As in the previous project log - two slim Lite-on drives supports SmartErase feature. SmartErase software processes the full disc surface, regardless of the amount of actual burnt data on the disc. While Asus E-hammer only processes the burnt data area, making it way faster for discs with small amount of data, but it did not seem to work with DVDs and DVD-DLs on several setups tried. Also Asus drives with E-hammer are only full size desktop drives.

With all this in mind it would be nice to have a USB powered (slim optical drive) that could process the discs faster and would be able to cope with all media types (BD-Rs are not in question here).

By modifying a DS-8A5 to have a manual eject button it is possible to have a USB powered device that is smaller than a disc and can erase the disc up to a manually controlled area.

Required components are in the components list. Steps for making the USB powered disc destructor:

Take a Lite-on DS-8A5XX drive apart, keeping the main disc drive assembly, wide ribbon cable (which is glued to the case and requires careful removal) and the control board.

Main optical assembly is held on 3 pegs that protrudes through rubber bushings. M3 bolts works well to be used as standoffs (see pictures).

Flex cable needs to be refolded as in the pictures.

Main board requires one modification - the microswitch that is at the edge (for disc carrier detection) of the PCB, needs to be removed and two small wires soldered on the contact pads.

Component list has the file for 3D printable PCB/switch holder that mounts on the two M3 bolts mentioned earlier as a standoff.

The 3D model only has the large cutout for the slide switch, but the bolt holes (due to switches being different dimensions), but they can be easily made with a soldering iron before final assembly.

To finalize the device - solder the two wires from the PCB (modification mentioned earlier) to the slide switch. Mount the PCB with double sided tape to the printed holder. Mount the switch to the 3D printed holder. Mount the holder to the optical assembly on the two M3 bolts as standoffs.

What this device allows to do is to stop the data destruction process at any point by sliding switch to off position - simulating the ejection of the disc. This results in correct finalization of the process in the SmartErase software. Take the disc off, put the new one on, slide the switch, and You are good to go again. With this mod, One can quickly process discs with only a few MB of data burnt (like some student project file), by stopping the process when it is passed the burnt data area. This obviously requires some trial and error. From experience stopping the process at 40% indication on SmartErase software covers enough of disc when up to a 50MB of data. With DVD it is possible to see the laser doing its job through the disc label side, so the stopping point can be visually determined.

Pictures speak a thousand words: