Gus,
,,By the way, do you know anything more about NGK Insulators?>>
No, I really do not, but I do think glass substrates will move inevitably into the mainstream and eventually displace aluminum. Characteristics that make it attractive are the ability to make a much smoother disk and a higher rigidity to hold characteristics like runout, velocity and acceleration (flatness is the easiest way to understand these). Glass has had the disadvantage of being too expensive but it isnt clear that in high volume they have to be that way. I don't know the numbers frankly but suspect they could be as cheap as Al substrates someday. So far glass has been accepted in 2.5 inch disk applications, primarily for smoothnesss to achieve the lower flying heights associated with these highly dense drives.
Hoya, to my knowledge, is the leading supplier in glass disks and substrates but I note that Fuji Electric has said they will start making disks with glass substrates soon. Maybe these guys are going to supply them the substrates.
Best,
Stitch |
