Abstract: A multiple-actuator hard disk drive includes multiple head-stack assemblies (HSA) and a disk stack including a shared disk operated upon by both of the HSAs. Generally to provide more space between the HSAs such as for routing electrical traces, the distance between the shared disk and each of the upper and lower adjacent disks is greater than the distance between each of the upper and lower adjacent disks and the next adjacent disk. Each arm tip of the arms operating upon the shared disk may be thicker than other arm(s) operating upon other disks in the stack, so that the z-height between each head slider and corresponding disk surface is maintained in view of the differing disk spacing. Suspension tails for the arms that operate on the shared disk may be biased to offset away from the shared disk to provide for more clearance between the HSAs.

Abstract: A disk device includes a magnetic disk having a data non-recording region, and a data recording region inside the data non-recording region, a plurality of heads configured to read and write information from and onto the magnetic disk, and a plurality of arms supporting the heads, the arms being rotatable to move the heads from a parked position to a desired data recording position above or below the magnetic disk. Each of the arms comprises an overlapping region that overlaps the data recording region of the magnetic disk in a thickness direction of the magnetic disk when the heads are at the parked position.

Abstract: A ramp voltage generator includes a first ramp voltage generation block suitable for generating a first ramp voltage with a first slope in response to a bias signal and a first ramp control signal, and a second ramp voltage generation block suitable for generating a second ramp voltage with a second slope corresponding to the first slope in response to the bias signal, a second ramp control signal, and a slope correction signal.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic read apparatus. The magnetic read apparatus includes a substrate and an isolation circuit. The isolation circuit includes a bias resistor and a capacitor residing on the substrate. The bias resistor and the capacitor are connected in parallel through the substrate.

Abstract: In a magnetic head suspension according to the present invention, each of paired right and left connecting beams that are positioned on both sides of an open section, with which paired piezoelectric elements are at least partially overlapped in a plan view, in a suspension width direction and connect a proximal end section that is directly or indirectly connected to a main actuator and a distal end section to which the load bending part is connected includes proximal-side and distal-side beams. The distal-side beam is inclined with respect to the proximal-side beam in a plan view such that a connection point between the proximal-side and distal-side beams is located closer to a suspension longitudinal center line relative to a virtual line connecting the proximal end of the proximal-side beam and the distal end of the distal-side beam.

Abstract: In a magnetic head suspension according to the present invention, each of paired right and left connecting beams that are positioned on both sides of an open section, with which paired piezoelectric elements are at least partially overlapped in a plan view, in a suspension width direction and connect a proximal end section that is directly or indirectly connected to a main actuator and a distal end section to which the load bending part is connected includes proximal-side and distal-side beams. The distal-side beam is inclined with respect to the proximal-side beam in a plan view such that a connection point between the proximal-side and distal-side beams is located closer to a suspension longitudinal center line relative to a virtual line connecting the proximal end of the proximal-side beam and the distal end of the distal-side beam.

Abstract: A hard disk drive including a housing, at least one disk mounted to the housing, an actuator mounted to the housing and being movable relative to the at least one disk, a conductive component support coupled with the actuator and extending the first surface, the conductive component support having a support wall attaching the conductive component support to the actuator, and a boss coupled with a first surface of the actuator and the support wall, the boss having a first end facing a flat coil side of the actuator and a second end facing a head gimbal assembly side of the actuator, wherein the first end extends further toward the flat coil side than the conductive component entrance portion of the conductive component support such that a portion of the boss overlaps a portion of the conductive component support.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic head suspension, wherein a supporting portion such as an arm or base plate includes a pair of supporting pieces extending from its opposite sides in the widthwise direction to a tip-end side of the suspension, and a concave portion which is defined by the pair of supporting pieces and is opened toward the tip-end side of the suspension, there is provided an elastically-deformable elastic plate which is connected to the pair of supporting pieces at a first end and a second end in the widthwise direction of the magnetic head suspension, the member forming the load beam portion is connected to the elastic plate, and the elastic plate forms the load bending portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic head suspension, wherein a supporting portion such as an arm or base plate includes a pair of supporting pieces extending from its opposite sides in the widthwise direction to a tip-end side of the suspension, and a concave portion which is defined by the pair of supporting pieces and is opened toward the tip-end side of the suspension, there is provided an elastically-deformable elastic plate which is connected to the pair of supporting pieces at a first end and a second end in the widthwise direction of the magnetic head suspension, the member forming the load beam portion is connected to the elastic plate, and the elastic plate forms the load bending portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic head suspension, wherein a supporting portion such as an arm or base plate includes a pair of supporting pieces extending from its opposite sides in the widthwise direction to a tip-end side of the suspension, and a concave portion which is defined by the pair of supporting pieces and is opened toward the tip-end side of the suspension, there is provided an elastically-deformable elastic plate which is connected to the pair of supporting pieces at a first end and a second end in the widthwise direction of the magnetic head suspension, the member forming the load beam portion is connected to the elastic plate, and the elastic plate forms the load bending portion.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head suspension assembly includes an arm includes upper and lower surfaces, a suspension extending from the arm, a head supported by the suspension, and restriction plates bonded on the upper and lower surfaces of the arm. The restriction plates includes extending portions projecting from the arm to a downstream side of an airflow, respectively, and the extending portions are bent in a direction in which the extending portions approach each other.

Abstract: An actuator and method of using an actuator that operably supports a component of a data transfer assembly. The actuator has a body and an arm extending longitudinally from the body. The arm has a tapered portion defined by laterally converging opposing surfaces from a proximal end of the arm adjacent the body and terminating at a medial longitudinal position of the arm. The arm further has a tip portion extending contiguously from the medial longitudinal position of the arm to a distal end of the arm. The tip portion has laterally opposing protuberant arcuate lobes that cooperatively define a maximum lateral width of the tip portion. In some embodiments the arm has a surface defining an aperture sized for operably swaging a head gimbal assembly (HGA) to the arm. A lateral apex of at least one of the lobes is intersected by a lateral axis that intersects the aperture.

Abstract: A support arm for use in a disc drive suspension includes an asymmetry that creates a vertical coupling in the support arm, i.e., a slight lateral movement of the support arm distal end to which a load beam is mounted in response to vibration-induced bending of the support arm. The vertical coupling in the support arm at least partially cancels out during arm bending any vertical coupling which has been designed into the coupling between the load beam and the support arm to reduce track misregistration during flow-induced vibrations of the disc surface. In this way, track misregistration during both flow-induced vibrations and during arm bending is reduced. In a preferred embodiment the asymmetry is created by at least one of a first notch along an inside top edge of the arm, and a second notch along a bottom outside edge of the arm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic head suspension, wherein a supporting portion such as an arm or base plate includes a pair of supporting pieces extending from its opposite sides in the widthwise direction to a tip-end side of the suspension, and a concave portion which is defined by the pair of supporting pieces and is opened toward the tip-end side of the suspension, there is provided an elastically-deformable elastic plate which is connected to the pair of supporting pieces at a first end and a second end in the widthwise direction of the magnetic head suspension, the member forming the load beam portion is connected to the elastic plate, and the elastic plate forms the load bending portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic head suspension including a flexure part including a magnetic head mounting region for supporting a magnetic head slider; a load bending part for generating a load to press the magnetic head slider towards a recording medium; a load beam part for transmitting the load generated by the load bending part to the magnetic head mounting region; and a base part connected to a proximal end side of the load bending part. The base part has a thin thickness region extending from a distal end towards a proximal end side by a predetermined distance and having a thin thickness compared to an other region.

Abstract: A novel head stack assembly (HSA), and method for HSA assembly, are disclosed and claimed. A first flexure tail has a long axis approximately parallel to a side of the actuator arm. The actuator arm includes a slot in the side having a slot end. The first flexure tail is disposed partially within the slot. The first flexure tail includes a first raised region in contact with the slot adjacent the slot end. The first raised region includes an out-of-plane bend with cross-sectional curvature along the long axis. The first raised region may be squeezed while inserting the first flexure tail partially within the side slot, with the first raised region adjacent the slot end, and then allowed to expand into contact with the slot adjacent the slot end.

Abstract: A rotary actuator arm assembly for positioning a transducer over a data track of at least one rotating magnetic disk. The actuator includes self contained spacers with semi-kinematic mounting features to accurately locate and secure a set of self-aligning components, thereby eliminating azimuth alignment problems created by conventional assembly procedures.

Abstract: A head stack assembly of a disk drive unit includes a head arm assembly (HAA) having a head gimbal assembly, a drive arm to be connected with the head gimbal assembly; wherein the drive arm comprises a securing portion, a connection portion and a spacer connecting the securing portion with the connection portion. At least one undercut is formed on the spacer of the drive arm to strengthen the drive arm.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to suppress performance degradation in an actuator of a disk drive device when attaching a damping member to a single surface of an arm. According to one embodiment, in a HDD a damping member is attached to a single surface of an arm. A shape of an inner arm is asymmetric with the center position between disks. Specifically, the thickness from a center position between the disks to the damping material attaching surface is thinner than the thickness from a center position between the disks to an opposite surface of the damping member attaching surface. This suppresses deformation of the vibration mode in the case that the damping member is attached to the single surface of the arm.

Abstract: A head stack assembly of a hard disk drive includes a swing arm having a prong at its leading end, an actuator for rotating the swing arm, and a head gimbal having a head slider including a read/write head for reading/writing data from/onto a disk. The head gimbal is supported by the swing arm such that the head slider protrudes from the prong of the swing arm. The swing arm is configured to prevent the head gimbal from being vibrated due to windage. In particular, the swing arm defines a slot in one side of the prong, and a flexure of the head gimbal is received in the slot.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention restrain the head position accuracy from degrading due to torsional vibration of a head supporting unit. According to an embodiment of the invention, an actuator has a twisted carriage arm. A suspension is tilted in accordance with the twist of the carriage arm. When the carriage arm and the suspension torsionally vibrate, the vibration direction tilts against the normal direction of a recording surface in accordance with the twist. This technique decreases a peak value of off-track displacement that is caused by a head slider and is dependent on relationship between a skew angle and a torsional vibration direction.

Abstract: An airflow diverter is used to overcome the adverse effect of flow-induced vibration of a disk drive pivot actuator. The diverter may be formed as a separate component or as an integral portion of the flex stiffener or the actuator itself. The invention streamlines the actuator to the incoming airflow and helps reduce the torque disturbance to the actuator as it reduces the sail or parachute effect. This helps reduce power consumption due to a lower drag from the actuator assembly. The contour of the flow deflector is designed to conform closely to the curvature of the disk boundaries when the actuator is rotated to the ID position on the disk. This design serves as a shroud around the disk stack which further helps to reduce power by preserving flow momentum.

Abstract: A support arm for use in a disc drive suspension includes an asymmetry that creates a vertical coupling in the support arm, i.e., a slight lateral movement of the support arm distal end to which a load beam is mounted in response to vibration-induced bending of the support arm. The vertical coupling in the support arm at least partially cancels out during arm bending any vertical coupling which has been designed into the coupling between the load beam and the support arm to reduce track misregistration during flow-induced vibrations of the disc surface. In this way, track misregistration during both flow-induced vibrations and during arm bending is reduced. In a preferred embodiment the asymmetry is created by at least one of a first notch along an inside top edge of the arm, and a second notch along a bottom outside edge of the arm.

Abstract: An actuator assembly is provided that includes a body portion, a first actuator arm assembly, a second actuator arm assembly, a first flexure assembly, and a second flexure assembly. Each of the first and second actuator arm assemblies projects from the body portion and has a distal end with different respective first and second mechanical configurations, sometimes referred to herein as “mounting configurations.” Each of the flexure assemblies is respectively mounted to the distal ends of the first and second actuator arm assemblies via the respective mounting configuration. The first and second mechanical configurations (mounting configurations) are selected to provide the first and second flexure assemblies with different mechanical resonance characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, the second actuator arm assembly includes an actuator arm and a spacer disposed between the actuator arm and the second flexure assembly. The spacer has a stiffness different from the stiffness of the actuator arm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic head actuator and a magnetic disk device in which a magnetic head is moved to a predetermined position by actuating an arm on a revolving magnetic disk. A magnetic head actuator comprises an arm in which a suspension for supporting a magnetic head is provided, the arm being actuated to move the magnetic head. A damper material is provided on at least one side of the arm, the damper material comprising a restriction material and a viscoelastic material, the restriction material suppressing vibrations of the arm, and the viscoelastic material absorbing vibrations of the arm.

Abstract: An actuator assembly usable un a hard disk drive includes an actuator arm having an arm hole to improve dynamic characteristics. The actuator arm of the actuator assembly has an arm hole having first, second, and third extended portions, and two members positioned at both sides of the arm hole. The first extended portion is formed at an edge positioned at a leading end of the arm hole so that each of leading ends of the two members has a first reduced width, the second extended portions are formed at edges positioned at a rear end of the arm hole so that each of rear ends of the two members has a second reduced width, and the third extended portions are formed at both sides of a middle portion of the arm hole so that each of middle portions of the two members has a third reduced width.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a head gimbal assembly and a head stack assembly suitable for a miniature magnetic disk drive, and capable of being assembled in an accurate alignment during its fabrication. In one embodiment, a fixing member is disposed in contact with a pivot, an assembly formed by combining a head gimbal assembly and a carriage assembly is put on the pivot and pressed in the direction of the arrow toward the fixing member, and is fastened to the pivot with a nut. Since the head gimbal assembly is provided with a hole to receive the pivot therein provided with two straight edges, the relative positions of the turning axis of the pivot, the head gimbal assembly and the carriage assembly are adjusted properly so that clearances between the parts are absorbed.

Abstract: An actuator for a disk drive is disclosed. The actuator includes a plurality of arms including an upper outer arm, a lower outer arm, and at least one inner arm. The outer arms each include a region of reduced width and also include a region of increased thickness, both such regions being located closer to a proximal supported end of the outer arm than to its distal end. Each region of increased thickness has a minimum thickness that is more than the thickness of the inner arm at an equal distance from the axis. Each region of reduced width has a minimum width that is less than the minimum width of the inner arm at an equal distance from the axis.

Abstract: An actuator with fewer components and a method of easily fabricating the actuator. The actuator includes first and second arm members stacked over each other, head gimbal assemblies respectively fixed to front ends of the pair of arm members, and a fastening mechanism fastening the pair of arm members. Each of the first and second arm members includes a core part coupled to the fastening mechanism and a blade part horizontally extending from the core part to have a different height from the core part and coupled to the head gimbal assembly. The blade part of the first arm member extends from the core part to have a greater height than the core part of the first arm member and the blade part of the second arm member extends from the core part to have a lower height than the core part of the second arm member so that a distance between the pair of blade parts of the pair of arm members can be greater than a width of a disk that is a data recording medium.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension has a mount plate, an outwardly tapered load beam supported by the mount plate and having a base portion, a hinge portion, a beam portion having a first face with turned edges and a flexure supported by the beam portion distally of said beam portion face, and a generally congruent tapered stiffener having a central portion of a given height that is concave and open to the beam portion. The stiffener has left and right flange portions extending laterally from the central portion to the beam portion upturned edges to locate said central portion centrally on the beam portion face.

Abstract: An actuator arm with suppressed arm fluttering is provided. On a main surface of each actuator arm in an actuator arm unit there are formed a rigid area which extends centrally in the longitudinal direction and flow uniformizing areas which are each formed in a substantially flat shape extending longitudinally in adjacency to the rigid area and which are thinner than the rigid area. A balance aperture is not formed in the portion where the flow uniformizing areas and the rigid area are formed, to diminish arm fluttering. Instead of a balance aperture, the flow uniformizing areas also exhibit the effect of reducing the weight of the actuator arm.

Abstract: Windage is the sum of multifarious airflows induced and endured inside a disk drive. The invention provides a disk drive suspension and method for use in windage conditions within a disk drive. The suspension has a base portion carrying a hinge portion that carries a beam portion having oppositely facing first and second surfaces. The second surface supports a flexible circuit. Where the beam portion first surface has surface features inducing tracking error-causing perturbations of the beam portion from windage contact with the features, an airfoil profile-defining deflector is provided in operative association with the beam portion to block windage contact with those features and eliminate track misregistration error caused by interaction of the windage and the features.

Abstract: A carriage assembly capable of suppressing flutter of actuator arms and magnetic disk is to be provided. In one embodiment, the carriage assembly comprises a first actuator arm having a windward side face, a leeward side face, an outer surface and an inner surface, and a second actuator arm having a windward side face, a leeward side face, a first inner surface opposed to the inner surface of the first actuator arm and a second inner surface positioned on the side opposite to the first inner surface. The first actuator arm is formed with a slant face extending from the windward side face toward the inner surface and the second actuator arm is formed with a slant face extending from the windward side face toward the first inner surface and a slant face extending from the windward side face toward the second inner surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention suppress head jump at the time of application of an impact to provide for an excellent impact resistance performance in a magnetic disk device. In one embodiment, an actuator of a magnetic disk device comprises a suspension mounting the slider on a tip end side thereof to give a predetermined load to the slider, and an arm that holds the suspension, the arm being supported to be able to turn. The arm comprises two arm portions juxtaposed in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the disk, and a spacing between the two arm portions on a side of supported portions thereof in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the disk is larger than that on a side of the slider in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the disk.

Abstract: There is provided a disk drive including a disk and an actuator. The actuator includes a first actuator arm. The first actuator arm has a region of reduced thickness between an arm longitudinal axis and a disk axis of rotation. An average thickness of the first actuator arm in the region of reduced thickness is less than an average thickness of the first actuator arm at an equal distance from an actuator axis of rotation but on an opposing side of the arm longitudinal axis. The actuator includes a suspension assembly having first and second flexible legs. The suspension assembly is coupled to the first actuator arm via the flexible legs. The second flexible leg is disposed further from the disk in a direction parallel to the disk axis of rotation than the first flexible leg and closer to the disk axis of rotation than the first flexible leg.

Abstract: An actuator assembly is provided comprising a data transfer head moved by an actuator arm in a data storing and retrieving relationship with a data storage medium. Streamwise arranged aerodynamic fluid re-directing and drag-reducing features on a surface of the actuator arm modify frictional forces acting on the arm from a fluid flow created by moving the medium. A method is provided for improving nonrepeatable runnout disturbances in a data storage device by aligning the drag-reducing features of the actuator assembly with a direction of a mean flow direction of the fluid at an outer diameter of the storage medium to divert the fluid flow away from the head gimbal assembly.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit board using a lead-free solder is to be fixed within a disk enclosure while ensuring a high rigidity. In one embodiment, a rotating disk storage device comprises a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), wherein there is formed a wiring pattern including a signal line for the transmission of a signal of data read by a head in an actuator head suspension assembly (AHSA) and wherein one side end portion is fixed to a base and an opposite side end portion is fixed to the AHSA. A first metallic plate and a second metallic plate are both fixed to one side end portion of the FPC. A connector is disposed in an area where the first metallic plate in the FPC is provided, and connected to the wiring pattern. A shock sensor is disposed in an area where the second metallic plate in the FPC is provided, and connected to the wiring pattern.

Abstract: A head stack assembly for a disk drive includes an actuator body. The actuator body includes a pair of sides, a bore defining a longitudinal axis, a first slot extending between the pair of sides, a second slot extending along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the second slot extending from the first slot to the bore. The head stack assembly further includes a coil portion cantilevered from the actuator body in one direction and an actuator arm cantilevered from the actuator body in a direction opposite from the coil portion.

Abstract: The dynamics of a disk drive actuator are enhanced by redistributing the mass and stiffness of the structure. The two nodal points of the second primary bending mode of the actuator are relocated to positions that are both radially outboard of their original positions. One nodal point is positioned as close to the read-write head as possible at one end of the actuator, and the other nodal point is positioned at the center of the active legs of the VCM coil at the other end of the actuator. This is done to reduce the off-track displacement associated with this fundamental resonance to near zero, allowing higher track densities to be supported.

Abstract: A system and method for an improved magnetic head arm assembly (HAA) is disclosed. The HAA includes three principal components, a head gimbal assembly (HGA), a flexible printed circuit (FPC) assembly, and an actuator coil assembly. The design allows for HAA rigidity, yet each of the components is designable and manufacturable independent of one another, in addition to other advantages over current methods.

Abstract: A head arm of a magnetic disk device has reduced air flow turbulence around the head arm using one or more of several configurations, such as multiple apertures, various chamfered edges, various protrusion configurations, and head arm shapes.

Abstract: To be capable of precisely positioning a head on a track of a high-density disk rotated at high speed in the disk drive, a head suspension has a plate (3) to be attached to a carriage of the disk drive and turned around a spindle, a load beam (5) having a rigid part (11) and a resilient part (17) and supported by the plate, a front end of the rigid part applying load on a head (13) that writes and reads information to and from the disk, a flexure (7) supporting the head, and an extension (15) having a length (L2) and extending from the plate along the rigid part of the load beam toward the head. The flexure is supported at least by the extension of the plate, and at least supporting the flexure.

Abstract: An actuator arm assembly for a disk having a recording surface, the actuator arm assembly includes an actuator body including a bore defining a longitudinal pivot axis and an actuator arm cantilevered from the actuator body. The actuator arm includes an arm major portion cantilevered from the actuator body, an arm tip portion, and an arm tip supporting portion integrally formed with the arm major portion and the arm tip portion, wherein the arm major portion is longitudinally spaced-apart at a greater distance from the recording surface than the arm tip portion.

Abstract: An arm assembly of an actuator arm assembly of a disk drive is stamped from a single flat sheet of material and includes first and second actuator arm portions and one or more bendable portions integrally joining the first and second actuator arm portions. A method of making an arm assembly for a disk drive includes steps of providing a flat sheet of material and stamping an arm assembly from the sheet such that the stamped arm assembly includes first and second actuator arm portions and one or more bendable portions integrally joining the first and second actuator arm portions.

Abstract: A disk drive, includes a disk and a head stack assembly for reading and writing to the disk. The head stack assembly includes a body portion defining a through bore that defines a pivot axis; an actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion, the actuator arm defining a thickness, the actuator arm defining at least one through slot in the thickness thereof through which air can flow, each through slot defining a slot surface that is generally perpendicular to the pivot axis; a coil portion cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the actuator arm, and a head gimbal assembly coupled to the actuator arm.

Abstract: A disk drive (10) includes a plurality of thin-film members (36) for respectively covering the desired contour portions in a plurality of suspension arms (26) of an actuator (20). Each thin-film member (36) is fixedly attached to the surface of the suspension arm to cover the contour portion around a through hole (34) formed in the corresponding suspension arm (26) for reducing the moment of inertia, so as to cover the through hole. The thin-film member (36) substantially makes the contour portion around the through hole of the suspension arm (26) flush, and the air flow caused around the storage disks (16) rotating at high speed is guided smoothly along this contour portion. As a result, the air flow is stabilized, and the influences such as vibration on the actuator (20) are suppressed.

Abstract: A carriage arm and a hard disk drive unit including the carriage arm, where the carriage arm includes a head slider mounting part and a voice coil attachment part integrally formed with each other by a metal plate being press punched so that the head slider mounting part and the voice coil attachment part are arranged opposite to each other with respect to a rotational axis of the carriage arm. Additionally, the head slider mounting part defines a first plane and the voice coil attachment part defines a second plane that is different from the first plane, and where the head slider mounting part and the voice coil attachment part are connected to each other by a bent portion.

Abstract: A disk drive (10) includes a plurality of thin-film members (36) for respectively covering the desired contour portions in a plurality of suspension arms (26) of an actuator (20). Each thin-film member (36) is fixedly attached to the surface of the suspension arm to cover the contour portion around a through hole (34) formed in the corresponding suspension arm (26) for reducing the moment of inertia, so as to cover the through hole. The thin-film member (36) substantially makes the contour portion around the through hole of the suspension arm (26) flush, and the air flow caused around the storage disks (16) rotating at high speed is guided smoothly along this contour portion. As a result, the air flow is stabilized, and the influences such as vibration on the actuator (20) are suppressed.

Abstract: An E-block of an actuator for use in a data handling system to support a read/write head adjacent a recording surface. The E-block is formed by providing feed stock along a planar orientation, drawing a portion of the feed stock out of plane to form an extension portion, and stamping the feed stock to separate an actuator arm member having a substantially planar actuator arm from which the extension portion extends, the actuator arm configured to support the read/write head. A planar motor support member configured to support a coil of an actuator motor is also stamped from the feed stock. The actuator arm member and the motor support member are stacked and attached using a suitable process such as swaging or welding. The extension portion of the actuator arm member establishes a desired axial separation distance between the motor support member and the actuator arm.

Abstract: An actuator assembly is provided for a computer disc drive. The actuator assembly includes an actuator body that supports a shell head support arm and/or a shell coil yoke. The coil yoke supports the coil of the VCM. The actuator body pivots about a pivot axis and is attached to the cartridge bearing assembly disposed within an inner hollow of the actuator body. The head support arm is a shell having a core, a first surface and a second surface. The first surface of the head support arm is concave and the second surface of the head support arm is convex. The head support arm is connected to the actuator body at a proximal end. At a distal end of the head support arm, there is a flat portion with a swage hole for connection of the flexure assembly.