Abstract: A disk drive motor hub includes a top cylindrical portion defining a longitudinal axis, a middle cylindrical portion proximate the top cylindrical portion, and a bottom cylindrical portion proximate the middle cylindrical portion. The middle cylindrical portion defines an upper mounting surface substantially normal to the longitudinal axis, the upper mounting surface extending radially beyond the top cylindrical portion, and the bottom cylindrical portion defines a lower mounting surface substantially normal to the longitudinal axis, the lower mounting surface extending radially beyond the middle cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A novel disk drive includes a disk drive base that includes a plurality of mounting recessions. Each of a plurality of mounting inserts at least partially protrudes into a respective one of the plurality of mounting recessions, and contacts the disk drive base. Each of the plurality of mounting inserts includes a body portion that is adapted to be attached to a host computer system. Each of the plurality of mounting inserts also includes at least one cantilevered beam having a root end that is attached to the body portion and having a distal end that is in contact with the disk drive base in a respective one of the plurality of mounting recessions. The root end is not in contact with the disk drive base when the mounting insert is in an undeformed state.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a ramp having a fixed portion that is fixed to the disk drive base, and a guide portion that is not. The guide portion includes a guide surface having a parking region that is in contact with an HGA lift-tab with the disk drive in a non-operational state. The guide surface also has a load/unload region that extends over a disk outer periphery. The guide surface defines a guide surface length that is measured from the parking region to the load/unload region. The ramp also includes a torsionally-compliant member connecting the fixed portion to the guide portion. A distance between the torsionally-compliant member and the parking region, measured approximately parallel to the guide surface length, is less than half the guide surface length. The guide portion is not connected to the fixed portion over at least two-thirds of the guide surface length.

Abstract: A novel actuator latch includes a catch portion interfering with actuator rotation with the latch in a closed position. The latch includes a first stop portion that is in contact with a fixed member with the latch in the closed position. The latch includes a pusher portion that is in contact with the actuator with the latch in the closed position and with the actuator in an extreme rotational position. The pusher portion has a torsional stiffness about the latch pivot location in the range 5 JA/rad·sec2 to 30 JA/rad·sec2, where JA is the rotational inertia of the actuator about the actuator pivot location expressed in units of kg·m2. The first stop portion has a torsional stiffness about the latch pivot location that is at least 5 times that of the pusher portion.

Abstract: A fastener that includes a shaft and a sleeve is provided. The shaft extends along a longitudinal axis that passes through a central portion, e.g., the centroid of a head of the shaft. The sleeve is wrapped partially around the shaft. The sleeve has a gap that separates first and second circumferential extents thereof, a first thickness adjacent the first circumferential extent, and a second thickness between the second circumferential extent and the first circumferential extent. The first thickness is less than the second thickness. The sleeve has a first rotational position relative to the shaft and a second rotational position relative to the shaft different form the first rotational position. The longitudinal axis is in substantially the same location in both the first and second rotational positions.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a housing including a support post extending from the housing. The support post defines a post axis. The disk drive further includes an actuator rotatably coupled to the housing. The disk drive further includes a VCM top plate physically coupled to the housing and comprising a ferromagnetic metal. The disk drive further includes a VCM magnet magnetically coupled to the VCM top plate. The disk drive further includes an actuator latch contactable with the actuator. The latch includes a post opening. The latch is pivotably mounted about the support post with the support post disposed in the post opening. The disk drive further includes a pivot ball disposed in the post opening and partially protruding from the latch between the VCM top plate and the latch along the post axis.

Abstract: A head stack assembly for use in a disk drive is provided that includes an actuator body, a rotary bearing, a sleeve, and a cam member. The actuator body is pivotable about an axis of rotation. The actuator body has an actuator bore that extends along the axis of rotation. The actuator bore includes an actuator bore surface. The sleeve is disposed between the rotary bearing and the actuator body and comprises a first surface that engages the actuator bore surface. The cam member has a second surface eccentric to said first surface. The second surface engages the actuator bore surface.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a ramp having a fixed portion that is fixed to the disk drive base, and a guide portion that is not. The guide portion includes a guide surface having a parking region that is in contact with an HGA lift-tab with the disk drive in a non-operational state. The guide surface also has a load/unload region that extends over a disk outer periphery. The guide surface defines a guide surface length that is measured from the parking region to the load/unload region. The ramp also includes a torsionally-compliant member connecting the fixed portion to the guide portion. A distance between the torsionally-compliant member and the parking region, measured approximately parallel to the guide surface length, is less than half the guide surface length. The guide portion is not connected to the fixed portion over at least two-thirds of the guide surface length.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are disk drive spindle motors and disk drives using same that include one of more structures that function as travel limit stops that are designed to transfer the load created by a shock impulse to non-essential mechanical features and bypass the bearing structures, thereby keeping the load imposed thereon by the shock impulse below damaging levels. The spindle motor may also include one or more compliant members between the bearing structures and facing surfaces. Such compliant members may be combined with pre-load keepers that preload the bearings by axially compressing the compliant members.

Abstract: The disk includes a disk recording surface, and the ramp includes a ramp. A head stack assembly of a hard disk drive includes an actuator arm and a suspension assembly attached to the actuator arm. The suspension assembly includes a first elongated region having a distal region and a planar surface for facing toward the disk recording surface; the first elongated region defines a longitudinal axis. The suspension assembly includes a second elongated region positioned adjacent to the distal region. The second elongated region includes a lift tab for engaging the ramp surface and is vertically offset from the planar surface such that the lift tab is vertically displaced further from the disk recording surface than the planar surface. The second elongated region further includes a curved lift tab supporting member for supporting the lift tab and positioned between the distal region and the lift tab.

Abstract: A head disk assembly for a hard disk drive employs a rotary actuator apparatus including a pivot shaft that defines an actuator axis of rotation. A pivot bearing assembly including a pivot bushing having a plurality of fingers supports rotation of the actuator about the pivot shaft. Each of a plurality of fingers has a bearing end that is in sliding contact with the pivot shaft. The fingers are formed from a material in a shape that provides the stiffness and low coefficient of friction necessary for the desired pivot bearing performance.

Abstract: A spray mode gas metal arc welding process employing a shielding gas mixture consisting essentially of (A) 3 to 8 volume percent carbon dioxide, (B) 30 to 40 volume percent argon and (C) the balance helium.

Abstract: The gas metal arc welding process of the present invention extends the axial spray metal transfer range with a non rotating arc from 10 to 25 lbs/hr using an electrode wire diameter between 0.035 to 0.052 inches. The process is carried out by maintaining an electrode extension of between 3/4 to 11/4 inches with a three component shielding gas mixture consisting essentially of argon and oxygen in combination with carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide in a volume proportion of oxygen 1-2% carbon dioxide 8-15%, balance argon. The arc voltage is maintained in a range of between 29 and 40 volts.