Abstract: The present invention provides a non-actuatable, self-limiting wear contact pad slider and method for making the same. A protruding element surrounding the transducer is fabricated using a third etch step so that the protruding element has a height that is greater than or equal to the designed fly height of the aerodynamic lift surface minus the disk roughness.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-actuatable, self-limiting wear contact pad slider and method for making the same. A protruding element surrounding the transducer is fabricated using a third etch step so that the protruding element has a height that is greater than or equal to the designed fly height of the aerodynamic lift surface minus the disk roughness.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-actuatable, self-limiting wear contact pad slider and method for making the same. A protruding element surrounding the transducer is fabricated using a third etch step so that the protruding element has a height that is greater than or equal to the designed fly height of the aerodynamic lift surface minus the disk roughness.

Abstract: An actuator arm for a disk drive includes a flat sheet of material having a predetermined configuration. This arm lies pivotally mounted to a base of the disk drive; and it supports a coil assembly and cable segments as well as other components such as a pre-amp and a damper. The method of making this actuator arm includes the steps of cutting a flat sheet of material to a predetermined configuration and then securing the various components to it.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically adjusting the gram load and static attitude in a head suspension assembly comprising one or more lasers, a fiber optic switch, a measurement apparatus and a computer control means. The fiber optic switch includes a plurality of fiber optic lines which direct the output of the laser to well-defined regions on the suspensions in a disk drive. Irradiation of the suspension by the laser causes a load change which alters the static attitude change in the slider. In the method of the present invention, the initial gram load or static attitude is measured by the measurement apparatus and the control means calculates how much energy is required to cause the change needed to achieve the desired condition. Other information, such as the type of laser to be used is also specified by the control means.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically adjusting the gram load, static attitude and the flying height of the slider in a head suspension assembly comprising one or more lasers, a fiber optic switch, a measurement apparatus and a computer control device. The fiber optic switch includes a plurality of fiber optic lines which direct the output of the laser to well-defined regions on the suspensions in a disk drive. Irradiation of the suspension by the laser causes a load change which alters the flying height, and/or a static attitude change in the slider. In the method of the present invention, the initial gram load, flying height or static attitude of the slider is measured by the measurement apparatus and the control means calculates how much energy is required to cause the change needed to achieve the desired condition. Other information, such as the type of laser to be used is also specified by the control device.