Abstract: A disk drive includes an enclosure having a base, a spindle motor fixed to the base, a disk mounted on the spindle motor, a pivot bearing cartridge, and a head stack assembly. The pivot bearing cartridge includes a shaft fixed to the enclosure, and the head stack assembly is connected to the pivot bearing cartridge for rotation relative to the shaft. The head stack assembly includes a body portion having a bore which surrounds the pivot bearing cartridge, a plurality of actuator arms with each arm cantilevered from the body portion, and a coil portion. The coil portion is cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the plurality of arms and provides damping of vibrations induced in the head stack assembly. The coil portion includes a plastic portion having a thickness, and a coil embedded in the plastic portion. The plastic portion includes a plurality of openings where each opening extends through the entire thickness of the plastic portion.

Abstract: A disk drive or direct access storage device (DASD) of the type having multiple disks and multiple actuator arms, both the disks and the actuator arms assembled in a stacked manner, advantageously assembled with the locating surface or flange of the actuator disposed on the opposite side of the stacked actuator arms from the side of the disk stack having the locating surface or flange for the disk hub. This opposite flange design results in a substantial reduction in the effects of tolerance buildup and therefore permits the design of the disk drive equal in all other respects to a conventional same side flange arrangement, but permitting additional disks, lower height, less tightly defined tolerances on components or the use of cheaper manufacturing techniques and technologies for recording data.

Abstract: A resilient and compliant shock rail is provided on the sides of the bottom cover for a PCMCIA standard Direct Access Storage Device. The shock rails, being of a resilient and easily deformable material, lengthen the impact time and attenuates the shock forces exerted on the DASD, thereby bringing the deceleration forces to acceptable levels. The shock rail may be further provided with low friction surfaces by bonding thin metal plates to the top and bottom surfaces of the shock rails to ease insertion and withdrawal of the PCMCIA DASD. The shock rail is provided with reinforcing members to insure that the keying scheme required for proper insertion is effective.