Abstract: A station for performing a lapping method to achieve tight dimension controls for both read and write elements of magnetic recording heads is disclosed. A recording head having a read head stripe height and a write head throat height is lapped using a plurality of lapping forces. At least one of the plurality of lapping forces includes a torque force. A lapping wedge angle is controlled using at least one torque force, which controls the offset between the recording head read head stripe height and the write head throat height.

Abstract: A slider assembly used in a direct access storage device includes electrically conductive bond pads formed on the slider body. A rigid and electrically non-conductive material surrounds and abuts the bond pads. The material and the bond pads form a planar surface. The material prevents the bond pads from migrating and shorting, so that the bond pads can be placed closer together.

Abstract: A method of precisely controlling the amount of flatness or curvature in a lapping plate is disclosed. The lapping plate is formed from two layers of metal alloys, such as tin-antimony and steel. A bimetallic effect is exploited to induce a linear expansion in the plate so that the flatness or curvature of the plate is manipulated with thermal cycling. The plate is machined and charged under very specific and tightly controlled temperatures to produce a very robust, flat plate charge. As temperature cycling induces a linear expansion along a single plane across the plate, the resultant flatness change is scalar with temperature, and can be repeated and controlled. When the plate laps magnetic sliders, the plate can be thermally cycled to produce a conical surface and a high crown-to-camber ratio can be achieved.

Abstract: A system and apparatus precisely controls the amount of flatness or curvature in a lapping plate. The lapping plate is formed from two layers of metal alloys, such as tin-antimony and steel. A bimetallic effect is exploited to induce a linear expansion in the plate so that the flatness or curvature of the plate is manipulated with thermal cycling. The plate is machined and charged under very specific and tightly controlled temperatures to produce a very robust, flat plate charge. As temperature cycling induces a linear expansion along a single plane across the plate, the resultant flatness change is scalar with temperature, and can be repeated and controlled. When the plate laps magnetic sliders, the plate can be thermally cycled to produce a conical surface and a high crown-to-camber ratio can be achieved.

Abstract: A composite thin film slider with a protruding R/W device formed by chemical-mechanical polishing to protrude above its substrate and thereby reduce the distance between the R/W device and the recording media. The slider includes a ceramic or non-ceramic substrate with a substantially planar bearing surface, and a R/W device. The R/W device includes an insulator and certain conductive R/W components, deposited onto the substrate's deposit end. The R/W components may include, for example, a magnetic shield layer, a MR stripe layer, and a magnetic pole tip layer, all layered over the deposit end of the substrate. The R/W components protrude from the insulator sufficiently to extend past the substrate's bearing surface. To manufacture this slider, a substrate with the R/W device deposited thereon is polished with a lapping slurry to disproportionately erode the substrate and insulator with respect to the R/W components.