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Date:	Mon, 3 Mar 2003 12:53:07 PST8
From:	Peter Skye <pskye@peterskye.com >
Reply-To:	scoug-help@scoug.com
To:	scoug-help@scoug.com
Subject:	SCOUG-Help: Drive stiction ?

Content Type: text/plain

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> Peter Skye wrote:
> >
> > . . . stiction?

Ray Davison wrote:
>
> Peter, you do seem to have a way of coming up with
> terms that most of computerdom does not use.

Those must be the guys who use Windows. :)))

I checked the spelling on Google and found that it's a computer-valid
term.

> The amateur gear head industry
> industry also uses stiction.

As in metal plates with teeth sticking out all around? (Or is that
something Bruce Lee would throw around in a movie? [They're called
"throwing stars" when used in such a non-technical way.])

> there is a standard physics term; static friction and
> the accompanying static coefficient of friction.

Hey, thanks, that explains why the preferred spelling is "stiction"
(STatic FRICTION) as opposed to "sticktion" for being sticky.

> In your case, are you storing drives submerged in sea water.

I'm submerged in San Diego. That is *much* worse.

> If no, then why should they ever stick.

Steve Carter gave me the long detailed answer. Drive platters are
lubricated so the head will slide over them when there's contact.
Sometimes there isn't enough lubricant, so long periods of time where
the head sits on the platter and doesn't move can cause them to stick
together. This, of course, is different from Cold Fusion which is known
to be a fantasy.

> Oh yea, there is the phenomena of cold welding which
> can occur if two pieces of clean metal are clamped
> together in a vacuum for a long time. Does that apply?

I haven't had a head MRI for a while so can't vouch for my own personal
vacuum. But I don't think that cold welding would apply here -- my
drives are all stored at room temperature.

Did you know some researcher just discovered that oil and water *do*
mix? You put the water in a vacuum and let all the dissolved gases
scoot their little molecules out of the liquid. Then when the water is
degassed (this is different from a tv that's degaussed) you stick in the
oil and voila (unless you aren't in France or your middle name is Viola)
they mix together. And reintroducing the gas doesn't make them separate
again. So pretty soon we won't have to shake our French dressing. As
for shaking Viola, I've personally never had the opportunity but I hear
you have to do it fast because she's pretty hot and you don't want to
get burned.

I hope the above clarifies what San Diego can do to a perfectly normal
human being.

- Peter

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