Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods of using a sacrificial, protective head overcoat during the manufacture of sliders. In some embodiments, the final trailing edge topography of the transducer devices is formed before applying the sacrificial, protective head overcoat. In some embodiments, the final trailing edge topography of the transducer devices is formed after removing the sacrificial, protective head overcoat.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods of using a sacrificial, protective head overcoat during the manufacture of sliders. In some embodiments, the final trailing edge topography of the transducer devices is formed before applying the sacrificial, protective head overcoat. In some embodiments, the final trailing edge topography of the transducer devices is formed after removing the sacrificial, protective head overcoat.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods of using a sacrificial, protective head overcoat during the manufacture of sliders. In some embodiments, the final trailing edge topography of the transducer devices is formed before applying the sacrificial, protective head overcoat. In some embodiments, the final trailing edge topography of the transducer devices is formed after removing the sacrificial, protective head overcoat.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include carriers for a row bar or stack of row bars to be lapped. In some embodiments, the ratio of the coefficient of thermal expansion of at least the bridge of a carrier to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the slider row bar or stack of slider row bars is less than 1.6. In some embodiments, a carrier can include a bridge having a length longer than the row bar or stack of row bars. In some embodiments, one or more bridge bending members can have junction centerlines offset from the corresponding bridge bending members.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method of making a lubricant composition for lapping a ceramic material. The method includes mixing a base lubricant component and a powdered wax composition component to form the lubricant composition. The powdered wax composition component includes a powdered wax dispersion or a powdered wax emulsion. The amount of powdered wax composition component mixed with the base lubricant component is from 0.01 to 10 percent by weight of the lubricant composition. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of related lubricant compositions and/or methods of using the lubricant to lap a ceramic substrate (e.g., one or more bars of sliders).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method of making a lubricant composition for lapping a ceramic material. The method includes mixing a base lubricant component and a powdered wax composition component to form the lubricant composition. The powdered wax composition component includes a powdered wax dispersion or a powdered wax emulsion. The amount of powdered wax composition component mixed with the base lubricant component is from 0.01 to 10 percent by weight of the lubricant composition. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of related lubricant compositions and/or methods of using the lubricant to lap a ceramic substrate (e.g., one or more bars of sliders).

Abstract: A device and associated method of use can have at least an object with a work surface that contacts a lapping surface of a tool. Topography of the lapping surface can be mapped in-situ by an adjacent sensor array and the topography stored in a memory. The sensor array may be configured with a plurality of sensors positioned on opposite sides of the object.

Abstract: A carrier for a slider row bar for a lapping process. The carrier has a mounting structure comprising a material configured to have a first modulus of at least 1,000,000 Pa at a first period of time and a second modulus of 500 Pa to 500,000 Pa at a second period of time subsequent to the first period. The change from the first modulus to the second modulus is due to an external stimulus on the material.

Abstract: A device and associated method of use can have at least an object with a work surface that contacts a lapping surface of a tool. Topography of the lapping surface can be mapped in-situ by an adjacent sensor array and the topography stored in a memory. The sensor array may be configured with a plurality of sensors positioned on opposite sides of the object.

Abstract: A carrier for a slider row bar for a lapping process. The carrier has a mounting structure comprising a material configured to have a first modulus of at least 1,000,000 Pa at a first period of time and a second modulus of 500 Pa to 500,000 Pa at a second period of time subsequent to the first period. The change from the first modulus to the second modulus is due to an external stimulus on the material.

Abstract: The presently disclosed technology describes systems and methods for attaining a ball bond using less than 1 thousandth of an inch diameter gold wire using ultrasonic bonding energy and without heating an underlying bonding pad. The ball bond allows the use of particularly small bonding pads that are particularly close to adjacent microelectronic structures that limit the use of other bonding techniques that have shallow take-off angles.

Abstract: A slider includes a slider body having a first side and edges defined adjacent to the first side, at least two separate insulators each adjacent to the first side of the slider body and supported by the slider body, and a conductive trace adjacent to each of the at least two separate insulators and opposite the first side of the slider body. The at least two separate insulators each are in physical contact with the slider body along the first side of the slider body such that the at least two separate insulators are physically attached to the slider body to electrically insulate each conductive trace from the slider body.

Abstract: A slider includes a slider body having a first side and edges defined adjacent to the first side, at least two separate insulators each adjacent to the first side of the slider body and supported by the slider body, and a conductive trace adjacent to each of the at least two separate insulators and opposite the first side of the slider body. The at least two separate insulators each are in physical contact with the slider body along the first side of the slider body such that the at least two separate insulators are physically attached to the slider body to electrically insulate each conductive trace from the slider body.

Abstract: A slider according to the present invention includes a slider body, a plurality of insulators, and conductive traces. The slider body has a first side and edges defined substantially perpendicular to the first side. The plurality of insulators are each adjacent to the first side of the slider body. The conductive traces are adjacent to each of the plurality of insulators and opposite the slider body.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a metal substrate, an amorphous adhesion layer on the metal substrate, and a protective DLC layer over the adhesion layer. The adhesion layer has a thickness of less than about 8 Angstroms, and has a composition of carbon silicon carbide or carbon silicon nitride. The composition of the adhesion layer provides corrosion resistance for the metal substrate.

Abstract: A slider according to the present invention includes a slider body, a plurality of insulators, and conductive traces. The slider body has a first side and edges defined substantially perpendicular to the first side. The plurality of insulators are each adjacent to the first side of the slider body. The conductive traces are adjacent to each of the plurality of insulators and opposite the slider body.

Abstract: In an electrostatic actuator used to control fly height between a magnetic disc and a read/write head of a disc drive, a multi-layer electrode device is used. The multi-layer electrode device includes alternating insulating layers and conductive electrode layers. By controlling the material properties of each layer of the electrode device, problems associated with leakage current, field emission discharge, tunneling current, and slow actuator response time can be controlled.

Abstract: A multilayer coating of fullerene molecules is deposited on a substrate, and layers of the multilayer coating are removed leaving an approximate monolayer coating of fullerene molecules on the substrate. In some embodiments, a beam generator, such as an ion beam, electron beam or laser generator, produces a beam arranged to break the weaker fullerene-to-fullerene intermolecular bond of the multilayer coating and inadequate to break the stronger fullerene-to-substrate association/bond of the coating. The beam is directed at the multilayer coating to break the fullerene-to-fullerene intermolecular bond. In other embodiments, the monolayer of fullerene molecules is formed by applying a solvent to the multilayer coating to break the fullerene-to-fullerene intermolecular bond of the multilayer coating.

Abstract: An improved magnetic medium has a metal or semiconductor surface in which the surface of the magnetic medium has an approximate monolayer of fullerene molecules bonded to the metal or semiconductor surface. The bond strength between the fullerene molecules and the surface is stronger than the fullerene-fullerene intermolecular bond strength. The magnetic media can be used in the production of components for data storage system, in particular heads with magnetic transducers and magnetic or optical-magnetic discs. In methods for forming the fullerene coatings, an approximate monolayer of fullerene molecules are deposited on a metal or semiconductor surface substantially free of contaminants.

Abstract: A target of fullerene is placed with a substrate in a vacuum chamber. A charged beam, i.e., an electron beam or an ion beam, is directed at the target with a power adequate to emit fullerene molecules from the target and not high enough to form significant amounts of fullerene having a higher molecular structure than the target fullerenes. Fullerene is deposited on the substrate. Regardless of the approach used to deposit the fullerenes, the substrate can be heated during deposition to a temperature above the fullerene-to-fullerene disorption temperature to form a coating consisting of an approximate monolayer of fullerene.