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How to take apart an old hard drive to get rare earth magnets?

Old hard disk is an important resource in the electronic waste, which contains rare earth neodymium magnets, these magnets have a strong magnetic force, can be useful in many DIY projects and engineering applications, this article describes how to disassemble the old hard disk to take out the neodymium magnets.


Tools needed to disassemble the hard disk;

Phillips screwdriver: usually a T6 or T8 Torx screwdriver

Flat screwdriver or pry bar: used to pry open the hard disk enclosure

Pliers: for separating magnets


Disassembly Steps;

First, identify the front and back of the hard disk drive. The front side usually contains a label or sticker. And the back will usually contain some sort of circuit board. This is not always the case, as it can vary from drive model to drive model, but they usually follow a similar format.


Now, start by removing the screws that hold the top of the enclosure in place. You'll need a Torx screwdriver here to remove the special star-shaped screws. These are called security screws and are designed to stop people tampering with them.


There are usually only 5-7 screws holding the plate in place and it can be easily lifted. You may also find a hidden screw under the warranty label. Keep in mind that throughout the instruction, if a part doesn't come out, you may have missed a screw. So be sure to check for all hidden screws, especially under any warranty stickers.


After removing all the screws, it should be easy to lift the top of the case up. If the cover is really stuck, you may need to pry it off with a flathead screwdriver.


Remove the screws from the disk retention bracket and carefully remove the disk. The platters are usually made of glass or metal and are very fragile.


There are usually two rare earth magnets inside the hard disk, one at the top of the drive arm and the other at the bottom. The magnets are usually fixed to a metal bracket.


Neodymium arc magnet removed from hard drive

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Separate the hdd magnet;

Using pliers or a flat screwdriver, carefully pry the magnet off the metal bracket. Note that the magnets are very strong and care should be taken to avoid pinching your fingers when handling them, and since the magnets are held to the actuator by epoxy or some other strong adhesive, the coating may be damaged when separating them.


The easiest way to separate the two is to use a vise and vise grips, but don't worry if you don't have a vise, it can still be done without one. Clamp the backing plate in two pairs of vises or locking pliers. Carefully bend it to loosen the magnet slightly. Once sufficiently bent, removing the magnet is easy. Caution! You don't want metal shards flying into your eyes if the metal breaks, so wear eye protection!


With these steps, you can successfully dismantle your old hard disk and get rare earth neodymium magnets.


Recommended Reading;

How Strong Are Hard Drive Magnets?

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