Abstract: A stationary vacuum deposition machine for use in a method for processing substrates to make magnetic hard disks includes a series of stations and a transport. The series of stations includes an entrance station for receiving substrates into the machine and a predetermined station. The transport operates in a cycle with each cycle including a transport phase and a stationary phase. The transport causes all the substrates that are in the machine to be moved during the transport phase, and be temporarily held stationary during the stationary phase, such that during each stationary phase a predetermined one of the stations is occupied by one of the substrates while each of a plurality of others of the stations is occupied by a respective one of a plurality of others of the substrates. The machine further includes a plurality of vacuum deposition stations and a scanning beam generator.

Abstract: A recording medium on a hard disk is provided that includes a magnetic data recording layer on the disk, a hydrogenated carbon buffer layer over the data recording layer, and a nitrogenated carbon overcoat layer over the hydrogenated carbon buffer layer. The composition ratios and thickness of the recording and nitrogenated carbon overcoat layers are suitably controlled to optimum ranges.

Abstract: A stationary vacuum deposition machine is used in a method for controlling the height of bumps formed in annular regions of substrates; the substrates are transported to the machine in a first condition in which each substrate is subject to a chemicapillary effect when subjected to localized thermal heating and melting. The machine includes a series of stations including an entrance station for receiving substrates into the machine, first and second predetermined stations, and a transport for operating in a cycle with each cycle including a transport phase and a stationary phase such that the transport causes all the substrates that are in the machine to be moved during the transport phase, and be temporarily held stationary during the stationary phase, such that during each stationary phase a predetermined one of the stations is occupied by one of the substrates while each of a plurality of others of the stations is occupied by a respective one of a plurality of others of the substrates.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a recording medium on a hard disk includes forming a data recording layer on the disk, forming a nitrogenated carbon overcoat layer over the data recording layer, (with or without intervening layers), and the processing data recording layer to protect it from the nitrogen used in the process of forming the nitrogenated carbon. In one approach, the step of processing the data recording layer is accomplished by forming a buffer layer between the data recording layer and the overcoat layer by depositing carbon on the data recording layer using a carbon deposition process excluding nitrogen, then forming the overcoat layer by depositing carbon on the buffer layer using a carbon deposition process that includes a nitrogen source.