Overview: USB Type External Hard Disk Drive Manufacturing

First, the hard disk was invented in 1957 as a component of the IBM 305 RAMAC system. A hard disk drive is a portable electromechanical data storage device; you can use it to store your computer data. The external hard disk comes with a USB which connects the hard disk with a computer or other telecommunication devices and can easily transfer the data from the computer to the hard disc and vice versa. Hard disk drive comes in different storage capacities. Mostly hard disk drive is used for storing old photos or videos, Records and archival data, completed projects, etc., and it is the best option to it as a backup device.

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The biggest advantage of having an external drive is that it is highly portable - it can be linked to several computers and allows you to take a huge quantity of storage with you no matter where you are. On 01 April 2021, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) required the USB Type External Hard Disk Drive to be registered as per IS 13252: 2010 under the Compulsory Registration Scheme from BIS. Hard disks manufactured must be as per the guidelines mentioned in the Indian Standard IS 13252:2010, and in case of violation, it will be a punishable offense. A hard drive is a piece of hardware that holds all of your digital files. Digital material on a hard disc includes documents, photos, music, videos, programs, application preferences, and the operating system. External and internal hard drives are both available. The file size of anything on a hard disc is the unit of measurement. Pictures are enormous, music is even larger, and movies are the largest. Documents (written) are typically relatively few. The size of digital data is measured in megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), and terabytes (TB) on a hard drive (TB).

Market Size of External Hard Drive

During the year 2021-2025, the external hard disc market is estimated to reach USD 2.70 billion, with a CAGR of 5.87 percent. This research study aids in gaining a thorough grasp of the underlying drivers that drive market growth, as well as present and potential target customers across segments. Factors such as the numerous advantages of external hard drives are expected to considerably support market expansion during the projection period, according to our comprehensive survey. Our analysts have extensively assessed and examined the most recent trends and issues that will have a significant impact on market growth. 

The Manufacturing Process of Hard Drives

The manufacturing process is carried out in a number of plants all around the world. Typically, platters are manufactured in one plant and then prepped to store data in another. The reading head is made elsewhere, and the final drive is put together in still another plant halfway around the world. As we've discussed in previous articles on the consolidation of hard disc drive manufacturers, this keeps production costs low. The drive head floats a dozen atoms (nanometers) above the platter's surface on an air cushion. The disc platter is completed to microscopic tolerances, but it can't be too smooth or the drive head won't be able to fly properly. See Tesla turbine for a rudimentary understanding of the dynamics.

Platters

The platters arrive at the manufacturer in shipment cassettes, which are essentially transport cases. The cassettes are transported from one room to the next using autonomous guided vehicles. This is to avoid cross-contamination. Mechanical Texturing is the initial stage in getting the platter ready to record data. The polished surface of the platter is roughened and grooved, which aids in the later deposit of magnetic material on the disc. Small amounts of nickel are scraped from the surface of the disc during the texturing process and then washed, a process known as Oliver Wash. When some drives are shut off, their heads hit the surface, leaving a 2-4 mm band near the center of the platter. The landing area is the Laser Texture. The landing area is generated by utilizing a laser to create minute bumps. When the disc is rotating, this prevents the head 5/5 from adhering to the disc surface. A succession of ultrasonic, megasonic, and Quick Dump Rinse (QDR) procedures are used to clean the platter completely. After the final clean, the platter has an ultraclean surface and is ready for sputtering, which is the process of depositing magnetic media. The platters will now be transported to a Class 10 clean room in an automatic guided vehicle, as previously indicated. Sputtering is likely the most important step in the recording medium production process.

Head Stack Assembly and Voice Coil Motor 

The Head Stack Assembly (HSA) contains all of the components required to safely fly the heads across the surface, while the Voice Coil Motor is designed to set the head on the correct track. Head gimbals assembly (HGA), dual-stage assembly (DSA), slider head assembly, pre-amp on flex assembly, and a coil of a VCM assembly are the components that make up HSA. Special robotic equipment is used to create these components. Fine flex circuits are used in head stack assemblies to carry signals from the slider head to the pre-amp. With UV-cure glue, the circuits are fitted into the narrow channel on the arm to avoid air friction. HGA has DSA, which allows the slider head to be accurately adjusted on the disc. PZT is a piezoelectric component that allows the head to move slightly. Die attach material is used to attach two PZTs to the HGA. Because PZT is just a few hundred microns thick, the die attaches material must be focused at a few hundred-micron target and several sites separated by a few hundred microns. The substance dispensing must be exact, with little dots and short movements. Interconnection of the PZT with conductive paste is required (silver epoxy). The paste dot must likewise be small, down to a few hundred microns, due to the PZT size: the same problem as the PZT die attach material.

Pre-Amp on Flex Assembly

To reduce noise, the Pre-amp should be placed closer to the slider head. Because flex circuits can be added to the HSA, the pre-amp (flip chip) is situated on them. Underfill is required for the flip-chip. Flex circuits, unlike rigid circuit boards, are "flexible."

Final Assembly

As previously stated, the hard disc drive manufacturing process takes place in clean rooms with very low dust levels and is meticulously supervised and monitored. Using a completely automated robotic production line, already completed components are inserted inside the disc chamber. After that, the assembled drive is loaded with software and tested for performance.

Basic Requirements of BIS Authorization of Hard Drives

Here are the four major requirements that support BIS Licence; without them, no one may apply for Indian BIS Certification. The following requirements must be met in order to obtain BIS Registration:

• Manufacturer: The first and most important point to remember is that an Indian BIS licence is only given to manufacturers, not importers or sellers. The importer might act as the AIR for the foreign manufacturer and submit the application to BIS. However, the Manufacturer is the only one who receives the ultimate license.
• Manufacturing Address: The documentation must have the correct manufacturing address. If a manufacturer has more than one factory location for the same product, each facility needs its own BIS license.
• Product: Every product necessitates its own license. However, if a single product category covers numerous models, a single license/registration number will cover all of the models in that category. Or, to put it another way, a single product with several models requires a single BIS Licence.
• Brand/ trademark: A BIS license is required for each brand or trademark.