Abstract: A retainer holds an assembly including multiple sub-components which are held together by screws or other threaded fasteners. One example assembly is a hard disk with a printed circuit board to be removed. A source of vibrational energy is brought adjacent to the assembly and activated to impart vibrational energy into the assembly. The vibrational energy is sufficient to cause the screws or other threaded fasteners to become unthreaded from holes in which they were originally located. Separation of the components from each other is thus facilitated. A machine is also disclosed for at least partial automation of the threaded fastener removal process. The machine operates within a case for management of sound caused by the operation of the machine according to one method of this invention. The vibrational energy can also cause sub-components to be removed which have been attached by bonding and/or welding.