seagate isolator mounting article

[Etacovda]

http://www.seagate.com/support/kb/di...isolators.html

in an unrelated search, found this.

Related to my original search, has anyone seen any data about drive orientation vs longevity? im after proof that mounting a drive on an angle can have an adverse effect on lifespan

particularly interesting -

Isolator Impacts on Seek Settling
The major problem created when mounting a drive on isolators is the additional motion in the drive's baseplate at seek settle. This condition is commonly called the wind-up mode. The isolators are springs that allow the drive's baseplate to rotate when the torque created during a seek is applied. The isolators "wind up" during a seek and then unwind when the actuator is trying to settle on track. This unwinding creates too much motion for the servo system to fully track, causing an offtrack condition to occur. This either causes delays in settling or causes the heads to come off track just after settling occurred.

When writing data, the first event causes a slow seek, the latter event is referred to as a write retry. The slower seeks usually cause delays on the order of 1 to 5 msec. The write retry can cause a delay in writing data equal to the time it takes for the disc to complete one revolution. As a whole, this settling problem is larger for writing data than reading data because the heads need to be kept closer to the track centerline during the write process.

[Joe]

Theres been some benchmarks that prove this point. Then again theres been benchmarks that counter it. I think it depends on the drive more than the mounting.

[blue68f100]

From a mechainical point I do not see this hapening sinse the drive, servo, are joined by a common plate. As for bearings. Mounting at angles may not be an issue with the fluid dynamic bearings be used today. As for the old style mechaincal ball cariage design this will have an impact.

[Pyrotechnic]

Maybe instead of mounting the drive on rubber, mount the entire cage of drives on rubber, that way the weight of the drive cage will outweigh the forces the drive will put on it.

[bobkoure]

Or just bolt a block of lead to the underside of the suspended/isolated drive.
Actually, that might lower transmitted vibration without any kind of suspension as well...

[Brians256]

Old thread! However, I think they used that method of quieting the hard drive on my old laptop, bob.

[bobkoure]

Ooops - guess I've been too busy - sorry about resurrecting an old thread, will try to be more careful about when the last post had been.
And, yep, I've had laptops like that, too. I currently have a hankering for one of the lenovo 12" ones - or maybe a toughbook. Can't justify it, though as I just use notebooks for ethereal...

[Joe]

I just got aT42 from work, its light and damn nice. not as nice as pHs T42p But very nice. Stupid light.

[clone]

Ya the t42 is the laptop of choice here at MM you will find it to be almost bullet proof. Off the top of my head the most common problem we have with them is the charging circuitry and that is not event hat common.