Abstract: A new gimbal for a disk drive head assembly includes a weld plate, a pair of compliant beams, a lateral beam, and a slider supporting surface. The gimbal also encompasses a cross beam that links the pair of compliant beams, thereby enhancing the transverse stiffness of the gimbal. In the preferred embodiment the cross beam is also provided with a cantilever tab to enhance the vertical stiffness of the gimbal. An S-shaped bend may be provided normal to the centerline of the gimbal to offset the plane of the slider supporting surface from the main gimbal. In addition, the gimbal may be provided with a formed edge along the outer length of the lateral beam to reduce the danger of damaged transducer wires. Finally, the gimbal may be combined with a carrier strip that eliminates the need for a large tooling hole within the weld plate of the gimbal.

Abstract: A coupling device for ensuring a precise alignment between a disk-drive suspension and a static-attitude testing tool along a predetermined axis. The device consists of the combination of a support post or ridge etched in relief precisely along the longitudinal axis of a disk-drive suspension, or a spherical-radius post protruding through an etched relief, and a compressive mechanism in a static-attitude testing tool adapted to provide a compressive force in a direction coincident with the main axis of the support post in the suspension. A conventional tooling hole is provided at a predetermined location on the suspension, typically along its longitudinal axis, to enable alignment between the testing tool and the suspension.

Abstract: A process for modifying the static attitude characteristics of magnetic head suspension assemblies by applying an infrared heat source to relieve stresses in specific regions of interest. Each assembly is tested to measure its static-roll attitude with respect to a datum reference plane; the measurement preferably consists of a deflection angle. If the deflection angle is outside the limits of a predetermined allowable tolerance, thereby indicating a region that requires subjection to a torsional stress to bring the suspension within tolerance, an infrared beam is applied specifically to the region while the load beam is held at the torsional deflected state. The infrared source stress relieves the load beam so deflected, allowing it to establish a new free state with minimal residual stress remaining in the material of the beam. The assembly is then retested and retreated, if necessary, under varying angles of torsional stress until its static roll characteristics fall within acceptable tolerances.