Abstract: An apparatus, method, and article of manufacture to separate a slider from a slider row in which it was manufactured. The apparatus comprises an articulating robot including a stage which may be moved in X-Y coordinate directions and an articulating arm that may be used to place rows of sliders on the stage. The articulating arm incorporates a rotating effectuator unit mounted at the end of the arm, the effectuator being used to pick up individual slider rows, the tray in which they sit when first introduced to the robot, or any other item that needs to be positioned during the alignment of the rows. The apparatus includes sensors and a processing unit that may be used to detect and determine dimensional characteristics of an ABS surface of a slider integral to the row. The apparatus may also include a parting device for separating the slider from the row. In performing the method, a slider row is positioned on the stage in a manner that allows the ABS surface of a slider to be sensed by the sensors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for texturing the air bearing surface (ABS) of a magnetic head of a hard disk drive includes juxtaposing the ABS with an ultrasonically-driven sonitrode having a diamond die end. An alumina slurry is disposed between the sonitrode and ABS at a slight pressure, with the slurry having a grit size of less than one micron. The sonitrode is then vibrated to agitate the slurry and thereby texture the head. If desired, a cavity can be formed in the die, with the cavity being a mirror image of a portion of the head, e.g., the sensing element, that is not intended to be textured.

Abstract: A method of machining a complex pattern into the air bearing surface of a magnetic head slider includes the steps of forming a die with a diamond surface which has a pattern which is a reverse image of the desired pattern for the surface of the slider; placing the die with the pattern of the die facing the surface of the slider; placing an abrasive slurry between the die and the surface of the slider; applying a pressure between the die and the surface of the slider; and ultrasonically vibrating the die and the slider reciprocally with respect to one another to cause the abrasive slurry to grind the desired pattern into the surface of the slider.