ComputingCommon
CD / DVD / Blu-ray drive
Also called optical drive, burner, laptop ODD.
A kit of small motors, gears, and a laser you should probably leave in the pickup. Desktop drives are a much easier teardown than laptop slot-loaders.
A donor is the dead machine. The parts below are what is still worth removing from it. “Leave it” is a part that is physically in there and should stay in there: too dangerous, too worn, or only useful as part of a repair you are not doing.
A scrapped machine is a box of parts that failed at different times. The reason it was thrown out is often one bad piece. The motor, the cord, the supply, and the screws are frequently still good. This index says which is which.
Why it is in the trash while the parts are not
Nothing reads discs anymore, or the tray gear stripped. The motors are rarely the failure. A stripped tray gear is often the only dead plastic.
Before you open it
Do this while it is still unplugged, cool, and not leaking. Unplug power. The laser is an eye hazard if you power the pickup out of the circuit. Do not stare into the lens while the drive is connected.
Where the dead machine usually is
- Home office — In the house
- Office cleanout — Commercial
- Bulk trash day — Curb
One in almost every old tower. Laptop drives are thin and not worth as much.
How it comes apart
Bottom cover. The sled is a lead screw or a rack. Note the switches at the ends of travel before you let the tray spring out.
Tools: Phillips, Small flat blade.
What to take
The table is the short version. The notes under it describe that part inside this machine, not only the general description.
| Part | Call | How many | How often | Where to look |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brushed DC motor | Worth pulling | 1–2 | usually | Tray and sometimes the sled. |
| Stepper motor | Worth pulling | 1 | sometimes | Sled, on older drives. |
| Brushless DC motor | Bonus | 1 | always | Spindle. |
| Laser diode | Leave it | 1–2 | always | Optical pickup. |
| Gears | Worth pulling | a handful | usually | Tray mechanism. |
| Optical interrupter | Bonus | 1–2 | usually | Tray position. |
| Timing belt | Bonus | 1 | sometimes | Some tray mechanisms. |
| Screws and standoffs | Bonus | several | always | Case. |
Worth pulling
Small 5–12 V motors. Some sleds are steppers instead.
Tray and sometimes the sled.
Unplug or desolder the two wires and label them.
Usually strong. The plastic gear on the tray is the worn part.
Small, often a fine step angle, low current.
Sled, on older drives.
Keep the lead screw if you want the linear motion.
Good.
Small plastic, some with a clutch.
Tray mechanism.
Keep meshing pairs together.
One stripped gear is typical.
Bonus
Sensorless, made to spin a disc, not to be a wheel motor.
Spindle.
Leave it if you do not have a driver.
Good and annoying.
Flags the tray limits.
Tray position.
Desolder with the connector.
Good if not full of dust.
A small square belt. Often glazed.
Some tray mechanisms.
Replace rather than reuse if it is shiny.
Often tired.
Small Phillips, some M2.
Case.
Bag them.
Good.
Leave it
Red ~650 nm and IR ~780 nm in a DVD pickup. Blu-ray adds ~405 nm.
Optical pickup.
Leave it in the pickup unless you already own the right current source and glasses.
ESD-sensitive.