Minimizing flow induced vibration in a hard disk drive with a hybrid planar plate having a bypass channel

A hard disk drive comprising:

• a base casting for providing coupling points for components and sub-assemblies of said hard disk drive;
• a motor-hub assembly to which at least one disk is coupled allowing rotation of said disk about an axis approximately perpendicular and centered to said disk, wherein said motor-hub assembly is coupled to said base casting, wherein said disk comprises at least one surface of data tracks;
• and
• an airflow control device comprising:
• an outer perimeter having a radius equal to or greater than an outer radius of a disk in said hard disk drive;
• a thickness less than a spacing between adjacent disks in said hard disk drive;
• a central opening having an inner perimeter surface with a radius greater than an outer radius of a spacer ring of said hard disk drive;
• a notch in said outer perimeter, wherein said notch is configured to accommodate an actuator assembly of said hard disk drive;
• and
• a bypass slot transecting said perimeter, wherein said bypass slot has a bend with a radius nearly centered to said central opening.

A method of reducing airflow induced vibration in a hard disk drive, said method comprising:

• providing a planar surface configured to fit between adjacent disk surfaces in a hard disk drive;
• interleaving said planar surface between said adjacent disk surfaces, wherein a bypass channel is formed between a bypass slot within said planar surface and said surface of said disk;
• presenting a first distal opening of said bypass channel such that upon rotation of said disk, air enters said bypass channel at a location near an outer wall of said hard disk drive, and away from an actuator of said hard disk drive;
• and
• presenting a second distal opening of said bypass channel to an outer wall of said hard disk drive such that said air exiting said bypass channel is directed away from a voice coil motor of said hard disk drive, thereby enabling laminar flow of said airflow upon rotation of said disk and reducing airflow induced vibration in said hard disk drive.