Abstract: A method for manufacturing rigid disk substrates wherein the conventional process is modified to include a hot press function performed at the end of the fabrication process. The hot press function is performed so as to produce a flat substrate by causing the blank to yield, avoiding flow of either the blank or its overlay coating. The hot press temperature is coordinated with subsequent user process thermal cycle to avoid annealing by that cycle. The platens of the hot press are renewable with exact replacement replicas of master surfaces exhibiting a precise texture pattern ranging from an exact character down to a visibly featureless surface. That precise texture is embossed into the surface of the overlay without modifying that surface's epitaxy character. The process is extended beyond what is normal, by providing compliant platens having replica faces for removing asparity defects from post memory film deposition surfaces, restoring the substrate surface character to the finished disk.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating lubricant at the head/disk interface throughtout the life of a disk drive utilizing friction at the slider/disk interface to activate the polymerization of a monomer at the catalytic surface on the slider and/or the disk surface. The monomer is supplied to the catalytic surface through the vapor state from a reservoir.

Abstract: Plated magnetic recording material, such as magnetic tape, composed of a thin layer of ferromagnetic metal and a base film layer are made by plating a passivated smooth continuous surface such as the surface of a cylindrical mandrel or an endless belt with a plate of ferromagnetic metal, applying the base film layer to the plated surface, and stripping the resulting laminated composite from the surface. The smoothness of the surface of the ferromagnetic metal layer depends on the smoothness of the continuous surface rather than on the smoothness of the surface of the base film stock.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring vertical surface variations of a specimen is disclosed wherein the specimen is mounted in movable relation to an objective lens assembly, a reticule being arranged at a focal plane of the objective lens assembly, movement between the objective assembly and the specimen necessary for maintaining the reticule in focus upon different surface portions of the specimen providing an indication of vertical spacing between the surface portions. Another embodiment of the invention contemplates a three-dimensional reticule arranged at or adjacent a focal plane of an objective lens assembly for simultaneously focusing portions of the reticule upon different surface portions of the specimen, the reticule being adapted to provide an indication that the vertical spacing between the different surface portions of the specimen is within acceptable limits.