Abstract: A novel head stack assembly is disclosed. The novel head stack assembly includes a stamped actuator arm and a head gimbal assembly attached to the stamped actuator arm. The head gimbal assembly includes a trace suspension flex having a metal base layer and a plurality of conductors supported by the metal base layer. The stamped actuator arm includes an actuator arm side surface that extends longitudinally along the stamped actuator arm. The stamped actuator arm also includes two or three longitudinally spaced-apart stamped protrusions. The stamped protrusions are in contact with the trace suspension flex, and each stamped protrusion extends from the actuator arm side surface.

Abstract: An actuator for a disk drive. The actuator includes an actuator body The actuator body includes a main body section defining a horizontal plane orthogonal to an axis of rotation. The actuator body further includes an actuator arm extending from the main body section. The actuator body further includes two parallel support extensions extending from the main body section opposite the actuator arm. The support extensions cooperatively form a channel between the support extensions. The actuator body further includes a coil support tab disposed adjacent the support extensions and extending orthogonal to the horizontal plane. The actuator further includes a vertical coil defining a coil plane disposed orthogonal to the horizontal plane. The coil is disposed in mechanical communication with the support extensions and the coil support tab for supporting the coil within the channel.

Abstract: A head stack assembly for a disk drive. The head stack assembly includes an actuator defining an axis of rotation. The actuator includes an actuator arm defining a longitudinal axis orthogonal to the axis of rotation. The actuator includes an actuator body formed of overmolded plastic. The actuator includes first and second locking pins extending from the actuator body orthogonal to the axis of rotation. The flex cable includes a first opening engaged with the first locking pin in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis for retaining the flex cable. The flex cable includes a second opening engaged with the second locking pin in a direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation for retaining the flex cable.

Abstract: An actuator arm assembly of a disk drive is stamped from a single flat sheet of material and includes first and second actuator arm portions and one or more bendable portions integrally joining the first and second actuator arm portions. A method of making an actuator arm assembly for a disk drive includes steps of providing a flat sheet of material and stamping an actuator arm assembly from the sheet such that the stamped actuator arm assembly includes first and second actuator arm portions and one or more bendable portions integrally joining the first and second actuator arm portions.

Abstract: A head stack assembly for a disk drive. The head stack assembly includes an actuator body. The actuator body includes a main body section defining a horizontal plane orthogonal to an axis of rotation. The actuator body further includes an actuator arm extending from the main body section. The actuator body further includes a flex cable guiding support extending from the main body section adjacent the actuator arm orthogonal to the horizontal plane. The head stack assembly further includes a flex cable including a substantially flat main cable body disposed in mechanical communication with the flex cable guiding support in planes orthogonal to the horizontal plane parallel to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk and a head stack assembly. The head stack assembly includes an actuator arm assembly that includes first and second stamped actuator arms. The first stamped actuator arm may include a first arm portion, a first body portion and a coil-supporting portion for supporting a coil of a VCM. The first body portion defines a first contact surface. The second stamped actuator arm may include a second arm portion and a second body portion, the second body portion defining a second contact surface. According to one embodiment, the first and second stamped actuator arms may be attached to one another such that the first contact surface faces and contacts the second contact surface.

Abstract: A head stack assembly for a disk drive. The head stack assembly includes an actuator body defining an axis of rotation. The actuator body includes a main body section and a coil support portion extending from the main body section. The head stack assembly further includes an actuator coil supported by the coil support portion. The head stack assembly further includes insulated wiring extending between the actuator coil and the main body section in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation. The head stack assembly further includes a lateral wiring protector disposed laterally about the insulated wiring and extending from the main body section in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation. The lateral wiring protector includes an open channel with the insulated wiring disposed within the open channel.

Abstract: An actuator arm assembly for a disk drive includes first and second stamped actuator arms including first and second arm portions, first and second body portions defining first and second body surfaces, and first and second coil-supporting arm portions defining first and second pairs of coil supporting arms for supporting a coil portion of a voice coil motor. When the first and second stamped actuator arms are attached to one another, the first pair of coil supporting arms faces and is in contact with the second pair of coil supporting arms to define first and second coil attachment surfaces, and the first body surface faces and is in contact with the second body surface to define a third coil attachment surface.

Abstract: An arm assembly of an actuator arm assembly of a disk drive is stamped from a single flat sheet of material and includes first and second actuator arm portions and one or more bendable portions integrally joining the first and second actuator arm portions. A method of making an arm assembly for a disk drive includes steps of providing a flat sheet of material and stamping an arm assembly from the sheet such that the stamped arm assembly includes first and second actuator arm portions and one or more bendable portions integrally joining the first and second actuator arm portions.