Abstract: A semi-finished suspension (55) is used for manufacturing a head suspension (11) for a disk drive. The semi-finished suspension includes a base plate (37), a rigid part (27) solidly joined with the base plate through a bridge (57), and a protrusion being the bridge protruding from one of a base plate and rigid part and having a positioning hole (63) formed through the protrusion of the bridge. This positioning hole is aligned with a positioning hole (51) formed through part of a flexure (41).

Abstract: A method manufactures a head suspension for a disk drive. The method includes a first step of forming a semi-finished suspension (55) having a base plate (37), a rigid part (27) solidly joined with the base plate through a bridge (57), and a positioning hole (63) formed through the bridge. This positioning hole is aligned with a positioning hole (51) formed through part of a flexure (41). A second step of the method fixes a resilient material (31) to the base plate and rigid part of the semi-finished suspension so that the base plate may resiliently support the rigid part through the resilient material. A third step of the method aligns the positioning hole of the flexure with the positioning hole of the bridge and fixes the flexure to the rigid part. A fourth step of the method cuts off the positioning-hole-formed part of the flexure and the bridge including the positioning hole. This suspension is compact and the load beam and flexure thereof are correctly positioned to secure balance.

Abstract: In a suspension for disc drive that comprises a beam portion having an edge portion and a wired flexure attached to the beam portion so as to be superposed thereon and having an extending portion extending across the edge portion of the beam portion, the edge portion of the beam portion crossed by the extending portion of the flexure is formed having a chamfered portion for preventing fretting.

Abstract: A method manufactures a head suspension for a disk drive. The method includes a first step of forming a semi-finished suspension (55) having a base plate (37), a rigid part (27) solidly joined with the base plate through a bridge (57), and a positioning hole (63) formed through the bridge. This positioning hole is aligned with a positioning hole (51) formed through part of a flexure (41). A second step of the method fixes a resilient material (31) to the base plate and rigid part of the semi-finished suspension so that the base plate may resiliently support the rigid part through the resilient material. A third step of the method aligns the positioning hole of the flexure with the positioning hole of the bridge and fixes the flexure to the rigid part. A fourth step of the method cuts off the positioning-hole-formed part of the flexure and the bridge including the positioning hole. This suspension is compact and the load beam and flexure thereof are correctly positioned to secure balance.

Abstract: A base plate of a suspension for a disk drive includes a shear surface formed on one end of the base plate and a notch formed along the shear surface so as to contain the shear surface. The notch is formed on each of the obverse and reverse sides of the base plate. The notches are designed so that (&agr;+&bgr;)/t ranges from 0.3 to 0.5 it the respective depths of the two notches and the thickness of the base plate are &agr;, &bgr; and t, respectively.

Abstract: A base plate chain blank, which is used in the manufacture of a suspension for a hard disk drive, comprises a plurality of base plates arranged in a line at given pitches and a scrap portion connecting the base plates. The base plate chain blank is put in a predetermined position on a load beam chain blank. The base plates are welded individually to load beams that are formed on the load beam chain blank. Thereafter, the base plates and the scrap portion are cut off by means of a die, whereby the scrap portion is separated. The base plate chain blank has notches arranged along cuttable portions at which the scrap portion is to be cut.

Abstract: In a suspension for disc drive that comprises a beam portion having an edge portion and a wired flexure attached to the beam portion so as to be superposed thereon and having an extending portion extending across the edge portion of the beam portions the edge portion of the beam portion crossed by the extending portion of the flexure is formed having a chamfered portion for preventing fretting.

Abstract: A method manufactures a head suspension for a disk drive. The method includes a first step of forming a semi-finished suspension (55) having a base plate (37), a rigid part (27) solidly joined with the base plate through a bridge (57), and a positioning hole (63) formed through the bridge. This positioning hole is aligned with a positioning hole (51) formed through part of a flexure (41). A second step of the method fixes a resilient material (31) to the base plate and rigid part of the semi-finished suspension so that the base plate may resiliently support the rigid part through the resilient material. A third step of the method aligns the positioning hole of the flexure with the positioning hole of the bridge and fixes the flexure to the rigid part. A fourth step of the method cuts off the positioning-hole-formed part of the flexure and the bridge including the positioning hole. This suspension is compact and the load beam and flexure thereof are correctly positioned to secure balance.

Abstract: A loading/unloading lug is provided on the distal end portion of a load beam for use as a suspension body. The lug extends in the axial direction of the suspension body and is designed to run on a support member when suspension body is moved to a refuge zone. The cross section of the lug perpendicular to the axis of the suspension body is arcuate so that an outer surface in contact with the support member is convex, and the outer surface of the lug forms a smoothed surface smoothed by coining. The arithmetic mean roughness of the smoothed surface ranges from 0.01 &mgr;m to less than 0.2 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A suspension system comprises front and rear cantilever spring arms. First end portions of the arms are fixed to a vehicle body. Second end portions of the arms extend toward a member for supporting a wheel. The second end portions are connected to each other by means of a curved section. The spring arms are formed integrally with the curved section through the medium of the matrix resin and the fibers so as to be V-shaped as viewed from above. A joint assembly is fixed to the curved section, and a hub carrier is mounted on the assembly.

Abstract: A suspension system comprises front and rear cantilever spring arms. First end portions of the arms are fixed to a vehicle body. Second end portions of the arms extend toward a member for supporting a wheel. The second end portions are connected to each other by means of a curved section. The spring arms are formed integrally with the curved section through the medium of the matrix resin and the fibers so as to be V-shaped as viewed from above. A joint assembly is fixed to the curved section, and a hub carrier is mounted on the assembly.

Abstract: A suspension system comprising a pair of fiber reinforced plastic spring arms, right and left, and a beam assembly connecting the respective free ends of the arms, said springs arms having a free-end-side portion and being vertically bendable, each spring arm serving as a suspension spring. A fixed end of each spring arm is fixed to a vehicle body. The beam assembly, which extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle body, includes an intermediate beam member of fiber reinforced plastic and metallic end beam members fixed individually to two opposite end portions of the intermediate beam member. Each end beam member is provided with an axle. If the right and left spring arms are subjected to loads of opposite phases at the time of turning, the intermediate beam member is twisted to produce a stabilizer effect.