Abstract: A method of controlling a shape of a bearing surface of a head slider is provided. The method includes obtaining a set of shape adjust patterns, wherein each pattern corresponds to a response in the shape of the bearing surface. Furthermore, the method includes generating a representation of the shape of the bearing surface of the slider. The representation includes a plurality of measurements of substantially the entire shape of the bearing surface wherein each measurement corresponds to a location on the bearing surface and a height of the associated location. Material stresses on a working surface of the slider are selectively altered within the obtained shape adjust patterns based on the representation in order to alter the shape of the bearing surface.

Abstract: A method for laser edge treating (LET) a slider and a slider with laser edge treatment, wherein the laser treatment is used to modify the curvature along the air-bearing surface, including altering a slider edge ridge that forms at the edges of the air bearing surface due to compressive stresses induced in the air bearing surface by a prior lapping step. The laser makes positive and negative adjustments to crown, cross curve, and twist as measured on the air bearing surface by selectively altering the treatment pattern or the treatment location on the slider's side edges.