Id like to "zip" both sides of a portable external hard drive case with a drive inside and its connector cord (external drive port to USB-C) protruding out.
Its to keep the drive safer or cushion the fall if it falls accidentally.
I wouldn't use it heavily while it's enclosed inside the case. You may run into thermal issues.
First, heat will be a concern of it's plugged in for any length of time - the zippered case will act like an insulator.
If you're still set on doing this, you can either orient the drive so the cables protrude from the closing end of the zipper, or poke holes through the case in a spot that's ideal.
That kind of material tends to fray when cut, but melting a hole with a soldering iron works well-it seals the edge.
If space in there is limited, or you want to have the cables routed differently, there are 90° cables/adapters which can help.
Looks like you could just flip the drive so the ports are at the top where the zipper ends.
Punch or drill a small hole in the top or bottom of the clamshell for the cable to pass through while the case is completely zipped, or just run the cable out where the zipper ends. Like zip it 99% of the way closed leaving room for the cable to exit.
I wonder if that might be too severe a range of possible angles that it might put too much stress/wear and tear on the cord.
Since it's a one-way zipper you probably have to bring some of the cord around the inside to the end and zip to there. If you're worried it will unzip you can possibly use a safety pin 🧷 across the zipper behind the pull.
This is how many backpacks work. 
Theres not a second zipper on the other side to seal it tho
I see, I’m not sure I understand your post then.
Imagine a small camera case that has one zipper that starts and ends on the same side but it has to go all the way around. The case is like a clamshell with only one zipper
Get a longer USB cable, run it out the base of wherever the zipper is, and up the outside of the case?
Negative, needs to work with a short cable (the length actually doesnt really matter here ) the point is getting the other side sealed so theres only the small gap required by the cord to go out from the middle to connect to pc
Any way to tie it with a pipe cleaner?
See update at top for pic
The drives ports are at the top and the cord goes out the middle top but the zipper cant get around/past it as a consequence
Maybe look into three way zippers. They become rigid of zipped up.
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