Introduction: Pi Zero W Tic Tac Case

By www.youtube.com/crysknife007
About: I am the 24 hour Star Trek Engine Noise and ambient scifi sleep sound guy. I also make noise music and ambient soundscapes as Cheesy Nirvosa.

This instructable shows how to make a cheap, simple, and effective case for a Raspberry Pi Zero W using a Tic Tac container. For those wanting a low or zero cost option to house their Pi Zeros, this design can be extremely useful for giving the board more protection and better portability. Follow along and you'll see how easy it is to create this DIY case.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

You will need the following:

  • A Tic Tac container ( 1oz / 29g Standard USA Size )
  • Goo Gone ( Optional )
  • Pi Zero W ( Or Pi Zero )
  • Gloves to protect your fingers and hands
  • Sharp Knife / Box Cutter / Exacto or similar ( Careful! )

Step 2: Clean Up the Tic Tac Container

After peeling off the label use Goo Gone or hot water to remove the Tic Tac residue from the container. Wash the container afterwards in warm water and dry the case very thoroughly before proceeding.

Step 3: Prepare the Lid

Remove the lid unit from the container and carefully cut the bottom section of it off while wearing gloves to protect your hands. Also, remove the bottom inside ring edge section from the lid closest to the fold so that the micro sd card won't press against it later.

Step 4: Ready the Container Body

Place your Pi into the body of the unit as shown and mark with your blade where you will need access holes for the Usb Power, Usb OTG, and Mini HDMI ports. Then remove the Pi and cut out the sections you just marked while wearing gloves. It helps to score the lines you made a couple of times deeper each time instead of just pushing through the plastic all in one go.

Step 5: Assemble

Put your Pi back into the body of the container. Push the lid into place while taking care to make sure that the flap lid hole rests freely above the micro sd card without putting pressure on it. You are finished! Connect any cords that you desire through the access holes and you will be up and running with your new case. The micro sd card is accessible through the lid flap without having to remove the whole lid assembly.

Feel free to leave comments or suggestions for improvements below. I'd love for this design to be improved further by the community.