Abstract: An end connector for a jacketed cable includes a rear body having a cylindrical retention portion with an outer surface that includes a plurality of recessed annular grooves. The cylindrical crimp comprises a plurality of thicker annular regions adjacent to and separated by a plurality of thinner annular regions. Each thicker annular region of the cylindrical crimp is axially aligned with a corresponding recessed annular groove on the outer surface of the cylindrical retention portion of the rear body, and such alignment is maintained during crimping to trap strength members of the jacketed cable.

Abstract: An end connector for a jacketed cable includes a rear body having a cylindrical retention portion with an outer surface that includes a plurality of recessed annular grooves. The cylindrical crimp comprises a plurality of thicker annular regions adjacent to and separated by a plurality of thinner annular regions. Each thicker annular region of the cylindrical crimp is axially aligned with a corresponding recessed annular groove on the outer surface of the cylindrical retention portion of the rear body, and such alignment is maintained during crimping to trap strength members of the jacketed cable.

Abstract: A tolerance ring suitable for use in applications such as an actuator assembly for a disk drive, is disclosed. The tolerance ring may be fabricated by steps including stamping a sheet metal section from a strip of sheet metal that has first and second edges that are parallel to a strip axis. A leading axial edge may be rounded from an inner major face and from an outer major face. A plurality of protrusions may be formed from the first major face. The sheet metal section may be bent into a substantially cylindrical shape having a central axis that is normal to the strip axis.

Abstract: A hard disk drive cover with a smooth bottom (inner) surface and a textured outer surface is provided for covering a hard disk drive base assembly. A method of manufacturing the hard disk includes providing a metal material. The metal material is worked into a metal strip having a textured surface and an opposing smooth surface. A hard disk drive cover is stamped from the worked metal strip with the smooth surface being the inner surface of the stamped cover. The smooth inner surface of the hard disk drive advantageously enhances cleanliness within the base assembly. The smooth surface finish on the inner surface also advantageously enhances shear strength of a bond between a gasket and the inner surface.

Abstract: A swage mount is provided for attaching a head suspension assembly to a head actuator arm for a hard disk drive. The swage mount has a flange body with a thickness for providing clearance from the underlying disk. The swage mount may have a tip for in-plane movement. The tip may be ‘T’ shaped. The tip has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the flange body for withstanding out-of-plane loads and for enhancing performance of the hard disk drive, for example, during reading/writing of data using the head. Mass properties of the swage mount, the twisting/bending yield load, modal frequency responses, and other performance metrics are analyzed to design the dimensions of the swage mount having favorable in-plane compliance and superior out-of-plane robustness.

Abstract: A hard disk drive with a multiple disk stack normally utilizes disk separator plates near the disk surfaces to reduce wind induced vibrations in the disks and the read/write heads. The manufacturing methods currently used to make these separator plates, metal casting and machining, or injection molded plastic, or extruding and machining, or cold forging tends to be expensive and creates unwanted weight and bulk without the desired precision. Stamping disk separator plates from metal provides exceptional dimensional control at reduced cost, but cannot readily provide the thicknesses required. Stamping and extruding the offsets, or stamping and folding the offsets, is a manufacturing process that provides the required dimensions for the offsets, and dimensional control and reduced cost.

Abstract: A disk clamp for clamping a number of magnetic hard disks within a disk drive has a plurality of balance weight holes and a coined index mark for use as a reference in balancing the hard disks after assembly. The disk clamp also has a coined profile located adjacent or around the balance weight holes in order to provide uniform circumferential clamp force by the disk clamp. The disk clamp has a profile that places the inner region of the disk clamp in the plastic deformation region at a certain specified clamping force at the center of the disk clamp.

Abstract: A novel tolerance ring includes a hollow cylindrical body defining a longitudinal axis that passes axially through its center. The hollow cylindrical body includes first and second longitudinal edges that define a circumferential gap. A plurality of bumps protrude radially from the hollow cylindrical body, and consists of a plurality of gap-adjacent bumps and a plurality of non-gap-adjacent bumps. At least one of the plurality of bumps is circumferentially between the gap and each of the non-gap-adjacent bumps. None of the plurality of bumps is circumferentially between the gap and each of the gap-adjacent bumps. Structure is disclosed to increase an otherwise lower average radial compressive stiffness of the gap-adjacent bumps to become more similar to an average radial stiffness of the non-gap-adjacent bumps.

Abstract: A disk clamp for clamping a plurality of disks within a disk drive has a single fastening hole located at its symmetrical center sized to pass the shaft of a screw having a head diameter larger than the fastening hole. The screw fastens the disk clamp to a motor hub supporting the plurality of disks. The disk clamp has a moat around the fastening hole, at a maximum diameter that is smaller than the head diameter of the head on the fastening screw. The moat may be circular, have spike trenches angled toward the fastening hole, or be spiral. The diameter of the spiral moat decreases in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction toward the fastening hole. The midsection of the disk which the screw head covers is biased at a negative angle toward the fastening hole forcing particles generated during assembly toward the fastening hole of the disk clamp.

Abstract: A disk clamp for clamping a plurality of disks within a disk drive has a single fastening hole located at its symmetrical center sized to pass the shaft of a screw having a head diameter larger than the fastening hole. The screw fastens the disk clamp to a motor hub supporting the plurality of disks. The disk clamp has a moat around the fastening hole, at a maximum diameter that is smaller than the head diameter of the head on the fastening screw. The moat may be circular, have spike trenches angled toward the fastening hole, or be spiral. The diameter of the spiral moat decreases in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction toward the fastening hole. The midsection of the disk which the screw head covers is biased at a negative angle toward the fastening hole forcing particles generated during assembly toward the fastening hole of the disk clamp.

Abstract: A disk clamp for clamping a number of magnetic hard disks within a disk drive has a plurality of balance weight holes and a coined index mark for use as a reference in balancing the hard disks after assembly. The disk clamp also has a coined profile located adjacent or around the balance weight holes in order to provide uniform circumferential clamp force by the disk clamp. The disk clamp has a profile that places the inner region of the disk clamp in the plastic deformation region at a certain specified clamping force at the center of the disk clamp.

Abstract: A disk clamp for clamping a plurality of disks within a disk drive has a single fastening hole located at its symmetrical center sized to pass the shaft of a screw having a head diameter larger than the fastening hole. The screw fastens the disk clamp to a motor hub supporting the plurality of disks. The disk clamp has a moat around the fastening hole, at a maximum diameter that is smaller than the head diameter of the head on the fastening screw. The moat may be circular, have spike trenches angled toward the fastening hole, or be spiral. The diameter of the spiral moat decreases in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction toward the fastening hole. The midsection of the disk which the screw head covers is biased at a negative angle toward the fastening hole forcing particles generated during assembly toward the fastening hole of the disk clamp.

Abstract: Various methods and apparatus relating to disk drive actuators and methods of manufacturing them are disclosed and claimed. In certain embodiments, a disk drive actuator assembly comprises a pivot bearing defining a pivot bearing rotational axis; an actuator arm including a bore, the pivot bearing disposed at least partially within the bore; a first tapered shim, interposed in the bore between the pivot bearing and the actuator arm, the first tapered shim having a thickness at a first end greater than a thickness at a second end; and a second tapered shim, interposed in the bore between the pivot bearing and the actuator arm, the second tapered shim having a thickness at a third end greater than a thickness at a fourth end; wherein the second tapered shim frictionally engages the first tapered shim to hold the pivot bearing substantially in place relative to the actuator arm.

Abstract: A swage mount that includes a flange, having a first side and a second side, and a cylindrically shaped hub. The hub is primarily comprised of a metal (such as stainless steel), and extends from the second side of the flange, and has an inner surface and an outer surface. The surface of the swage mount is plated with one or more layers of metal, or a combination of metals, which provide a) increased retention torque, and b) increased part cleanliness. This invention may be used in conjunction with surface hardened swage mounts that contain surface protrusions. In this case the metal plating prevents separation of the protrusions from the swage mount, thereby preventing contamination.

Abstract: A mounting arm for a hard disk drive having a generally planar region, the mounting arm having at least one striation formed on the generally planar region to provide compressive residual stress with desirable shape characteristics in the mounting arm.

Abstract: A tolerance ring for applications requiring high axial static friction has contacting portions having a novel profile. The use of multiple contacting portions having a smaller size that are wedge-shaped increases rigidity and provides a directional grip that increases axial static function. Using multiple wedge-shaped contacting portions with appropriate opposite slants provides a balanced and symmetrical grip. Using inter-level wedge-shaped contacting portions with opposite slants provides a more aggressive grip while providing a tolerance ring that is more dynamically stable and has a high resonant frequency.

Abstract: A tolerance ring configured to improve mass eccentricity of an actuator arm assembly. The tolerance ring has a cylinder with a predetermined length between two ends, with a gap along the predetermined length of the cylinder, the gap having a first and a second edge, the cylinder having an aperture in the surface of the cylinder at the second edge.

Abstract: A tolerance ring configured to reduce torque ripple for a pivot bearing in an actuator arm assembly. The tolerance ring comprises a cylinder having a predetermined length, and a first and a second row of contacting portions arranged around the surface of the cylinder, the contacting portions of the second row are circumferentially displaced with respect to the first row by a distance greater than zero but less than the distance of the contacting portion and the spacing between adjacent contacting portions in the first row.

Abstract: A tolerance ring for coupling an actuator arm to a pivot bearing while maintaining mass eccentricity of the actuator arm. The tolerance ring having a substantially cylindrical base portion with a first radius about a central axis and extending a length parallel to the central axis, the cylindrical base portion has a first tab and a second tab extending along the length of the cylindrical base portion, the first tab being positioned proximate to the second tab. The tolerance ring improves mass eccentricity by radially displacing the first tab at a second radius about the axis such that a radial gap is formed between the first tab and second tab.

Abstract: A snap ring for applications requiring cleanliness has a novel recessed interior contour that reduces debris generation during installation of the snap ring. The snap ring is suitable for applications where a reduction in debris generation is desirable, such as to retain an actuator pivot bearing in information storage devices like magnetic hard disk drives.