Abstract: Methods for connecting electrical potential to an extractor cup at the cathode of a miniature x-ray tube are disclosed. The various connection schemes are designed to form a rugged and conveniently manufacturable connection between the metal extractor cup and one side of the cathode filament, so that the extractor cup shapes the path of electrons as desired en route to the anode of the tube. Some of the disclosed connections involve evaporation of conductive metal or other materials off the filament when the filament is first activated. Others involve applying a paste or paint conductive precursor directly to a base to connect a post and the extractor, the paste being heat-cured after the completion of assembly. Others involve a fine wire or spring strip from one filament post to the walls of the extractor cup. Other schemes include welded or brazed wires or foil, crimping, pinching, swaging and other connections, all made inside the tube enclosure.

Abstract: Methods for connecting electrical potential to an extractor cup at the cathode of a miniature x-ray tube are disclosed. The various connection schemes are designed to form a rugged and conveniently manufacturable connection between the metal extractor cup and one side of the cathode filament, so that the extractor cup shapes the path of electrons as desired en route to the anode of the tube. Some of the disclosed connections involve evaporation of conductive metal or other materials off the filament when the filament is first activated. Others involve applying a paste or paint conductive precursor directly to a base to connect a post and the extractor, the paste being heat-cured after the completion of assembly. Others involve a fine wire or spring strip from one filament post to the walls of the extractor cup. Other schemes include welded or brazed wires or foil, crimping, pinching, swaging and other connections, all made inside the tube enclosure.

Abstract: An automated system for measuring gram load in a head suspension arm of a disk drive. The system is utilized during the assembly of a disk drive, and is operated in an automated mode without requiring manual assistance. The system includes an apparatus for placing each suspension arm into position to measure the gram force, a controller for driving the apparatus in an automated mode, an instrument for measuring the gram load of each suspension arm, and a computer for storing data from the measuring instrument. The apparatus includes a plurality of vertically-aligned cam pins which meshably engage the plurality of vertically-aligned suspension arms. Each of the cam pins separates a pair of adjacent arms and includes an end defined by a semi-circular cross-section. As each cam pin is rotated by servo motors, each arm is placed into a preloaded biased state, enabling the measuring means to measure its gram load.