Abstract: An apparatus and a method for polishing a row bar including magnetic head sliders. A lapping surface plate is rotatable, and a housing is movable above the lapping surface plate. A jig is secured to the housing for holding the row bar. The jig is formed by an elongated rigid member having a plurality of holes and an elongated elastic member fixed to the rigid member. An air cylinder presses the whole row bar, and a pressing devices individually presses portions of the elastic member corresponding to magnetic head sliders of the row bar through the holes of the rigid member. A portion of the elastic member is deformed to press a portion of the row bar in response to a change in the measured resistance of ELG resistance elements in the row bar.

Abstract: The apparatus for lapping a magnetic head slider includes a lapping plate to which a bar of the magnetic head slider makes a contact by a predetermined lapping pressure, a primary oscillating mechanism that makes a primary oscillating of the bar in a radial direction of the lapping plate, and a secondary oscillating mechanism that makes a secondary oscillating of the bar in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the primary oscillating. A coarse lapping of the bar is performed by a combined oscillating of the primary oscillating and the secondary oscillating, and upon completion of the coarse lapping, the apparatus switches to the primary oscillating to finish lapping of the bar.

Abstract: A lapping method includes a step of moving a substantially bar-shaped workpiece in a radial direction of a surface of a rotary lapping plate while simultaneously oscillating the workpiece pivotally about a central point in a longitudinal direction of the workpiece in a plane parallel to the surface of the rotary lapping plate.

Abstract: A lapping machine comprises a lapping surface plate (1) rotated by a rotating mechanism, a lapping jig (28) having a plurality of projections to bottom surfaces of which a work (30) to be lapped by a lapping surface on the lapping surface plate (1) is fitted, amount-of-projection adjusting elements (29) for adjusting the variation of the plurality of projections (28c) to the lapping surface plate (1) individually, and a control circuit (36) for outputting variation-of-projection control signals to the variation-of-projection adjusting elements (29).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method including the steps of cutting a wafer to prepare a row block having a plurality of head elements arranged in a matrix, bonding a plate member to one side surface of the row block, bonding a row tool to another side surface of the row block bonded to the plate member opposite to the one side surface, and cutting the row block to prepare a row bar bonded to the row tool and having a row of the head elements. A bonding apparatus for realizing the above bonding steps is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method including the steps of cutting a wafer to prepare a row block having a plurality of head elements arranged in a matrix, bonding a plate member to one side surface of the row block, bonding a row tool to another side surface of the row block bonded to the plate member opposite to the one side surface, and cutting the row block to prepare a row bar bonded to the row tool and having a row of the head elements. A bonding apparatus for realizing the above bonding steps is also disclosed.

Abstract: A solution treatment is firstly performed for a non-heat-treated Ni based alloy having a composition equivalent to that of Inconel 718 (registered trademark). Subsequently, a primary aging treatment is applied by holding the Ni based alloy at 610 to 660° C. for 5 to 10 hours. After that, a secondary aging treatment is performed by holding the Ni based alloy at 710 to 760° C. for 5 to 10 hours. There are 700 or more precipitates per &mgr;m2, in which each precipitate has a longer diameter of not less than 0.5 nm, in a metal microstructure of the Ni based alloy. Some of the precipitates are large precipitates having average diameters of 25 nm to 1 &mgr;m. There are 10 or more large precipitates per &mgr;m2. A forging die is produced with the Ni based alloy.

Abstract: A lapping machine for lapping a row bar includes a lap plate for providing a lapping surface, a row tool having a plurality of bend cells formed by defining a plurality of slits, a pressure mechanism for pressing the row tool toward the lapping surface of the lap plate, and a bend mechanism for bending the bend cells of the row tool toward the lapping surface of the lap plate. The bend mechanism includes an air cylinder unit having a plurality of double-acting air cylinders, a plurality of racks operatively connected to the double-acting air cylinders, respectively, a plurality of drive pinions arranged coaxially and meshing with the racks, respectively, each drive pinion having a lever for driving the corresponding bend cell, a plurality of support pinions arranged coaxially and meshing with the racks, respectively, and a guide mechanism for guiding each rack, the respective drive pinion, and the respective support pinion in substantially the same plane.

Abstract: A lapping machine comprises a lapping surface plate (1) rotated by a rotating mechanism, a lapping jig (28) having a plurality of projections to bottom surfaces of which a work (30) to be lapped by a lapping surface on the lapping surface plate (1) is fitted, amount-of-projection adjusting elements (29) for adjusting the variation of the plurality of projections (28c) to the lapping surface plate (1) individually, and a control circuit (36) for outputting variation-of-projection control signals to the variation-of-projection adjusting elements (29).

Abstract: A lapping machine for lapping a row bar includes a lap plate for providing a lapping surface, a row tool having a plurality of bend cells formed by defining a plurality of slits, a pressure mechanism for pressing the row tool toward the lapping surface of the lap plate, and a bend mechanism for bending the bend cells of the row tool toward the lapping surface of the lap plate. The bend mechanism includes an air cylinder unit having a plurality of double-acting air cylinders, a plurality of racks operatively connected to the double-acting air cylinders, respectively, a plurality of drive pinions arranged coaxially and meshing with the racks, respectively, each drive pinion having a lever for driving the corresponding bend cell, a plurality of support pinions arranged coaxially and meshing with the racks, respectively, and a guide mechanism for guiding each rack, the respective drive pinion, and the respective support pinion in substantially the same plane.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method including the steps of cutting a wafer to prepare a row block having a plurality of head elements arranged in a matrix, bonding a plate member to one side surface of the row block, bonding a row tool to another side surface of the row block bonded to the plate member opposite to the one side surface, and cutting the row block to prepare a row bar bonded to the row tool and having a row of the head elements. A bonding apparatus for realizing the above bonding steps is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a lapping apparatus and a lapping method for compensating for warp in a work to be lapped, wherein the warp of the work is compensated for during the lapping process. A warp quantity of the work is detected during the lapping process and compensation is made. Hence, even warp caused during the lapping process can be compensated. It is also feasible to save the task of measuring the warp quantity of the work before lapping. An air pressure mechanism for applying pressure to the work in accordance with an air supply pressure is used as a warp straightening mechanism, whereby a minute warp quantity can be compensated for and controlled to zero. With the air pressure mechanism being adopted, it is possible to prevent excessive pressure from being applied to a lap jig.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lapping machine for lapping a row bar having a plurality of head sliders. The lapping machine includes a lap plate for providing a lapping surface, a row tool having a work surface for pressing the row bar against the lapping surface, and a mechanism for operating the row tool so that a given pressure distribution is produced between the row bar and the lapping surface. The row tool has a plurality of holes arranged along the work surface. The mechanism includes a plurality of pivoted links each having a load point where a force having a direction perpendicular to the work surface is applied to the row tool in each of the holes. Each of the pivoted links further has a support point as the fulcrum and an effort point where a force having a direction substantially parallel to the work surface is received. The ratio of a distance between the load point and the support point to a distance between the effort point and the support point is substantially constant.