2 Apr
2005
2 Apr
'05
4:30 p.m.
In message <m1DHrqN-000IxvC at p850ug1>
ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) wrote:
Didn't some winchesters use the spindle motor as a
generator to provide
the emergency retraction current?
I doubt this is in the same category, but the newer Maxtor drives (D740X and
later) seem to use a plastic paddle to lock the head. The head seems to
"gravitate" towards the center of the platter when the drive is idling with
no current applied to the voice coil. If the drive is moving (and there's air
moving around inside it), the paddle is pushed towards the casing and unlocks
the head actuator. When the drive slows down, the head is moved to the
center of the platter (either under control of the drive or by some form of
mechanical effect) and when the drive slows down enough, the paddle springs
back and locks the actuator.
Later.
--
Phil. | Acorn Risc PC600 Mk3, SA202, 64MB, 6GB,
philpem at philpem.me.uk | ViewFinder, 10BaseT Ethernet, 2-slice,
http://www.philpem.me.uk/ | 48xCD, ARCINv6c IDE, SCSI
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