Abstract: A method for manufacturing a disk drive head suspension including a load beam, a flexure and a limiter for restricting the range of motion of the flexure with respect to the load beam. The load beam includes an aperture and an engaged portion adjacent to the aperture. The flexure, in an unformed state, includes a slider mounting region and a generally planar engagement structure extending from the slider mounting region. The engagement structure includes a tab portion extending from the slider mounting region and a hook portion extending from the tab portion. During a first forming operation the hook portion is bent around a tooling die to a ninety degree angle with respect to the tab portion. The flexure is then welded to the load beam with the hook portion extending into the aperture. During a second forming operation the tab portion is bent around a tooling die to a ninety degree angle with respect to the slider mounting region.

Abstract: An integrated lead flexure comprising a base region, a gimbal extending from the base region and conductive traces. The gimbal includes spring arms and a slider mounting region extending from the spring arms. The conductive traces include one or more unsupported trace sections extending from head bond pads on the slider mounting region to the base region off of the spring arms. One or more metal islands on the unsupported trace sections enhance the impedance characteristics of traces. An insulating layer is located between the traces and the metal islands.

Abstract: An integrated lead flexure for a disk drive head suspension and method for making the flexure. The flexure includes a spring metal layer, a dielectric layer over the spring metal layer, and a plurality of conductive leads on the dielectric layer. The spring metal layer has a first surface, and the dielectric layer has a first surface opposite the spring metal layer first surface, and a plurality of troughs in least a portion of the dielectric layer. At least some of the leads are disposed in a respective dielectric layer trough.

Abstract: An integrated lead disk drive suspension flexure including a gimbal region including gimbal spring arms having conductive spring metal traces embedded within dielectric between a pair of conductive metal shields. The traces function as the spring arms of the gimbal spring arms, wherein the gimbal spring arms are free from spring metal layers opposite the pair of conductive metal shields from the spring metal trace supports.

Abstract: Mounts for securing magnetic disk drive head suspensions to actuator arms. The mounts include structures that snap onto the actuator arm to provide a secure friction fit engagement. The mounts can be efficiently removed to permit rework of the suspension and head components.

Abstract: A head suspension load beam having a longitudinal axis, first and second edges, and first and second opposite side surfaces. The load beam includes a central rail structure extending along at least a part of the longitudinal axis. The load beam also includes a first elongated partially etched portion in the first side surface of the load beam extending along a substantially entire length of the first edge of the load beam, as well as a second elongated partially etched portion in the first side surface of the load beam extending along a substantially entire length of the second edge of the load beam.

Abstract: An integrated lead flexure for a disk drive head suspension and method for making the flexure. The flexure includes a spring metal layer, a dielectric layer over the spring metal layer, and a plurality of conductive leads on the dielectric layer. The spring metal layer has a first surface, and the dielectric layer has a first surface opposite the spring metal layer first surface, and a plurality of troughs in least a portion of the dielectric layer. At least some of the leads are disposed in a respective dielectric layer trough.

Abstract: A method of limiting movement of a head suspension away from a disk surface, the head suspension used for supporting a head slider over the disk surface in a rigid disk drive, the method comprising the steps of providing a load beam for use in a head suspension, the load beam having a mounting region, a rigid region and a spring region located between the mounting region and rigid region; forming a shock limiter from the same piece of material as the spring region of the load beam, the shock limiter comprising a cantilevered portion overlapping an overlapped portion of the head suspension; forming a head suspension from the load beam; and mounting the head suspension in a bard disk drive suspending a head slider over the surface of the disk, such that when an impact load causes the head suspension to move away from the surface of the disk, the shock limiter limits such movement

Abstract: A gimbal and load beam apparatus for a head suspension for a disk drive having lateral arms with dielectric and conductor layers without metal backing to provide for low pitch and roll stiffness while also having a structural layer attached to the gimbal at proximal and distal locations for high lateral stiffness. The structural layer may be formed of stainless steel and can serve as the load beam and spring region for the head suspension.

Abstract: A base plate for a head suspension assembly having a pair of side rails including spring portions. The base plate including first and second portions connected by the pair of side rails and separated by an opening, with the spring portions positioned adjacent to the opening. The base plate configured to receive a microactuator spanning the opening with the microactuator causing relative movement between the first and second portions of the base plate at the spring portions of the side rails, so as to provide fine manipulation of a head slider mounted to the head suspension assembly.

Abstract: A gimbal and load beam apparatus for a head suspension for a disk drive having lateral arms with dielectric and conductor layers without metal backing to provide for low pitch and roll stiffness while also having a structural layer attached to the gimbal at proximal and distal locations for high lateral stiffness. The structural layer may be formed of stainless steel and can serve as the load beam and spring region for the head suspension.

Abstract: A head suspension, for supporting a head slider relative to a rotating disk in a rigid disk drive, formed from a flexure and a load beam that has a mounting region, a rigid region and a spring region located between the mounting and rigid regions. The load beam including a shock limiter integrally formed within the spring region as a cantilevered portion surrounded by a spring aperture used for adjusting the spring stiffness of the spring region. The head suspension typically configured to include a bend or radius in the spring region to bias the head suspension toward the disk surface. The cantilevered portion of the shock limiter formed with a predetermined gap between the shock limiter and the head suspension when the head suspension is in an operating position.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly for a rigid disk drive. The load beam has a mounting region at a proximal end, a rigid region at a distal end and a spring region connecting the mounting region and the rigid region. A pair of rails extend along a portion of the rigid region. The rigid region has a railed region and a non-railed region adjacent to the spring region. A stiffener is attached to the load beam in a multi-layered structure. The stiffener has a proximal portion extending along at least a portion of the non-railed region without extending into the spring region, and a distal portion extending along 50% or less of a length of the railed region closest to the spring region.

Abstract: A head suspension, for supporting a head slider relative to a rotating disk in a rigid disk drive, formed from a flexure and a load beam that has a mounting region, a rigid region and a spring region located between the mounting and rigid regions. The load beam including a shock limiter integrally formed within the spring region as a cantilevered portion surrounded by a spring aperture used for adjusting the spring stiffness of the spring region. The head suspension typically configured to include a bend or radius in the spring region to bias the head suspension toward the disk surface. The cantilevered portion of the shock limiter formed with a pre-determined gap between the shock limiter and the head suspension when the head suspension is in an operating position.

Abstract: A head suspension, for supporting a head slider relative to a rotating disk in a rigid disk drive, formed from a flexure and a load beam that has a mounting region, a rigid region and a spring region located between the mounting and rigid regions. The load beam including a shock limiter integrally formed within the spring region as a cantilevered portion surrounded by a spring aperture used for adjusting the spring stiffness of the spring region. The head suspension typically configured to include a bend or radius in the spring region to bias the head suspension toward the disk surface. The cantilevered portion of the shock limiter formed with a pre-determined gap between the shock limiter and the head suspension when the head suspension is in an operating position.

Abstract: A head suspension, for supporting a head slider relative to a rotating disk in a rigid disk drive, formed from a flexure and a load beam that has a mounting region, a rigid region and a spring region located between the mounting and rigid regions. The load beam including a shock limiter integrally formed within the spring region as a cantilevered portion surrounded by a spring aperture used for adjusting the spring stiffness of the spring region. The head suspension typically configured to include a bend or radius in the spring region to bias the head suspension toward the disk surface. The cantilevered portion of the shock limiter formed with a pre-determined gap between the shock limiter and the head suspension when the head suspension is in an operating position.

Abstract: A head suspension for supporting a head slider relative to a rotating disk in a rigid disk drive, formed from a flexure and a load beam that has a mounting region, a rigid region and a spring region located between the mounting and rigid regions. The load beam including a shock limiter integrally formed within the spring region as a cantilevered portion surrounded by a spring aperture used for adjusting the spring stiffness of the spring region. The head suspension typically configured to include a bend or radius in the spring region to bias the head suspension toward the disk surface. The cantilevered portion of the shock limiter formed with a pre-determined gap between the shock limiter and the head suspension when the head suspension is in an operating position.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive head suspension of the type having a load beam, a mounting region, and a flexure, includes an improved load point dimple. The load point dimple can be formed in either the load beam for contacting the flexure or the flexure for contacting the load beam. The dimple is characterized by a conical shape, including a conical base portion with generally planar surfaces of the dimple and a spherical tip of the dimple. The tip of the dimple is formed to have a height that is greater than the radius of curvature, and so that the radius of curvature of the tip is less than one-half the width of the dimple as measured at a surface of the material from which the dimple extends. In a preferred embodiment, the radius of curvature of the tip is approximately equal to the protrusion of the dimple above the surface in which the dimple is formed to reduce the change in the high point location of the dimple caused by a deflection angle in the surface in which the dimple is formed.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the load of a head suspension for supporting a read/write head over a disk in a magnetic disk drive. The suspension includes a load beam having a rigid region and proximal and distal ends, with a base on the proximal end and a flexure on the distal end. A spring region is located between the base and rigid region of the load beam. The spring region includes a pair of arms which extend between the base and rigid region to form a cutout, and a plurality of load adjustment frets which extend across the cutout between the base and rigid region. One or more of the frets can be severed by a laser beam to lower the gram load of the suspension. The gram load of the suspension can be increased by shrinking the frets through exposure to the laser beam. Gram load adjustments can be made with the suspensions in a disk stack assembly by directing the laser beam to the frets through an optical fiber.

Abstract: A head suspension for supporting a read/write head over a disk in a magnetic disk drive. The suspension includes a load beam having a rigid region and proximal and distal ends, with a base on the proximal end and a flexure on the distal end. A spring region is located between the base and rigid region of the load beam. The spring region includes a pair of arms which extend between the base and rigid region to form a cutout, and a plurality of load adjustment frets which extend across the cutout between the base and rigid region. One or more of the frets can be severed by a laser beam to lower the gram load of the suspension. The gram load of the suspension can be increased by shrinking the frets through exposure to the laser beam. Gram load adjustments can be made with the suspensions in a disk stack assembly by directing the laser beam to the frets through an optical fiber.