Zip™ Drive Security Brackets

Objective:

Design a bracket to mount an external Iomega Zip™ drive to the underside of a computer lab table. The bracket should provide moderate security from theft, and convenient use of the drive.

Providing such a secure mounting would enable computer lab administrators to utlize mini-PC computers that do not have space for an additional internal drive. The small size of the mini-PC computers provide significantly better legroom for users given computer lab size and capacity constraints.

Design and Manufacturing:

It was decided to manufacture the brackets in-house (University of Utah) which placed limitations on the manufacturing methods. A two-piece aluminum bracket was designed that clamped around the drive body, utilizing the external drive curvature to provide a means of securing the drive. Removal would be impossible without causing damage to the drive.

Forms were designed to stamp the brackets into the correct shape using a hydraulic press. The brackets were then machined, tumbled, buffed, and anodized. The brackets were attached to the computer lab tables using security fasteners.