Air Bearing Spindle Motor for Hard Disk Drives

This article discusses the possibility of using air-bearing spindle motors to replace hydrodynamic-bearing spindle motors used in hard disk drives through comparing the advantages and disadvantages of air-bearing spindle motors with those of hydrodynamic-bearing spindle motors. Then the dynamic characteristics of the air-bearing system are analyzed and optimum parameters are proposed. The prototypes based on the obtained parameters are fabricated and tested. The test result is presented and compared with the numerical prediction; good agreement is observed.

Review led by Tom Karis

KEY WORDS:

• Air Bearing
• Dynamic Modeling
• Load-Carrying Capacity

Notes

Review led by Tom Karis