Disk Drive Base Plate Clamping via Vertical Wall Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional disk drive devices face challenges in accurately cutting and processing base plates due to insufficient clamping force, leading to potential deformation and reduced quality, as the space required for clamping interferes with the device's layout and size.
Innovation Solution
A base plate with a cast metal base body and an electrodeposition coating film, featuring a bottom plate and wall portions with strategically placed clamp surfaces and datum surfaces for stable clamping during cutting, allowing for efficient processing without significant layout changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a clamp surface is arranged in the overhang portion to provide sufficient clamping force, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp surface is relocated from the overhang portion (horizontal dimension) to the side surface of the base body (vertical dimension). This dimensional transition allows the clamp surface to be positioned on the wall portion's side surface, utilizing the vertical space rather than horizontal overhang space, thereby maintaining clamping capability without increasing device footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp surface is integrated into the base body structure during casting, creating a built-in clamping feature before any subsequent assembly or operation. The side surface of the wall portion is designed with clamp surface characteristics from the outset, eliminating the need for separate clamping mechanisms or additional components.
2Volume of moving object
If the clamp surface layout is significantly changed to fit within the base body, then device size is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By moving the clamp surface to the vertical side surface of the wall portion, the invention achieves both compact horizontal dimensions and sufficient clamping force. The vertical orientation provides adequate surface area for clamping while keeping the horizontal footprint small, thus simultaneously improving device size and maintaining manufacturing precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the overhang portion is used for clamping, then layout flexibility is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side surface of the wall portion serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the base body, defines the vertical boundary of the base, and simultaneously functions as a clamp surface for intermediate work products. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated clamping structures, maintaining layout flexibility while reducing device size.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate cutting and processing of the base plate with reduced deformation and warpage, maintaining high quality while minimizing the increase in the base plate's outer shape and preserving the disk drive device's layout.
Implementation Method 1
an electrodeposition coating film that covers the surface of the base body
Data Source
AI summary
A base plate defines a portion of a housing of a disk drive device. The housing accommodates therein a disk, a spindle motor that rotationally drives the disk about a center axis that extends in a vertical direction, and an access portion that carries out at least one of reading or writing of information with respect to the disk. The base plate includes a cast metal base body and an electrodeposition coating film that covers the surface of the base body. The base body includes a bottom plate portion extending from the center axis to an outward in a radial direction and a wall portion with a rectangular or substantially rectangular shape viewed in the axial direction upward from an outer circumference portion of the bottom plate portion. An outside surface of the wall portion includes a coated surface covered with the electrodeposition coating film, a processing surface which is flat and on which a casting material is exposed from the electrodeposition coating film, and a parting line. The processing surface extends in the axial direction in contact with the parting line or across the parting line.