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Business Online Business How the CD/DVD Manufacturing Process Works
| How the CD/DVD Manufacturing Process Works |
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| Written by DVD Guy |
| Sunday, 07 December 2008 09:16 |
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The process of CD/DVD manufacturing has revolutionized the way the world enjoys its entertainment audibly and visually. Before the onset of CD/DVD mass-production, more prehistoric methods, such as vinyl records, 8-track, cassette and VHS tapes were used to mass-produce music albums and movies. Now, with the introduction of CD/DVD manufacturing, we take a step into the modern world. Instead of purchasing bulky vinyl or poorly made tapes, music and movie lovers can enjoy their entertainment in the form of a small, shiny, futuristic disc that can be played in the car or in the home. How did the mass-production of CDs and DVDs become such a driving force in the world of media? What was the integral, small step that allowed us to take the giant leap into manufacturing CDs and DVDs in bulk, and in the process changed forever the way in which the world views its entertainment? Those interested in getting answers to these evolutionary questions, need first to understand that CD/DVD manufacturing is an intricate process. Complex and time-consuming procedures along with amazing chemical processes combine to produce the formation of a disc. It is crucial to understand, when examining the advancement of CD/DVD technology, the process of replication. Many steps are taken to manufacture discs: glass mastering, photoresist or non-photoresist mastering, post mastering, and electroforming. But the most vital step in the process of manufacturing is replication. Replication of CDs and DVDs is the step that takes place after the quality of the glass master has been determined to be ready for large-scale production. This is the critical point in the manufacturing process. It is the point in which the album creates a super-star out of a singer. CD and DVD replication has made it possible for listeners from Tokyo to New York and everywhere in between to have access to the same discs. It is a process that has truly revolutionized the fashion in which the world listens to music and sees movies. How exactly does replication happen? It involves several different steps, each of which are necessary to understand in learning the replication process. Replication begins in a factory in a CD molding machine. The molding machine uses high-temperature polycarbonate injectors. Each molding can produce 900 discs per hour! Hot molten plastic is poured into the mold cavities forming a disc. Then, cool water is run so that it gathers around the molding, solidifying the plastic, at which point the molding is opened. Only three to five minutes pass during this process - astonishing! Next, after molding, a vacuum handler moves the disc onto a cooling station. The disc now contains all of its digital information at this point, but does not yet have the reflective layer that makes the disc playable. Then the disc passes into a chamber to undergo a process called "sputtering". During the sputtering process, metal is coated onto the data side of the disc; the side not containing the record label. After metallization, the disc gets a lacquer coating, providing a surface for the record or DVD label to be printed. It is imperative that the printing ink is compatible with the lacquer. This is also true when it comes to using a pen to write on a CD or DVD. If the pen ink is not compatible, the disc can fracture and become ruined. And, presto! The process of replication is complete. Replication has opened the door for the mass-production of CDs and DVDs and in the process, changed the way the world enjoys music and movies. Take a minute to think about that the next time you head out to the video store to pick up the latest DVD release or when rummaging through titles on the CD aisle of your favorite shop. Replication has allowed CD and DVD manufacturing to become a prominent force in the world. Kindly provided by MoneyHunter.org You are welcome to use this article on your own website, if you include the link just before this text. |
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