Abstract: A method monitors operation of a disk drive. The method includes providing a disk drive which includes a rotating disk and a head having a read transducer in proximity to a surface of the disk and an adjustment mechanism which controllably adjusts an average relative spacing between the read transducer and the surface. The method further includes generating a read-back signal by reading from the surface using the read transducer. The read-back signal includes a high frequency carrier signal having an envelope that is modulated by a lower frequency signal. The method further includes varying the average relative spacing between the read transducer and the surface using the adjustment mechanism. The method further includes analyzing the envelope in the frequency domain and detecting an emergence of at least one frequency component of the envelope within an air bearing resonance range of frequencies.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing magnetic heads that interact with magnetic disks includes a translational slide and a rotatable arm mounted to one end of the slide. The translational slide moves the rotatable arm in a longitudinal direction parallel to the surface of a magnetic disk. The arm rotates the magnetic head to different positions relative to data tracks on the disk. A second translational slide moves the magnetic head vertically above the disk to adjust the vertical position of the head. The three movements of the head, (1)horizontally across the disk, (2)rotationally by the arm, and (3)vertically relative to the disk surface are controlled by servomechanisms. A read/write amplifier circuit is connected to the head under test. The test apparatus is controlled by a computer that interfaces with circuitry connected to the servomechanisms.

Abstract: A test mixture for testing a head gimbal assembly has a flex interconnect circuit with one or more test pads, and includes a clamp assembly and a connector board. The clamp assembly is secured to the connector board for locking the test pads in position. The connector board includes probing pins that contact the test pads in order to establish an electrical path with the head gimbal assembly. The clamp assembly includes a base and a self-locking mechanism, with the base serving as an interface between the self-locking mechanism and the connector board. The self-locking mechanism serves to position the test pads in a desired relation relative to the probing pins and to clamp the test pads during testing. The self-locking mechanism includes a clamp arm having a guiding slide that receives part of the flex interconnect circuit for positioning the test pads within the self-locking mechanism. The connector board is secured to a magnetic test cartridge.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing magnetic heads that interact with magnetic disks includes a translational slide and a rotatable arm mounted to one end of the slide. The translational slide moves the rotatable arm in a longitudinal direction parallel to the surface of a magnetic disk. The arm rotates the magnetic head to different positions relative to data tracks on the disk. A second translational slide moves the magnetic head vertically above the disk to adjust the vertical position of the head. The three movements of the head, (1)horizontally across the disk, (2)rotationally by the arm, and (3)vertically relative to the disk surface are controlled by servomechanisms. A read/write amplifier circuit is connected to the head under test. The test apparatus is controlled by a computer that interfaces with circuitry connected to the servomechanisms.