Claims
- 1. A disc drive latch made of a latch material comprising:
a base polymer; a first additive of polytetrafluoroethylene; and a second additive of poly-parapheneline terephthalamide fiber.
- 2. The disc drive latch of claim 1 wherein the base polymer is polyetherimide.
- 3. The disc drive latch of claim 3 wherein a mass percentage of the poly-parapheneline terephthalamide fiber in the latch material is selected from a range of about 1% to about 7%.
- 4. The disc drive latch of claim 1 wherein a mass percentage of the polytetrafluoroethylene in the latch material is selected from a range of about 1% to about 7%.
- 5. The disc drive latch of claim 1 wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene and the poly-parapheneline terephthalamide fiber are present in the latch material compound in substantially equal mass percentages.
- 6. The disc drive latch of claim 3 wherein a mass percentage of each of the poly-parapheneline terephthalamide fiber and the polytetrafluoroethylene in the latch material is substantially 5%.
- 7. A disc drive, comprising:
a data storage disc; a spindle motor which rotates the data storage disc; a read/write head configured to transduce data stored on the data storage disc; an actuator assembly which positions the read/write head with respect to the disc; and a substantially non-particulating latch which secures the actuator assembly when the disc drive is not in use, the latch being made of a latch material compound of polyetherimide, polytetrafluoroethylene, and poly-parapheneline terephthalamide fiber.
- 8. The disc drive of claim 7 wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene and the poly-parapheneline terephthalamide fiber are present in the latch material compound in substantially equal mass percentages.
- 9. The disc drive of claim 7 wherein each of the polytetrafluoroethylene and the poly-parapheneline terephthalamide fiber is present in the latch material compound in a mass percentage selected from a range of about 1% to about 7%.
- 10. The disc drive latch of claim 8 wherein a mass percentage of each of the poly-parapheneline terephthalamide fiber and the polytetrafluoroethylene in the latch material is substantially 5%.
- 11. A method for forming a latch for a disc drive, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing PEI pellets, arimid fiber, and PTFE granular powder; (b) forming latch material pellets from the PEI pellets, the arimid fiber and the PTFE granular powder; (c) placing latch material pellets in a hopper of a molding machine; and (d) forming the latch in the molding machine.
- 12. The method of claim 11 wherein step (b) comprises the sub-steps of:
(b1) melting and mixing the PEI pellets with the arimid fiber and the PTFE granular powder; (b2) extruding the mixture of PEI, arimid fiber and PTFE granular powder with an extruder; and (b3) chopping the extruded mixture with a chopper to form latch material pellets.
- 13. The method of claim 11 wherein step (d) comprises the sub-steps of:
(d1) using a screw of the molding machine, draw the latch material pellets into a barrel portion of the molding machine; (d2) mixing the latch material pellets using the screw; (d3) heating the latch material pellets to form a molten mixture; (d4) applying pressure to the molten mixture with the screw against a nozzle of the molding machine; (d5) opening the nozzle so that the molten mixture is forced into a mold under pressure; (d6) closing the nozzle after the mold is filled with the molten mixture; and (d7) allowing the molten mixture to solidify to form a latch.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/277,872 entitled MATERIAL FOR LATCH filed Mar. 21, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60277872 |
Mar 2001 |
US |