How Slot Loading Drives Work

How Slot Loading Drives Work

When searching for a CD or DVD drive, there are several factors to consider, and the disc loading mechanism is an important consideration. The loading mechanism is the mechanical component that is responsible for loading the optical disc into the reading/writing drive. There are three loading mechanisms available in the market: tray, slot, and caddy.

In this article, we will explore the different types of drive loading mechanisms and how to decide on the best option for you.

Tray Loading Mechanism

The most common of the three, the tray loading mechanism, is made of a plastic tray driven by rubber belts and gears. The tray moves in and out when the eject button is pushed. When open, a gentle push of the tray can also retract the tray. Unlike the caddy, which we will look at briefly, the tray is overall less expensive. However, it has several disadvantages, one of them being that it is prone to breakage, which can happen from mis-usage.

Slot Loading Optical Disc Drive

The slot loading is identical to the system used in the CD player of most modern vehicles or the drives of Apple laptops and iMacs. It is the simplest of the three to use because all you need to do is just slip the disc into the slot and a mechanical arm grabs the disc, drawing it inside the drive. Most of the time, the drives that use this mechanism tend to have the capability of holding more than one disc inside.

Caddy-Style Disc Drive

Though the caddy-style disc drive is less popular due to the convenience offered by the tray, it is still widely used in many high-end drives. This mechanism requires that the CD gets drawn inside upon a gentle push. The little wheel on an arm at the bottom right grabs the disc from the edge as it moves sideways, bringing the disc inward instead of outward.

Why Are There No More Slot-Loading Optical Drives?

In recent years, there has been a decline in the production of slot-loading optical drives due to advancements in technology and changes in consumer behavior. The increasing popularity of digital music and video streaming services has led to a decrease in demand for physical media such as CDs and DVDs. Additionally, the development of more convenient and compact drive designs, such as the USB-based flash drives and portable hard drives, has further reduced the need for traditional optical drives., when choosing a CD or DVD drive, it is essential to consider the type of loading mechanism that best suits your needs. Whether you prefer the convenience of a tray-loading mechanism or the simplicity of a slot-loading mechanism, there are options available to meet your requirements.

How Does the Optical CD Disc Get Drawn In When We Gently Push?

According to various sources and user comments on Reddit, when we gently push the optical CD disc into a slot-loading drive, it gets drawn in due to the mechanical arm at the bottom right that grabs the disc from the edge as it moves sideways. This mechanism ensures that the disc is safely pulled inside the drive without any issues.

Additional Comments

In response to user comments on Reddit, several users have suggested that the little wheel on the bottom right of the slot-loading drive only grabs the disc after it has been pushed in past the halfway point where the diameter starts decreasing. This sideways movement brings the disc inward instead of outward. Some users have also requested a GIF or visual representation of this mechanism to better understand how it works.

Additional Resources

For further information on how slot loading drives work, you can refer to the following YouTube video: [insert link]

Note: The above article is based on publicly available information and may not be exhaustive in its coverage of the topic.