Abstract: Techniques for coupling a suspension assembly to an actuator arm is provided. The base plate includes a metal member and a swaging boss formed by the metal member. At least one slot disposed in the swaging boss to distribute stress and deformation of the swaging boss during a swaging process. The base plate couples to the actuator arm via the swaging boss. A method for coupling a base plate to an actuator arm includes forcing first and second swage balls through a swage hole of the base plate. A diameter of the first swage ball is greater than the diameter of the swage hole, and a diameter of the second swage ball is greater than the diameter of the first swage ball. The swage hole is shaped by a swaging boss, which swaging boss includes at least one slot.

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques for measuring dimple-gimbal separation force for a suspension assembly in a computer disk, commonly called a hard disk drive (HDD), for understanding the impact on suspension dynamic performance. More particularly, the present invention provides readily procedures and methods for measuring the contact force exert between a gimbal and dimple of a HDD suspension assembly. Merely by way of example, the present invention is implemented using such procedures and methods to directly probe the gimbal-dimple contact force, yet it would be recognized that the invention has a much broader range of applicability on any mechanical apparatus that is small in dimension and structure stiffness, such as, micro actuators and micro electrical and mechanical system (MEMS) devices.