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Thread ID: 79959 2007-06-07 04:43:00 Broken hard disks needed - Christchurch edf825 (9850) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
556869 2007-06-07 04:43:00 Hi,

I'm working on a Physics project right now that's going to require quite a few uber strong yet small magnets, and I figure the best way to get them would be to rip the neodymium magnets out of hard disks as they tend to be super expensive (over here especially - it's cheaper to buy from the US and have it shipped here than it is to buy within the country).

Basically, I'm just looking for any hard disks in Christchurch in any state of brokenness (as long as the magnets inside are still recoverable) that people wouldn't mind giving away. Right now, I think I'm looking at a need of maybe 10 to 12 disks in total.


Thanks in advance,
~ed.
edf825 (9850)
556870 2007-06-07 04:51:00 I have one here (Auckland), if you are willing to pay the postage costs that would be great. pcuser42 (130)
556871 2007-06-07 06:08:00 I have some here in Chch, pm me and we can arrange a pickup point.

I am going out for a meal now, I will be back on at approx 19.30 tonight. I will give you my phone number and you can phone me.
zqwerty (97)
556872 2007-06-07 07:19:00 I got one you can have, 80 gig its a gonner. pm me

In chch
netchicken (4843)
556873 2007-06-07 07:22:00 Question:

Why does a HD have "uber strong" magnets?

Tks
allblack (6574)
556874 2007-06-07 07:24:00 Good point, old speakers have far better magnets. netchicken (4843)
556875 2007-06-07 07:26:00 Too bad your a few postal zones away..we have a "work-continuation" society here that actually is just a place that houses 2nd-strike criminals..

They have tons of used puter stuff...most of it is trashed..but they have a bin full of hdds in all sizes.

I'm not sure it's economically feasible to send them..but I wish I had the opportunity to do so. Maybe if the Homeland Security Act wasn't so strict, I could render the magnets out of them and post them..that'd be cheaper.

Are those magnets on the "Security Hotsheet"?
SurferJoe46 (51)
556876 2007-06-07 07:32:00 Why strong magnets?

The motors have a relatively lossy magnetic circuit, so the magnets have to be strong to give enough torque . The alternative would be more current in the coils, so more heat .

Speakers with neodymium ("rare earth") magnets are very expensive . Those magnets are more powerful, but that's because they are a lot bigger than the ones in disk drive motors .

The strongest magnets I use are the ones from magnetrons . But they are ordinary ferrite .
Graham L (2)
556877 2007-06-07 07:40:00 magnets in place of electricity to avoid the heat caused by the movement of current through the wires?

Yes?

Cool! Thanks. Always learning.....:thumbs:
allblack (6574)
556878 2007-06-07 09:53:00 Okay, I got a bit ahead of myself and didn't do my research. I just ripped one apart and it turns out the poles are in the wrong place for what I want to do with them, which means I can't salvage them from hard disks. :( edf825 (9850)
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