Abstract: A method to fabricate a fluid bearing spindle includes creating a hollow cylindrical bore through a solid workpiece. The hollow cylindrical bore has a journal bearing portion including first and second distal tapered bearing segments separated by a central bearing segment having a constant radius. Each of the first and second distal tapered bearing segments has a tapered bearing radius that increases with distance from the central bearing segment to a maximum tapered bearing radius that is in the range of 0.5 microns to 1.5 microns greater than the constant radius. Subsequently, a cylindrical spindle shaft is inserted into the hollow cylindrical bore. In an alternative embodiment, a cylindrical outer surface of the spindle shaft includes the tapered bearing segments, rather than the hollow cylindrical bore.

Abstract: A rotary spindle has a rotatable shaft that defines a shaft axis of rotation, and has a shaft top land that is normal to the shaft axis of rotation. A disk mounting hub has an outer disk mounting surface, and has an inner cylindrical bore with an inner cylindrical surface that faces and is in radial compression with an outer cylindrical surface of the shaft at a cylindrical hub-to-shaft interface. The cylindrical hub-to-shaft interface is substantially concentric about the shaft axis of rotation. A disk clamp is fastened to the rotatable shaft, and the disk clamp has a clamp bottom land that faces and is in contact with the shaft top land.

Abstract: A hub for a disk drive assembly including an upper member formed of a first material; and a lower member formed from a second material that supports and reinforces the upper member. The second material has a rigidity greater than the rigidity of the first material. Additionally, a disk drive assembly may be performed by combining a hub, a disk media mounted to the hub and a clamping mechanism attached to the hub and providing a clamping force to the disk media.

Abstract: A spindle includes a fixed member, a hub rotatably attached to the fixed member, and a bearing between the rotatable hub and the fixed member. The bearing including a bearing lubricant. A seal reduces migration of the bearing lubricant away from the bearing. The seal includes an immobile cylindrical surface of the fixed member, and a rotatable cylindrical surface of the hub. One of these surfaces includes a plurality of grooves. The immobile cylindrical surface and the rotatable cylindrical surface are concentric about the hub rotation axis. The rotatable cylindrical surface faces and is separated from the immobile cylindrical surface by a gas-filled radial clearance of not less than 50 microns.

Abstract: A motor includes a rotatable component rotatable relative to a stationary component, a fluid operable to flow between the rotatable and stationary component, and a capillary sealing component. The capillary sealing component provides a capillary seal and includes at least one tapered slot configured to pump the fluid between the rotatable and stationary components.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a robust and shock resistant fluid dynamic bearing. A fluid sealing system with fluid pumping and capillary features provides increased reliability and performance for small form factor disc drive memory systems. Concerns of motor jog are addressed, jog being the rapid and repeated opening and closing of spaces between relatively rotatable components that can dispel oil from, or draw air into, these spaces. The fluid pumping capillary sealing system includes a fluid pumping groove with a rib portion and a slot portion for pumping fluid. The fluid pumping capillary sealing system also includes a capillary seal. In an aspect, a sweeping rib sweeps fluid toward the bearing. A truncated rib is situated adjacent to the sweeping rib, the truncated rib extending a shorter radial distance as compared to the sweeping rib and forming a plenum region.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge apparatus for use with a hub and spindle assembly for a disc drive storage system comprising a spindle; a hub rotatably mounted on the spindle; a capsule formed at least in part from an electrically conductive material that can be placed in electrical communication with the hub and defining a chamber configured to hold an electrically conductive fluid and defining at least one capillary channel in fluid communication with an opening formed in the capsule, the opening configured to permit rotation about the spindle, and to permit a meniscus formed by the conductive fluid proximate to the opening to electrically contact the spindle during rotation of the hub about the spindle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a motor assembly for mounting to a base. The motor assembly includes a stator assembly having a plurality of stator teeth. Each stator tooth is configured to support a stator coil. The motor assembly also includes a flexible printed circuit having top and bottom surfaces and an end portion. The end portion is affixed to the stator assembly at the top surface. The bottom surface is affixed to the base.

Abstract: According to one example, a motor including a fluid dynamic bearing system is provided. The motor includes a first stationary member and a second member disposed for relative rotation and a fluid dynamic bearing region disposed therebetween. A stator is disposed with the first member and includes a plurality of stator teeth having a coil of wire wound thereon. A heat transfer device is further included, wherein the heat transfer device transfers heat away from the stator coils toward the bearing region. The transfer of heat may raise the temperature of the bearing fluid, thereby reducing bearing fluid viscosity. The heat transfer device may include one or more air vanes to direct air through, over, or adjacent the stator and/or thermally conductive materials or elements, and may further be incorporated into a flux shield.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing motor features a stationary assembly, a rotating assembly supported on the stationary assembly, a fluid dynamic bearing system in a gap between the stationary and rotating assemblies, a radial capillary seal defined proximate a first end of the journal gap, and at least one re-circulation hole extending from the radial capillary seal to a second end of the journal gap. A single thrust shaft end bearing which pressurizes the shaft end to create an axial thrust bearing and drive bubbles in the fluid (where the fluid is a liquid) to the outer diameter of the shaft and into the recirculation path. The journal may be supported for rotation by dual sets of grooves; the dual groove asymmetry in the journal maintains a positive pressure between the journals.

Abstract: For a motor having fluid dynamic bearing(s) defined by surfaces of relatively rotatable motor members, aspects include providing a capillary reservoir between relatively irrotatable surfaces. The capillary reservoir may comprise a tapering gap that is vented to a gaseous environment through one end of the gap and is in fluidic communication with the fluid dynamic bearing(s) through another end of the gap. The gap may be axial, and the capillary reservoir may be disposed coaxially with one or more of the fluid dynamic bearing(s) about an axis of rotation. The capillary reservoir may extend from proximate a top portion of the motor to proximate a bottom portion of the motor.

Abstract: Motors having a magnetic force attenuator are described. In some embodiments, the motors comprise a stationary member having a base and a stator, a rotating assembly having a magnet and a magnetic force attenuator to attenuate the magnetic attraction force between the magnet and the base; and a fluid bearing to support rotation of the rotating assembly relative to the stationary member. The magnetic force attenuator typically comprises a material of high magnetic permeability, and modulates the magnetic attraction force between the magnet and the base of the motor.

Abstract: For a motor having liquid lubricated bearing surface(s), aspects include providing a column shaped Capillary Seal (CS) for storing and supply lubricating liquid to the bearing surface(s). The column shaped CS may have a cross-section substantially topologically equivalent to a circle. Aspects include disposing the column shaped CS between relatively rotational motor members or between relatively irrotational motor members. Other aspects include disposition of the column shaped CS in a spiral shape where one opening of the CS fluidicly communicates with the bearing surface and another opening vents to a gas environment. Still other aspects include disposing the column shaped CS circumferentially on surfaces of generally cylindrical shaped motor members. Such surfaces may oppose a second surface that is one of relatively rotational and relatively irrotational vis the surface. The column shaped CS may circumscribe an axis of a rotating member or may be disposed parallel to the axis of the rotating member.

Abstract: Part gap spacers that are disposed between parts in a fluid dynamic bearing motor or hard disk assembly are provided herein. Part gap spacers are designed to off-set adjacent parts such that part-to-part spacing has less variation in tolerance accumulation. Part gap spacers also allow for greater control of bond line thickness of adhesives, and control of gap distances for bearing fluids, and allows for electrical conductivity across bonded parts.

Abstract: An active fluid bearing system is provided. In one example, the active fluid bearing system includes an interface region formed between an outer surface of an inner member and an opposing inner surface of an outer member. The inner and outer members are disposed for relative rotation of the inner and outer members, and thereby form an interface region having a hydrodynamic bearing region and an active bearing region. A liquid is disposed in the interface region at the hydrodynamic bearing region, and is further disposed in the active bearing region if the inner and outer members are not relatively rotating. The bearing system is operable for evacuating at least a portion of the liquid from the active bearing region during relative rotation of the inner and outer members. The active bearing region may be a journal bearing or a thrust bearing.

Abstract: Hybrid orbital fluid dynamic bearing motors are disclosed. The motors achieve improved efficiency advantages observed in fluid dynamic bearing motors containing an orbital ring. In addition, the hybrid orbital FDB motor has serial thrust bearings and traditional style journal bearings, which provide typically higher radial and angular stiffness not observed in previous orbital fluid dynamic bearing motor designs. Designs for centering orbital rings are also disclosed.

Abstract: A disc drive data storage system includes a hydrodynamic bearing including a housing having a central axis, a stationary member that is fixed with respect to the housing and coaxial with the central axis, and a rotatable member that is rotatable about the central axis with respect to the stationary member. A hydrodynamic bearing interconnects the stationary member and the rotatable member. At least a portion of a surface of one or more of the hydrodynamic bearing components has a tilt-limiting layer formed thereon to restrict the tilting distance between the working surfaces in the disc drive data storage system.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing motor features a stationary assembly, a rotating assembly supported on the stationary assembly, a fluid dynamic bearing system in a gap between the stationary and rotating assemblies, a radial capillary seal defined proximate a first end of the journal gap, and at least one re-circulation hole extending from the radial capillary seal to a second end of the journal gap. A single thrust shaft end bearing which pressurizes the shaft end to create an axial thrust bearing and drive bubbles in the fluid (where the fluid is a liquid) to the outer diameter of the shaft and into the recirculation path. The journal may be supported for rotation by dual sets of grooves; the dual groove asymmetry in the journal maintains a positive pressure between the journals.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing is provided having a first surface having at least a first groove pattern formed therein; and the second surface having at least a second groove pattern formed therein; wherein one of the surfaces is configured to be rotated relative to the other surface. The groove patterns may be conventional patterns or patterns described herein. Further, the patterns discussed herein may be disposed wholly on each surface or may be divided between the two surfaces. The groove design is intended to be useable in either a journal, thrust or other fluid bearing design.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing assembly is described. In one embodiment, the assembly includes an inner member. The assembly further includes an outer member configured to rotate about a rotational axis at a first angular velocity. The assembly also includes an orbital ring disposed between the inner member and the outer member. The orbital ring is configured to rotate about the rotational axis at a second angular velocity, which is less than the first angular velocity.