4 ms·
Honest question: if air friction reduction is so important, then why not push for zero pressure drives?
by steeve 13y ago
Honest question: if air friction reduction is so important, then why not push for zero pressure drives?
- pjc50 13y agoSome pressure is required to keep the head flying above the surface of the drive. Removing all gas from the drive gives you a very nasty z-axis control problem.
- tlrobinson 13y agoI wonder if hard drives were part of Elon Musk's inspiration for the Hyperloop skids.
- maxerickson 13y agoYou would need much better seals to resist the pressure difference.
- venomsnake 13y agoAir pressure is 1kg/cm^2 ... so you will need to make a hdd that can operate under 400 kg of external load. Getting to the point of vacuum is expensive too. And hdd already require enormously precise manufacturing process.
- eksith 13y agoSame reason the US flag was 'flapping' in the 'wind' on the Moon. ;) Without any air, there's nothing to stop the head from travelling without running into control issues. The gas molecules actually act as a buffer preventing too much movement. The head will flap about with the slightest motion like a flag in a vacuum.