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Whisker !
Whiskers, when strange thing grow from inside the metal... http://nepp.nasa.gov/whisker/ for the exaustive reference, and for the basic go here http://nepp.nasa.gov/whisker/background/index.htm.
Shortly, whiskers are small filaments which arise from metal surface, "Tin whiskers are electrically conductive, crystalline structures of tin that sometimes grow from surfaces where tin (especially electroplated tin) is used as a final finish. Tin whiskers have been observed to grow to lengths of several millimeters (mm) and in rare instances to lengths up to 10 mm. Numerous electronic system failures have been attributed to short circuits caused by tin whiskers that bridge closely-spaced circuit elements maintained at different electrical potentials."
There would be no much harm about that.. but they can fly and short circuit electronics devices.They could also withstand high current before burning. These wiskers are also visible on floors and structure (treated with Zinc too ) used to stockpile computers... with the aid of fans, air moves whiskers untill some of them finishes inside a power supply, or a computer or monitor... and... KAPOW !
A [ PDF ] about whiskers, easy, big pictures.
Now, i dismantled my old CONNER Hd... and [surprise !] i found whiskers everywhere !!
Let's see the photos !
My (ex) Conner CP3024
Side view, look at the "dotted" surface
Hi-Res Version
Nothing on the small arm... different material
Look at the right of the screw
Hi-Res Version
Same image, different focal lenght (on the left of the hole, there is one really long...)
Hi-Res Version
Other view, look at the second plate near the coils, it's all dotted...
Hi-Res Version
Hi-ResUPDATE 28.06.05 - I sent an email to Conner (Seagate) and let's see what would happen.
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An email was submitted with the following information on Tue Jun 28 09:19:52 2005 GMT: Hy, i want to report a frightening things which happened with my old Conned Disk. The model is a CP3024, quite old, it was silent in my desk drawer. One day i just looked at it, opened just to see how it was made inside, BUT i found that something of scaring was just happening inside: Whisker all around the internal mechanism. I took some photos... http://camp0s.altervista.org/whiskers/wiskers_eng.htm There also some pages on Nasa website http://nepp.nasa.gov/whisker/ ...i'm really scared, what if this happens to modern HDs? moreover, IS THAT happening now? IS the company aware of this defect ? Best Regards, James. And this is their answer, quite fast, sent in the afternoon, 5 hours late: Hello, While we cannot provide any information regarding any of the new production processes, internal parts, or materials used, this should not be a concern. Regards, Dan M. |
UPDATE 29.06.05 - the day after... well this should not be "my" concern... ok, all right they are the boss... :( they take my (our) money, we put data and trust inside they high capacity misterious toys... and then this have not to be MY concern. 20 years ago this wasn,'t mean to be my concern... now this is not... again... but old tech is failing right now. We still don't know... (!!! i can open my HD... and get an answer..)
Question, infos, suggestions... (P.S. i don't know much more on whiskers other than informations found on the Nasa website, so they are the "men" :) and the best to ask for more real information.)
