Abstract: A method is disclosed for constructing an ultra-low-flying-height slider for carrying a transducing head in a disc drive system including a rotatable disc. The method comprises removing material from an air bearing surface of the slider to create a channel at a likely location of contact with the rotatable disc and filling the channel with a low-friction, high-wear-resistance material. The channel is filled such that the air bearing surface is configured the same as the air bearing surface configuration prior to removing material.

Abstract: An air bearing slider designed for operation at ultra-low flying heights. The air bearing slider has an air bearing surface having portions which are constructed from a low-friction, high-wear-resistance material.

Abstract: An air bearing slider designed for operation at ultra-low flying heights. The air bearing slider has an air bearing surface having portions which are constructed from a low-friction, high-wear-resistance material.

Abstract: A burnishing head configured to provide extremely close control of the burnishing height, to minimize stiction between the burnishing head and a disc being burnished, and to optimize the tribological relationship between the burnishing head and a disc being burnished. The burnishing head includes one or more spacer pads, associated with selected ones of the burnishing pads on the burnishing head, which remain in contact with the surface of a disc being burnished. The height from the contact surface of the spacer pad to the contact surface of the burnishing pad determines the effective burnishing height. The burnishing head also includes moats, or recessed areas, surrounding the burnishing pads to minimize the stiction caused by generation of a liquid meniscus between the disc and contacting elements of the burnishing head, and which act as collection points for particulates generated by the burnishing process.