
Computer interfacing
Hard disk systems
Hard disks, also known as Winchesters, are of rigid con-
struction, hence the name. The disks are usually made
from aluminium, coated with a magnetic material such
as ferric oxide or chromium oxide. The special aerody-
namically shaped head is known as a flying
head,
and fly
heights of 0.5-3 microns are usual (a micron is a mil-
lionth part of a metre). The heads can be designed to
take off from, and land on the disk surface, this feature
being characteristic of Winchester drives. The disk sur-
face is lubricated to minimise the risk of damage. The
complete system is hermetically sealed to provide a dust-