Western Digital Head Alignment

[Karan]

Hello there DR gurus.

I need some advice with the Famous Western Digital Head Alignment problem.

I can get the drive ready after finding the correct angle to apply pressue to, but still have problems getting a file structure or imaging the data out.

Drive is WD2500JB-57GVC0

Any of you gurus have better methods of aligning the head instead of holding it down manually at the correct angle?

[BlackST]

Yes but the principle is the same, only more refined. Still working on it.

[cryoborgofthevenus]

......better methods of aligning the head instead of holding it down manually at the correct angle?

There are tools specifically designed in-house to handle this problem. But as you know, it's not easy to make a really good one that can handle everything.

[Karan]

Holding the head alignment and doing a 250gb imaging is a PITA.

just asking if any of the gurus know a better way?

[cryoborgofthevenus]

Create something nearly similar to "Engine hanger" in automotive equipments, however, you need to modify a lot with high precision needed.

http://ktc.jp/catalog/photos/ae901.jpg

Use your imagination

You won't be needing the chain in that picture for sure , but something else

hint : adjustable & lockable screw with pressure springs needed to hold the heads

[jono-ats]

I can't imagine that someone actually sits there with a screwdriver or whatever and attempts to hold the alignment by hand. I certainly couldn't do it. A millimeter or so of movement and the alignment is lost.

I use a low-tech method that leaves the cover on with low-density WDs (e.g. WD200, 400, etc.). I doubt that method would work with the higher density types.

[BlackST]

MY fixture was more hi-tech

[shaun]

Which effect has the pressure applied onto the top bearing? In a factory-assembled drive the screw would be fixed with a typical torque, wouldn't it? But does it matter when the drive has been disassembled, or is aligmnent only a question of the direction and strength of the applied force?

[BlackST]

No simply the servo is written AFTER the drive is closed and the adaptives calculated / recalculated in THIS condition.

[cryoborgofthevenus]

WOW...............

[shaun]

@blackst: yes, I know. My question was: from experience, what must be taken into account to re-achieve alignment on a disk that has been opened. Sure, the condition before the lid was removed should be restored. But which parameters are important? I've had luck two of three times finding an alignment precise enough to image the disk, the third time it was a Re-Certified drive with a 4-head stack, but only 3 used surfaces.
I'll do this next week on my new victim, the 800BB with the blown flex print. I've ordered medical grade isoprop, lint-free swabs and some injection-grade water from my favorite brain surgery shop

[beto]

<Deleted maybe doesnt apt for all pubic >

[zebong]

Interesting

[HDD Spaz]

instead of trying to find correct alignment, is it possible to recalculate adaptives?