PEEK Stem Disk Hub for Magnetic Media Scratch Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disk hubs made of stainless steel cause surface scratches and damage to magnetic recording media during film thickness measurement processes, leading to reduced reliability and production yield.
Innovation Solution
A disk hub with a base plate and stem portion made of a softer material, such as PEEK, featuring a frustoconical design and smooth surfaces to minimize contact-induced damage, allowing for precise film thickness measurement without surface scratches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a stainless steel disk hub is used, then the structural strength and durability are improved, but surface scratches and damage to magnetic recording media occur during film thickness measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The disk hub employs different materials for different functional regions: the base plate portion is made of stainless steel for structural strength, while the stem portion that contacts the media is made of a softer material (durometer 60-80 Shore D) to prevent surface scratches. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between needing strength and avoiding damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The disk hub is constructed as a composite structure combining stainless steel (for the base plate) and a softer polymer material (for the stem portion). This composite construction allows the hub to simultaneously provide structural support and protective contact with the media, eliminating surface damage during measurement processes.
2Manufacturing precision
If a hard stainless steel hub is used, then manufacturing precision and dimensional stability are improved, but measurement accuracy of film thickness is reduced due to surface damage
Solution Approach 1:
The stem portion is specifically designed with localized soft material properties (durometer 60-80 Shore D) at the media-contacting surfaces, while maintaining dimensional stability in the overall hub structure. This allows accurate film thickness measurement without surface damage while preserving manufacturing precision.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a softer material is used for the disk hub, then surface damage to media is reduced, but structural strength and stability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The hub design applies soft material properties only where media contact occurs (stem portion), while the base plate portion maintains stainless steel for structural strength. This localized approach provides surface protection without compromising overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite construction combines stainless steel base plate for structural strength with softer stem material for surface protection, achieving both reduced surface damage and maintained structural strength simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A disk hub is configured to retain a magnetic recording medium including an annulus shape and a layer configured for magnetic recording. The disk hub includes a base plate portion for supporting an inner diameter area of the magnetic recording medium and a stem portion on the base plate portion. The stem portion includes a frustoconical portion on the base plate portion and a top portion on the frustoconical portion. At least the top portion of the stem portion includes a material with a hardness less than that of stainless steel. The disk hub can reduce surface damages (e.g., scratches) on the media surface during media testing.