Hard drive vibration protection

[MikeR]

Any been there, done that, experience with protecting an operating hard drive from vibration?

2.5" laptop drive, operating in a 10 lb aluminum enclosure with the enclosure tested to 0.7 GRMS.

Attempts at using isolation bushings and shock absorbing foams have been less than fully successful, and in one case resulted in accelerometer readings at the drive that were twice the input level measured at the enclosure.

Next attempt will be hard mounting to a "brick" to add mass and then to hard mount all to the enclosure base.

Comments?

 

[nbucska]

During read the HDD can tolerate higher acceleration than during write. Some HDD-s have accelerometer to shot down writing if the acceleration is too much. This may solve your problem, too. <nbucska@pcperipherals.com>

 

[JayMaechtlen]

what kind of vibes?
frequency - predictable?
amplitude- how big? (is this an earthmover or ohv?

sounds like you found a resonant frequency with that one experiment.
How about suspending it from pretty soft springs- need enough travel, to prevent bottoming.

jay

 

[GregLocock]

Jay is on the right track :0.7 g rms is a meaningless spec.

Is that a sine sweep (I guess it is, for a historical reason), if so what frequency range? If it's not, what is it?

What is the vibration spec for your hard drive?

Most laptops pass a drop test from a specified height onto a specified surface, which is a much trickier proposition.

Cheers

Greg Locock

 

[Hatch]

I was asked once to isolate a computer package in a diesel locomotive cab. The electronics were constantly damaged by the cab vibration (the package was mounted on the wall). At that time, I found that the acceleration motions that cased the damage was mostly lateral (side to side), but the vertical impact forces were also high. The solution was to use coil isolators which isolated in all directions, see:

http://www.masco-electronics.com/barry150.shtml

In order to isolate your package you need to establish the lowest excitation frequency and select an isolator which will provide a natural frequency of at least 50% of your lowest shock vibration frequency.

To do so, you may need to add mass to the system or use very soft springs (air springs) see :

http://www.firestoneindustrial.com/Isolation.htm

However be aware that air springs don't work well with side to side motions.

Hope that helps.

C. Hugh (

http://www.Hatch.ca)

 

[pardal]

Hi all there.

This thread will be usefull to me.
I'm having such a problem, I need to protect a panel with adquisition data modules inside a carrying case, to isolate to the most inpredecible action as deliver it by train, airplane, riding a small truck on uncertain terrains, droping from a table and so more and maby kicking it if thing goes bad.
Any help will be wellcome.
As you can notice there are no frec, way of it or direction
The shock and vibration must came from any way.
The panel is 300 mm Wide (12&quot 400 Length (16&quot , the module
mass is despreciable, I think to make the plate as thick to meet an mass increase.
I need to isolate too a batterry weigthing 2640 grams (6.80 pounds) , I can fix it to the panel to have big mass.
fell free to ask any needed data.

devitg@ciudad.com.ar