Abstract: A glide head assembly associated with a mounting structure is adapted for use with a test system for testing a presence of asperities on a moving system and comprises an elongated flexure, a slider and a piezoelectric transducer. The flexure includes a first end portion attachable to the mounting structure and a second end portion opposite the first end portion which is adapted to be positioned in proximity to the moving surface when in an operative state. The slider is disposed on the second end portion and has a first surface facing the moving surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and a surrounding sidewall surface extending therebetween. The piezoelectric transducer is secured to the surrounding sidewall surface and projects outwardly therefrom. The transducer is responsive in the operative state to the presence of an asperity to vibrate, thereby to produce an electronic signal at a selected signal frequency.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a slider out of a production piece slider blank so that the slider may be used in a glide head assembly that is operative with a test system to detect a presence of asperities on a moving surface. Broadly, this method comprises configuring an air bearing structure on the production piece slider blank to form a working production piece having an unpolished air bearing surface and an outer sidewall surface which intersects the unpolished air bearing surface at a pheripheral edge. The unpolished air bearing surface is lapped to form a polished air bearing surface which is microfinished to a selected ABS Ra value. A region of the outer sidewall surface adjacent to the pheripheral edge is also lapped to form a sidewall margin area that is microfinished to a selected sidewall Ra value that is within a range of about ten times the selected ABS Ra value, thereby forming a finished production piece.

Abstract: A glide head device for attachment to a flexure and for operation with a test system to detect a presence of asperities on a moving surface includes a slider constructed as a rigid body that is adapted to be suspended from the flexure and a transducer operatively associated with the slider. The slider's rigid body includes an air bearing surface operative to be oriented in facing relation to the moving surface when in an operative state and a sidewall margin area adjacent the trailing edge which is microfinished to a selected Ra value, such as 200 angstroms. A glide head assembly and a test device incorporating such a glide head device are also provided.