So, what is disc repair..?

What we call Disc Repair is the process of removing scratches from the shiny surface of an optical disc that will not play correctly (DVD, Blu-ray, CD etc).

The reason these discs do not play is because the laser is failing to read the data layer within the disc correctly because of a scratch in the shiny, playing surface.

Quite simply, our disc repair machines polish the scratches out of the shiny side of an optical disc which allows the laser to read the data layer again.

People have been repairing scratched discs for more than a decade, with machines evolving as disc formats have evolved.

What are the disc layers..?

Every disc is made up of several layers, the most important layer of any disc is the data layer - this is a very thin foil layer that contains 'pits' and 'falls' which represent binary data and is what the laser reads. If the data layer is ever damaged, the disc will not play properly.

The common misconception is that the shiny surface is the data layer - in all cases, the shiny surface is just plastic and contains no data.

The data layer in fact is located somewhere within the disc, where it is located depends upon the format of disc. The location of the data layer is important as it denotes how a disc should be cared for and how many times it can be repaired.

For information on the breakdown of the different formats (CD, DVD, Blu-ray etc...) - click here...

How the repair process works...

Essentially the aim is to polish the shiny plastic surface so that the laser is not deflected from reading the data on the foil layer.
There are three main methods of achieving this:

Abrasive Polish:

This involves using abrasive polish and soft pads to gently remove the disc surface, revealing a smooth finish - this is by far the most popular method of polishing discs and as material removal is incremental, any level of damage can be repaired this way.

The arrangement of the disc turntable, soft pad(s) and polish feed varies from machine to machine, with different manufacturers using different set-ups to try and achieve the best result.

TDR pioneered this technology over a decade ago, taking it from a multiple stage operation, into single stage polishing which is the standard today.

Abrasive Pads:

This involves using abrasive pads and coolant instead of abrasive liquid and soft pads. The pad does the grinding and the coolant is simply there to lubricate the process and remove unwanted material.

This is a very effective solution as the grinding pads/papers have more ability to cut into the polycarbonate disc material. This can be at cost of disc finish as the process is more harsh than the gentle effect of abrasive solution. But the machines in our range that use this technology are of sufficient quality to give excellent disc finish.

Historically, this was the first approach used in the early disc repair machine, though the abrasive polish approach has become more favourable in recent times.

Dry Buffing:

This involves using a soft buffing wheel applied to the disc at high speed with high pressure. This creates a lot of friction, heating up the disc and essentially 'ironing' the scratches out.

There are just a few machines around that use this process and it has pro's and con's.

Pro's: High speed repairs at a fraction of the price of the best wet grinding machines.
Con's: Lack of ability to repair deep scratches or formats like Blu-ray due to the fact that no material is removed during the process and only a certain depth into the disc is reached.

New Technologies:

Some manufacturers are now beginning to combine wet and dry processes into their machines, that combined with the development of better single stage machines and even fully automated machines, the world of disc repair technology is still growing. 

The Evolution of Repair Machines...

As well as new developments in machine technology, manufacturers are also producing supplementary products that provide assistance with the process and business aspect like cellophane packing machines and quick disc cleaners.

Despite the introduction of online gaming and downloads, disc repair still remains a massive industry - especially when pre-owned sales out-strip new sales as reported by some retailers.

Here's to many more years of disc repair!

Why not take a look at our full range of machines, we have a solution for everybody...

More Information:

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