Building a Flash Drive from Scratch

[Ryan Lucia]

I'd like to create a flash drive from scratch, but I'm not sure all of what I need to know to accomplish that. I'd like to build from the memory chip up, and also write the driver myself (I want to add some buttons as well 😉)

Do you guys have resources I should read, advice, a guide, anything? I've been googling for a while, and am somewhat at a loss.

 

[USAFRet]

First, start a mining operation....


What do you mean 'create a flash drive from scratch'?

 

[Ryan Lucia]

First, start a mining operation....


What do you mean 'create a flash drive from scratch'?

Sorry if I wasn't clear...I want to build one a flash drive, both hardware and drivers, by myself (ordering only that which is too small to possibly be able to create)

 

[Ryan Lucia]

First, start a mining operation....


What do you mean 'create a flash drive from scratch'?

Sorry if I wasn't clear enough...I want to build a flash drive from as little as possible. This would include assembling the drive, writing the driver, etc.

 

[USAFRet]

Well...

Opening up one of my old flash drives (1GB tech show freebie), we are presented with a circuit board approx 1.5" x 0.5" (not including the USB interface)

20+ tiny components (resistors/transistors/caps), and the main surfacemount IC. Unsure of what is on the other side as the board is glued on and I don't want to destroy it.

How far into 'create from scratch' do you want to go? Design and etch the circuit board, order all the parts, and solder it?
Writing the drivers will depend on whatever main IC you use. As will all the other components. And then you need to be able to burn that code into the IC.

You will spend hundreds or thousands of hours recreating a $1 commodity part.
If you were making something on the level of a completely new item...a new Raspberry Pi, for instance...that would be worthwhile.