DVD units using a rubber band?

[jw]

I've heard that a lot of the newer DVD units are using a rubber band
for spinning the disk rather than gears like the older ones had.

Is this really true?

Duke

 

[Joel]

I've heard that a lot of the newer DVD units are using a rubber band
for spinning the disk rather than gears like the older ones had.

Is this really true?

Well, if the newer design requires BELT (not rubber band) instead of gear
then it could be true.

 

[John McGaw]

I've heard that a lot of the newer DVD units are using a rubber band
for spinning the disk rather than gears like the older ones had.

Is this really true?

Duke

I can't see any DVD or CD drive using gears for rotating the disk -- the
speed would probably be too ragged and noisy after a few minutes of wear.
Either direct drive or belt (rubber band as you call it) drive is the order
of the day. On the other hand, these drives have always used a
gear&rack-sort of mechanical system to open and close the tray.

Do a Google search for "DVD drive gear" and then for "DVD drive belt" to
see the difference -- no applicable hits for the first and quite a few for
the second.

 

[Brian Cryer]

I've heard that a lot of the newer DVD units are using a rubber band
for spinning the disk rather than gears like the older ones had.

Is this really true?

Going back almost two decades ... I had a video recorder on which the drive
belt went. I replaced it temporarily with a rubber band, it worked
reasonably well but was slow to respond to starts, stops and any change of
speed - because being a rubber band it was stretchy.

So, as others have already posted, yes in concept (drive belt) but no it
won't be a "rubber band".

 

[jw]

Thanks all

Duke

 

[larry moe 'n curly]

I've heard that a lot of the newer DVD units are using a rubber band
for spinning the disk rather than gears like the older ones had.

The spindle motor has always been direct drive, but the motor that
moves the tray can be driven by gears or a belt, and belts were used
even in ancient CD drives.

 

[GT]

I've heard that a lot of the newer DVD units are using a rubber band
for spinning the disk rather than gears like the older ones had.

Is this really true?

Well my car functions perfectly with a 'belt' for the timing of the valves
and another for the auxilliary equipment, so I would be quite happy to trust
a belt to drive my CDs and DVDs round!