Sealed hard disk drive base insert

A hard disk drive (HDD) enclosure comprising:

• a main base composed of a first material and having at least one floor opening therethrough;
• a base insert, composed of a second material having a higher Young's modulus than the first material, inserted into a corresponding floor opening of the main base, wherein the base insert comprises a flange portion having an inner diameter and an outer diameter;
• and
• weld means coupling the base insert to the main base,
• wherein the weld means comprises:
• a first friction stir weld at an interface of the inner diameter of the flange portion and the main base, and
• a second friction stir weld at an interface of the outer diameter of the flange portion and the main base.

A method of manufacturing a hard disk drive (HDD) enclosure base,

• the method comprising:
• forming a main base composed of a first material and having at least one opening through a floor of the main base;
• inserting a base insert comprising a flange into a corresponding opening of the main base, wherein the base insert is composed of a second material having a higher Young's modulus than the first material;
• positioning a thin film sealing material over at least a portion of the flange;
• and
• coupling the base insert to the main base using a friction stir weld (FSW), thereby melting the thin film sealing material.