HDD head arms & actuator assemblies
The payload is the amber polyimide flex with visible gold traces and the gold contact pad block — the aluminium arm itself is just aluminium. Sort the neodymium magnets separately; they usually beat the gold.
How to spot it
Pivoting actuator arm carrying the read/write sliders, plus flex circuit, preamp IC, copper voice coil, and a magnet stack on steel plates.
Metal content
| Metal | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 0.1–0.3 g/lb | 0.005–0.02 g per drive |
| Neodymium | NdFeB magnets | $1–3 a pair — often out-earns the gold |
| Copper | voice coil |
At 4 Aug 2026 spot prices that works out to $26.5 per pound of contained metal — Gold 0.2 g = $26.1, Copper 40 g = $0.43. A refiner paying $5 returns about 19% of that, which is normal: refining costs money and the buyer takes a margin.
Safe removal
Working temperature: Cold
Unscrew the pivot bolt and the magnet plate screws, lift the assembly, snip the flex. Pry the magnet plates apart carefully — they pinch hard enough to break fingers.
Hazards
Don't let two magnet plates snap together across your fingers.
The common trap
Questions
How much gold is in hdd head arms & actuator assemblies?
Gold: 0.1–0.3 g/lb. Copper: voice coil. At current spot that is about $26.5 of contained metal per pound.
How do you identify hdd head arms & actuator assemblies?
The payload is the amber polyimide flex with visible gold traces and the gold contact pad block — the aluminium arm itself is just aluminium. Sort the neodymium magnets separately; they usually beat the gold.
How do you remove hdd head arms & actuator assemblies safely?
Unscrew the pivot bolt and the magnet plate screws, lift the assembly, snip the flex. Pry the magnet plates apart carefully — they pinch hard enough to break fingers.
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