Abstract: A motor base assembly for a storage drive assembly includes a basewall and a plurality of sidewalls extending from the basewall to define an interior of the motor base assembly. The motor base assembly also includes a stiffener support portion disposed within the interior of the motor base assembly. The stiffener support portion includes a stiffener guide slot and a hole adjacent to the stiffener guide slot. The stiffener guide slot is configured to hold a first plate section of a second stiffener region of a flexible printed circuit and the hole is configured to guide a first stiffener region of the flexible printed circuit.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit for a storage drive assembly is provided. The flexible printed circuit includes a stiffener layer having a first stiffener region, and a second stiffener region separated from the first stiffener region by a hinge region, a first insulation layer disposed on the stiffener layer, a conductive electrode layer disposed on the first insulation layer; and a second insulation layer disposed on the conductive electrode layer, wherein the hinge region is formed from the first insulation layer, the conductive electrode layer and the second insulation layer.

Abstract: A flexible printed circuit for a storage drive assembly is provided. The flexible printed circuit includes a stiffener layer having a first stiffener region, and a second stiffener region separated from the first stiffener region by a hinge region, a first insulation layer disposed on the stiffener layer, a conductive electrode layer disposed on the first insulation layer; and a second insulation layer disposed on the conductive electrode layer, wherein the hinge region is formed from the first insulation layer, the conductive electrode layer and the second insulation layer.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly for a disk drive includes a mounting plate that may include an annular swage boss. A load beam is attached to and extends from the mounting plate in a longitudinal direction. A first piezoelectric element is disposed within a first piezoelectric element receiving window in the mounting plate. The load beam includes a first etched region that is elongated in a transverse direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction. The first etched region neighbors the first piezoelectric element and is disposed closer to the annular swage boss than is the first piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A suspension assembly used in magnetic disk drives includes a load beam and a gimbal assembly coupled to an end of the load beam. The gimbal assembly includes a support having a left outrigger and a right outrigger, first tethers or connectors disposed along the left outrigger, second tethers or connectors disposed along the right outrigger, and a flexible circuit assembly that includes a left electrical trace and a right electrical trace. The flexible circuit assembly is coupled to the support through the first tethers or connectors that couple the left electrical trace to the left outrigger and the second tethers or connectors that couple the right electrical trace to the right outrigger. The first and second tethers or connectors are made of stainless steel with a polyimide coating and there are three first tethers or connectors and three second tethers or connectors.