Question 1

Can I pick up art and avoid shipping costs?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can. After ordering, Include local pickup in your checkout, and I will work with you to allow you to pick up the art in person.

Question 2

Where did you get the idea to make these?

Accepted Answer

see the about section

Question 3

What is an actuator?

Accepted Answer

An actuator is an electronic device controlled by a motor that moves the hard drive head arm. In the past, the actuator within a hard drive was controlled by a stepper motor. However, today the actuator is often controlled by a servo motor.

Question 4

What is an actuator arm?

Accepted Answer

Alternatively referred to as read/write head arm, head arm, or actuator arm, the access arm is in every mechanical hard drive; similar in appearance to the arm of a record player. As the platter spins, the access arm adjusts the read/write heads to facilitate the reading, writing, or deletion of information.

Question 5

What is a hard drive Platter?

Accepted Answer

One or more aluminum, glass, or ceramic disk that is coated in a magnetic media and is located within a hard drive to permanently store all your computer's data. When the computer is turned on, these platters will begin to rotate at so many RPM (rotations per minute). This rate varies depending on the model of hard drive you have; an example of how fast a hard drive may spin is 7200 RPM. As the disk platters are rotating, the read/write head accesses information on one of the platters.

Question 6

What is a PCB?

Accepted Answer

The fancy piece of green woven glass and copper with SATA and power connectors called Printed Circuit Board or PCB. PCB holds on place and wires electronic components of HDD.

Question 7

What is a MCU?

Accepted Answer

The heart of PCB is the biggest chip in the middle called Micro Controller Unit or MCU. On modern HDDs MCU usually consists of Central Processor Unit or CPU which makes all calculations and Read/Write channel - special unit which converts analog signals from heads into digital information during read process and encodes digital information into analog signals when drive needs to write. MCU also has IO ports to control everything on PCB and transmit data through SATA interface.

Question 8

What is a VCM controller?

Accepted Answer

A Voice Coil Motor controller or VCM controller is the most power consumption chip on a PCB. It controls spindle motor rotation and heads movements. The core of VCM controller can stand working temperature of 100C/212F.

Question 9

What is a dumper?

Accepted Answer

Dumpers sometimes called Separators are located between platters, they reduce air fluctuations and acoustic noise. Usually dumpers made of aluminum or plastic. Aluminum dumpers better for cooling air inside HDA.

Question 10

What is a Voice coil?

Accepted Answer

The Voice coil is a part of HSA, Voice coil and the magnets form Voice Coil Motor or VCM. VCM and HSA form the Actuator

Question 11

What is a spacer?

Accepted Answer

A spacer also known as spacer rings, are made out of non-magnetic alloy or polymer. These are in between platters for hard drives with multiple platters inside.

Question 12

What is a platter clamp?

Accepted Answer

A platter clamp squeezes the platters and spacers together so nothing moves. Ensuring when the platters are rotating the friction doesn't loosen things up.

PS

Frequently asked questions