Laser destruction system for hard drives
Three systems for the destruction of the data storage portion of electronic media storage devices such as hard disk drives, solid state drives and hybrid hard drives. One system utilizes a mill cutter with which the hard drive has relative motion in the direction of the axis of the mill cutter to destroy the data storage portion. A second system utilizes a laser to physically destroy the data storage portion. The third system utilizes a chemical solvent to chemically destroy the data storage portion.
1. A system for physically destroying a data storage portion of an electronic media storage device selected from the group consisting of a hard disk drive, a solid state drive and a hybrid hard drive comprising:
an electronic media storage device selected from the group consisting of a hard disk drive, a solid state drive and a hard disk drive, said electronic media storage device having a data storage portion;
a chamber;
a laser in said chamber which laser destroys the data storage portion;
a cradle for holding an electronic media storage device in said chamber;
a database of master information of different types of electronic media storage devices and activating CNC coordinates and orientations;
a visioning system for determining the type of an electronic media storage device positioned in said cradle;
wherein said visioning system and said master information provides control information comprising CNC coordinates and orientations which are employed to control the movement of said cradle, said laser or both to position the laser relative to the electronic media storage device so that the laser destroys the data storage portion of the electronic media storage device while leaving at least a substantial portion of the electronic media storage device intact.
2. The system of claim 1 further including a computer for housing information concerning the type of electronic media storage device and control information.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said laser utilizes a micro-drilling process that produces short and ultra-short pulses.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein said laser uses infrared, visible or ultra-violet laser cutting applications.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein said laser cuts close patterned micro holes in the data storage portion of the electronic media electronic storage device.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein when said electronic media electronic storage device is a hard disk drive, the laser cuts holes in a grid like pattern that resembles a donut.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein when said electronic media electronic storage device is a hybrid hard drive, the laser cuts holes in a rectangular grid like pattern.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic media electronic storage device includes an outer casing and an internal data storage portion having stored information, and said laser produces a close-knit hole pattern through the outer casing and the internal data storage portion rendering the stored information digitally and forensically irretrievable.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein said visioning system includes a barcode scanner.
10. The system of claim 1 further including a vacuum system for removing debris from the chamber.
11. The system of claim 1 further including a plurality of systems spaced at separate locations and interconnected by a wireless connection to send information between the plurality of systems.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein there are two cradles for receiving hard drives of two different sizes.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein said cradles are mounted on a moveable table.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein said control information is employed to produce a laser perforating pattern in said electronic media storage device.
15. A method for physically destroying a data storage portion of an electronic media storage device selected from the group consisting of a hard disk drive, a solid state drive and a hybrid hard drive, comprising:
providing an electronic media storage device having a data storage portion;
providing a laser;
providing a cradle for locating the electronic media storage device in a position to be contacted by the laser;
providing a master database of information for different types of electronic data storage devices and activating CNC coordinates and orientations;
positioning an electronic media storage device on said cradle;
scanning the electronic storage device positioned on said cradle to determine the type of electronic storage device;
generating control information comprising CNC coordinates and orientations from said type and master database;
automatically moving said laser or said cradle using said control information;
actuating said laser; and
destroying the data storage portion of the electronic media storage device while leaving at least a substantial portion of the electronic media storage device intact.
16. The method of claim 15 further including using a computer for housing information concerning the type of electronic media storage device and information for controlling the movement of the laser or cradle or both.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein said laser utilizes a micro-drilling process that produces short and ultra-short pulses.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein said laser uses infrared, visible or ultra-violet laser cutting applications.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein said laser cuts close patterned micro holes in the data storage portion of the electronic media storage device.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein said electronic media storage device includes an outer casing and an internal data storage portion having stored information, and said laser produces a close-knit hole pattern through the outer casing and the internal data storage portion rendering the stored information digitally and forensically irretrievable.