mixture faucet assemblies.

BS1010 The Specification for draw-off faucets and cease-valves for water providers

There isn't a British Commonplace in any respect for Ceramic Disc taps. So the actual fact that any person quotes that the faucet complies with BS5412 or BS1010 lets you recognize that it is an inferior design spindle tap!

Water Bylaws

All products attached to the UK drinking water provide should be compliant to the UK Water Bylaws. There are independent testing and certification schemes in place to establish conformity, however these should not obligatory in the UK.

The expense of outside certification is high and plenty of prime model faucet producers decide not to pay for certification. Any taps which have KIWA or WRAS approval have been tested for compliance and must be of a great quality, but all taps installed in the UK, must by legislation comply with the Water Bylaws.

Visit: Discount Bath Towels, Green Bath Towels, Bath Towels on Sale

How do I choose a Power Supply Unit for my PC?

Could somebody please tell me all the factors that I should know when trying to decide on a PSU for my first DIY PC? I know that I'd like about 5 or 6 SATA connectors, (Although I COULD deal with just 4.) I need it to be ATX and probably at least 600W. I wouldn't say no to LED fans...
Any other things I should take into consideration? I am wondering what the PCI Express connector on the PSU is as my motherboard has 3 PCI Express slots. Do I need 3 PCI Express connectors on the PSU then?

Feel free to mention anything else you think I might need too.

Thanks in advance! =)
OK, maybe I actually want something closer to 900-1000W...(For later additions/mods.)

"Do I need 3 PCI Express connectors on the PSU then?" - Only if you are considering using all 3 PCIe slots with video cards. Also, you need to determine if the card(s) you are going to use require 6 pin or 8 pin connectors and make sure that your power supply can handle them. Many of the video card vendors tell you what the minimum requirements are for a single card, dual cards, and triple cards.
My advice is to not skimp at all on a power supply. Always allow room to grow. The rating for a power supply is the maximum that it CAN produce, not the amount that it always puts out.
Here is a handy reference to get you started: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

wago compact connectors - Ultimate Handyman DIY tips