How Are Cds Manufactured

Unless you are from Mars, you must know what CDs are

. They store our data, help make us backups, store music, and can come in handy when we dont have a mirror. CDs or DVDs are also called optical disks in geek talk. How are these made, and what steps are taken during the process, lets have a look:

Glass mastering

This is perhaps the most complicated of all the steps, and requires a lot of skill. It involves a series of steps to produce a glass master, and from this master, stampers are made. Glass is basically used to accumulate the CD master image. Stampers will be used while burning pits in CDs at later stages.

Electroplating

In this process, the photoresist is sprayed on the CD surface, which helps in formation of lands and pits during later stages. After the spraying, a thin layer of molted metal is applied on CD. Then the CD is checked for quality, and another layer of metal is evaporated on its surface.

Stamping

In the stamping step, the lands and pits are categorized in three different classes: fathers, mothers and sons. Fathers are made by about 3 to 6 impressions. Mothers have other additional 3 to 6 impressions, and sons are the combination of fathers and mothers- also called stampers.

Molding

Now is the time to mold the CD impressions. For this, liquid polycarbonate is injected in the CD. The CD is held at a place for 6 seconds, while the polycarbonate is being injected in it.

Metallization

After the molding phase, a very thin layer of aluminum is applied on the surface of CDs. This gives reflecting shine to the CDs. This helps the laser to read the data on CD, when it is reflected off the surface.

Lacquering

Lacquering is done to protect the CDs from damage occurred due to playback. The CD is covered with a micro layer of plastic, to protect the shiny aluminum coating. If CD is not lacquered properly, it will be destroyed while printing.

Printing and Packaging

Printing is about putting the company logo, or name, or any other graphics on the CD. Printing can be silk screen or offset- and after the printing phase, the CD is ready to be used. After the printing part, the CD is packaged into cardboard or plastic covers or wraps. The manufacturer can also put some leaflets in the packaging material.

All set and done- after all these steps, your CDs are ready for use, and you can use them as many times as you want.

by: jamesunified

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