Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring information to and from a rigid magnetic disk medium through a recording mechanism mounted within a magnetic contact slider. The slider is fashioned such that the trailing edge maintains contact with the magnetic recording medium while the leading edge of the slider is disposed slightly above the medium on an air bearing. An active contact surface (ACS) utilizes a contact blend such that the width of the ABS near a leading edge is greater than the width of the ABS near a trailing edge. The ACS contour allows air to bleed off air from the rear of the slider and causes the trailing edge of the slider to remain essentially in contact with the rigid recording medium surface. The ACS contour also provide a "transverse-free zone" for minizing asperity damage and other harmful effects of transverse air flow. The load point is located near the leading edge of the contact slider. Thus, damage to the medium which occurs during each stick/slip phase of lift off is minimized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating a flying height measurement instrument that: (1) precisely determines the actual height of a recording head over a disk, (2) is inexpensive, (3) permits the head whose flying height is to be measured to be used during the calibration procedure, and (4) is nondestructive to the calibration apparatus. In addition, the present invention can be used to calibrate different flying height measurement instruments and is independently verifiable. During the inventive calibration process, a special calibration slider is positioned over a measurement disk of a flying height measurement instrument in place of a slider which normally flies over the measurement disk when the flying height of a slider is being measured. The calibration slider has at least one support structure of a known height.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for "blending" air bearing rails of a magnetic air bearing slider used to carry a recording mechanism over a magnetic recording medium. In accordance with the present invention, a slider is held at a fixed angle with respect to a at least one essentially flat, abrasive blending surface, preferably configured as an elongated bar having a blending surface. The relative angle of the slider with respect to the plane of the blending surface causes an edge of a slider rail to make contact with the blending surface. A relative motion of the blending surface with respect to the slider in two generally orthogonal directions abrades the edge of the slider rail, generating a contoured edge, or "blend" on the slider rail which allows the slider to fly at approximately the same height over a disk medium over a broad range of skew angles and radial distances.