Tear Down Process of Seagate U6 Model ST340810A (Hard-Drive)

By

Udit Kumar & Abhishek Sharma

Overview

Introduction

Working of Hard-Drive

Tear Down: Step 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Polishing and Images of BGA chip

Conclusions

References

Introduction

The hard drive, which typically provides storage for data and applications within a computer, has four key components inside its casing –

1) the platter (for storing data),

2)the spindle (for spinning the platters),

3)the read/write arm (for reading and writing data)

4)the actuator (for controlling the actions of the read/write arm).

Schematic Diagram of Hard-Drive

Working of Hard-Drive

Platter, divided into billions of tiny areas. Each one of those areas can be independently magnetized (to store a 1) or demagnetized (to store a 0).

Magnetism is used in computer storage because it goes on storing information even when the power is switched off.

IBM old invention with one writing head now multiple writing head (reading writing arms are used)

Schematic Diagram of Hard-Drive

Working of Hard-Drive

A typical magnetic region on a hard-disk platter (as of 2006) is about 200–250 nanometers wide (in the radial direction of the platter) and extends about 25–30 nanometers in the down-track direction (the circumferential direction on the platter), corresponding to about 100 billion bits per square inch of disk area (15.5 Gbit/cm2).

The material of the main magnetic medium layer is usually a cobalt-based alloy, which can be magnetized or demagnetized by the help of a rotating head.

Schematic Diagram of Hard-Drive

Working of Hard-Drive

Working of Hard-Drive

1. Actuator that moves the read-write arm. In older hard drives, the actuators were stepper motors. In most modern hard drives, voice coils are used instead. As their name suggests, these are simple electromagnets, working rather like the moving coils that make sounds in loudspeakers. They position the read-write arm more quickly, precisely, and reliably than stepper motors and are less sensitive to problems such as temperature variations.

2. Read-write arm swings read-write head back and forth across platter.

3. Central spindle allows platter to rotate at high speed.

4. Magnetic platter stores information in binary form.

5. Plug connections link hard drive to circuit board in personal computer.

6. Read-write head is a tiny magnet on the end of the read-write arm.

7. Circuit board on underside controls the flow of data to and from the platter

Schematic Diagram of Hard-Drive

Tear Down: Step 1 Bottom & Top view of hard-drive (as received), Screwed were taken out

Tear Down: Step 2 Top and bottom view of drive after removal of cover

Tear Down: Step 3 PCB board was taken out.

Tear Down: Step 4Tear down of hard-drive main

All Parts Dissembled

Tear Down: Step 5 Reading Writing Arm

Reading Writing Arm

Tear Down: Step 6 removal of IC bonded by BGA(ball grid array)

Polishing and Images of BGA chip (Top and Side View)

Conclusions

Tear Down process of Segate Hard-Drive revealed important components of a typical hard drive

BGA chip were taken out for PCB of Hard-Drive and subjected to further analyzing.

BGA chip also revealed a typical wire bonding structure (from die to metallic pad)

References

[1] David Nield, The Four Major Components of a Hard Drive, http://smallbusiness.chron.com

[2] Chris Woodford., Hard drives, http://www.explainthatstuff.com

[3] Ismail-Beigi, Hard Drives Methods And Materials, Yale University

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