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From: mknox@ngp.UTEXAS.EDU (mknox)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re:  Rodime drives, parts (DC brake), HELP
Message-ID: <4125@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 24-Sep-86 21:41:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-smok.4125
Posted: Wed Sep 24 21:41:35 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 25-Sep-86 07:44:57 EDT
Sender: news@brl-smoke.ARPA
Lines: 15


    YES, you *DO* need the brake!  The problem lies in your question
"Do the heads get close to the platter at low speeds?"  Yup!!  They
actually touch the disk surface.

    Although the head and disk surface are polished very smooth, it
is still somewhat like locking the wheels on your car and then having
it towed.  Bad news.

     The purpose for the brake is to stop the drive quickly when a
spin-down command is issued.  If the you are assuming that the brake
is bad because it has the drive locked currently, that MAY not be
the problem.  The electronics has to tell the drive brake to release.

					good luck.