Abstract: A lubricant is applied to swage contact surfaces in a disk drive of the type including a suspension arm connected to an actuator arm by a swaging process. A preferred thin film lubricant may be applied to the contact surfaces by immersion and draining, immersion and raising the part out of the solution, localized spraying, or various deposition processes. Application of the lubricant reduces chipping during de-swaging, particularly with nickel plated metal components. Application of the lubricant has also shown to improve gram load uniformity, reduce adverse distortion to the actuator assembly and reduces torque out retention values. Improved gram load uniformity enhances overall disk drive functioning, reduced distortion preserves intended attitude and flatness of the actions for assembly and reduced torque out retention values improves reworkability of the disk drive.

Abstract: A method for creating a disk drive. A slider is installed in a disk drive having at least one unlubricated disk. The slider is designed to be in initial contact. The slider is burnished to the final design point. A vapor phase lubricant reservoir system is installed in the drive either before or after the burnishing step.

Abstract: A hard-disk drive. The hard-disk drive includes a magnetic-recording disk having a plurality of tracks formed thereon. The hard-disk drive also includes a magnetic-recording head configured to be positioned over a target track selected from the plurality of tracks and configured to write data to and to read data from the target track. Moreover, the hard-disk drive includes a range-definer configured to define an allowed range of a position error of the magnetic-recording head corresponding to the target track. In addition, the hard-disk drive includes a write-enabler configured to determine whether writing data by the magnetic-recording head is allowed based on the position error of the magnetic-recording head with respect to the target track and the allowed range that is calculated from data read out by the magnetic-recording head.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method is provided for precisely positioning a datum surface of a component. The apparatus has a housing defining a tooling datum surface. A collet is supported by the housing, and is thereby selectively operable between an expanded mode and a retracted mode. In the expanded mode, a clearing disengagement is defined with the component. In the retracted mode, a contacting engagement is defined with the component as well as a simultaneous longitudinal force that is transferred by the contacting engagement to the component capable of pressingly engaging the datum surfaces together. The apparatus further has a bias member urging the collet to the retracted mode.

Abstract: A framing assembly with lower stiffness design and a method of manufacturing that framing assembly are disclosed. In one embodiment, a framing assembly pattern is cut from a piece of a thin planar material, such as metal. The pattern is then bent to form a framing assembly with a base piece, two arms, and supports for a connection plate. In an alternate embodiment, the base piece includes a rear support and a support base. In a further embodiment, excess material surrounding the pattern is cut away so as to allow the most efficient use of the material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to manufacturing method of a magnetic head slider which flies stably even with a reduced peripheral speed resulting from a trend toward a magnetic disk having a smaller diameter. According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a magnetic head slider comprises forming a leading side rail surface and a trailing side rail surface, a leading stepped bearing surface and a trailing stepped bearing surface, and a negative-pressure groove surface on an air bearing surface through etching, forming a first stepped surface on the leading side rail surface through sputtering, and forming a second stepped surface by forming a carbon layer on the first stepped surface through sputtering. The first stepped surface has a first height with respect to the leading side rail surface and the second stepped surface has a second height with respect to the first stepped surface.

Abstract: There is provided a disk drive that includes a base, a limiting member, an actuator, and a latch. The actuator includes an actuator catch with a catch path. The latch contacts the limiting member with the latch in an open position. The latch is biased to rotate to a defeat position. An arresting portion is in the catch path with the latch in a closed position. The arresting portion is not in the catch path with the latch in the open position, and not in the catch path with the latch in the defeat position. A crash stop portion contacts the actuator with the latch in the closed position and with the actuator in a stop position. The crash stop portion does not contact the actuator with the latch in the defeat position. Also provided is a method of reworking a disk drive having the latch.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetoresistive multilayer film. An antiferromagnetic layer, a pinned-magnetization layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer and a free-magnetization layer are laminated on a substrate in this order. A film for the antiferromagnetic layer is deposited by a sputtering process as oxygen gas is added to a gas for sputtering. A film for an extra layer interposed between the substrate and the antiferromagnetic layer is deposited by a sputtering process as oxygen gas is added to a gas for sputtering. A film for the antiferromagnetic layer is deposited by a sputtering process with a gas mixture of argon and another gas of larger atomic number than argon.

Abstract: A method for mounting a head stack assembly (HSA) circuit assembly is disclosed. A flexible circuit substrate may be coupled to a stiffener. The stiffener may be a metal, such as aluminum, or some other stiff and durable material. The flexible circuit substrate may be made of an organic material and may have a series of electronic leads embedded in the flexible circuit substrate. The flexible substrate may be coupled to the stiffener by an adhesive or laminated onto the stiffener. The stiffener may be mounted onto the actuator arm by soldering or by laser welding.

Abstract: An actuator/coil assembly (136) is disclosed where two different bonding operations are used. First, a bobbin (164) is overmolded to a coil (172), and a first overmolded part (176) is overmolded to both the coil (172) and a fan tail (152) of the actuator (140). The overmolding operation defines one or more adhesive receptacles (168) in the bobbin (164) on a perimeter that interfaces with the coil (172), and further defines one or more adhesive receptacles (180) in the first overmolded part (176) on a perimeter that interfaces with the coil (172) and that interfaces with the fan tail (152) of the actuator (140). Adhesive (184) is disposed within these receptacles (168, 180) to increase the stiffness of the actuator/coil assembly (136).

Abstract: Numerous embodiments of a method to form a base plate for a hard disk drive are described. In one embodiment, a blank base plate is advanced through plurality of die stations and parts of the base plate are press worked to form a disk drive base plate. In one embodiment, the blank base plate may be press worked by stamping the base plate with a progressive die assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the blank base plate may be press worked by stamping the base plate with a transfer die assembly.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium having a recording area includes the steps of forming in the recording area a conductive area that includes a plurality of sectors each made of a conductive magnetic body and is partitioned by a nonmagnetic insulator, and recording a reference signal in all of the plurality of sectors by continuously injecting into the conductive area spin-polarized current having a magnetization pattern corresponding to the reference signal so as to sequentially move a domain wall in the conductive area, an injecting position of the spin-polarized current being fixed while the reference signal being recorded in the plurality of sectors, the reference signal being used for a head to confirm a position on the recording area, the head being configured to record information in the recording area and to reproduce the information from the recording area.

Abstract: A method of coupling a voice coil motor to a bowl-type base plate of a hard disk drive is described for a hard disk drive including a voice coil motor having a coil coupled to a rear end portion of an actuator arm, an upper yoke and a lower yoke provided at upper and lower portions of the coil respectively, a bowl-type base plate having a plurality of flattened structures for fastening the lower yoke in a position relative to the bowl-type base plate and a countersink formed in the lower yoke.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a drive apparatus electrically connects a motor and a control circuit board for the motor without causing poor connections. When manufacturing a drive apparatus that rotationally drives a recording medium using a motor, the motor, which is connected in advance to one end of a connection circuit board that connects the motor and a control circuit board for the motor, is attached to a drive apparatus case and then the other end of the connection circuit board is connected to the control circuit board for the motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a magnetic head slider used for a magnetic disk apparatus for performing a magnetic recording/reproducing process in a discoid recording medium. The apparatus for processing a magnetic head slider includes a discoid recording medium used as an abrasive material, a holding unit configured to hold a suspension arm on which a magnetic head slider is disposed, an elevating unit configured to bring the magnetic head slider into contact with the discoid recording medium in a sliding manner by elevating and lowering the discoid recording medium, and a rotating unit configured to rotate the discoid recording medium at a rotation speed lower than a rotation speed upon the magnetic recording/reproducing process.

Abstract: A method of assembling a carriage assembly is capable of suppressing deformation of spacer portions when suspensions are attached to carriage arms. The method of assembling a carriage assembly aligns fitting holes provided in front end portions of carriage arms and spacer holes provided in spacer portions of suspensions and places the suspensions onto the carriage arms, and then presses a ball with a diameter equal to or greater than an inner diameter of the spacer holes with a pressure-applying member to pass the ball through the spacer holes, thereby crimping spacer hole edge portions of the spacer portions and attaching the suspensions to the front end portions of the carriage arms. By applying ultrasonic vibration from two axial directions to the pressure-applying member, the pressure-applying member is caused to vibrate on a two-dimensional movement path on a predetermined plane and passes the ball through the spacer holes while causing the ball to rotate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for burnishing a recording head in-situ in a magnetic recording disk drive. The burnishing process generates a tribocurrent, which is electricity generated by the rubbing of dissimilar materials. Different materials exhibit widely different tribocurrent characteristics while in sliding contact. The tribocurrent thus acts as an indicator of the particular materials of the recording head making contact with the magnetic recording media during different stages of the burnishing process. The tribocurrent is thus monitored to determine when it reaches a threshold value. The threshold value indicates that the burnishing has exposed a particular material of the recording head. Thus, the burnishing process may be stopped upon the tribocurrent reaching the threshold value so that the read sensor of the recording head is not burnished and inadvertently damaged.

Abstract: A suspension load beam used for attachment to a slider assembly and an actuation arm in a disc drive for data storage has a rigid middle beam section comprising a rigid bottom layer, a rigid top layer and a composite core layer sandwiched between the bottom layer and the top layer. A method for fabricating a vibration resistant mechanical member used a disc drive subject to high frequency motion operations is also disclosed. The method involves making an integral laminate structure and fabricating the mechanical member from the integral laminate structure. The integral laminate structure has a rigid bottom layer, a composite core layer on top of the rigid bottom layer, and a rigid top layer on top of the core layer so that the composite core layer is sandwiched between the rigid bottom layer and the rigid top layer.

Abstract: A method for forming rails on the beam region of a disk drive head suspension. Rails are formed on a first portion of the beam region while supporting the beam region at a first location. Rails are formed on a second portion of the beam region while supporting the beam region at a second location that is different than the first location.

Abstract: When crimping suspensions to carriage arms using a metal ball by applying ultrasonic vibration to a crimping tool, the suspensions can be crimped to the carriage arms without causing deformation to the suspensions and the like. A method of assembling a carriage assembly aligns attachment holes provided in front ends of carriage arms and crimping portions provided on suspensions to set the suspensions on the carriage arms and then presses a ball through crimping holes provided in the crimping portions while applying ultrasonic vibration to the crimping tool to crimp the suspensions to the carriage arms. When doing so, a ball, such as a ball whose surface has been subjected to a dimpling process, for which a load that acts on the ball when the ball passes through the crimping holes is low compared to a spherical ball is used to crimp the suspensions to the carriage arms.

Abstract: The sensitivity of the ABS shape of a suspension mounted slider to temperature variations can be greatly reduced if the backside of the slider is lapped to a smooth convex contour that is similar to the ABS shape, rather than to a planar shape, prior to mounting the slider on the suspension. When the backside surfaces of sliders are shaped in this manner, the size of changes in the crown height of the ABS shape due to temperature variations are greatly reduced and the ABS shapes are distributed more tightly, thereby increasing disk drive reliability.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to method for manufacturing a shock absorber that allows a disk drive to move with respect to the chassis of a computer system. In one embodiment, a flexure is formed that is capable of being coupled to an assembly joint. An assembly joint is formed so that the assembly joint is capable of being coupled to the flexure and the chassis of a computer system. A shock absorber is created by coupling the flexure to the assembly joint. The shock absorber has a form that can be used to flexibly couple the disk drive's enclosure with the computer system's chassis without requiring an increase in size of the chassis.

Abstract: A read sensor for a magneto resistive head is formed through the use of a bilayer lift-off mask. According to one embodiment, a release layer is formed on top of a sensor layer. A silicon-containing resist layer is formed over the release layer. The resist layer is patterned according to the desired dimensions of the read sensor. Then, plasma etching, such as oxygen plasma etching, is used to remove the portion of the release layer that is exposed by removal of resist material. The release layer may be etched to undercut the patterned resist layer, or may entirely removed beneath the patterned resist layer to provide a bridge of the resist material. In either case, isotropic plasma etching, anisotropic plasma etching, or some combination thereof may be applied.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a head suspension assembly includes an actuator unit including a plurality of suspensions to which a plurality of heads are fixed, respectively, an actuator block, and a coil-arm unit including a coil. A first protection member includes a first support unit that supports a part of the actuator unit. A second support unit supports a connector provided at a cable extending from a part of the actuator unit. A second protection member includes a fixing unit that fixes the connector to a predetermined position. The first protection member and the second protection member are formed in freely opening and closing manner.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bearing mechanism includes the steps of: (a) setting a position of an annular member relative to a center axis; (b) moving the annular member toward an opening of a sleeve housing through a shaft by pressing and elastically deforming a bottom portion of the sleeve housing; (c) releasing the pressing to restore the bottom portion to its original shape; and (d) fixing the annular member to the sleeve housing. Herein, the step (b) is performed by arranging the annular member within the sleeve housing, making one end portion of the shaft received in the annular member contact an inner bottom surface of the sleeve housing or with a thrust member disposed thereon, and making the annular member contact the shaft in a direction leading from the opening to the bottom portion of the sleeve housing.

Abstract: To efficiently manufacture a feedthrough used in a disk drive device having a hermetically sealed enclosure, embodiments of the present invention manufacture a feedthrough used in an HDD having a hermetically sealed enclosure. An embodiment of a manufacturing method of the present embodiment manufactures a columnar body, cuts the columnar body in the direction vertical to the axes of pins, and cuts out a feedthrough. Then, necessary plating is made on the outer surfaces of the cut out feedthrough. The columnar body comprises a hollow tube, a plurality of pins inserted inside the tube, and an insulating sealant filled inside the tube. This manufacturing method achieves efficient manufacture of the feedthrough.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly (HGA) connector pad alignment jig is disclosed. One embodiment provides an HGA testing jig for holding an HGA, the HGA testing jig including an opening at a location of the HGA connector pads. In addition, an HGA testing apparatus including a disk for testing the HGA and a controller with a plurality of pin connectors for providing control information to the HGA during a testing process. Thus, the present technology provides an alignment adjuster for adjusting the location of the pin connectors with respect to the connector pads to ensure a good electrical connection between the HGA connector pads and the pin connectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for adjusting recession of an element, such as a pole tip, in a transducer structure formed in a plurality of thin film layers on an edge of a slider. A pre-stressed structure is formed as part of the plurality of thin film layers on the edge of the slider. The pre-stressed structure has a level of material stress. The recession is measured relative to a bearing surface of the slider, and then the level of material stress is adjusted as a function of the measured to effect a corresponding change in the recession.

Abstract: A method for de-tabbing a dielectric tab extending between and bonded to first and second stainless steel portions of a disk drive head suspension component. Exemplary first and second stainless steel portions are a flexure base region and a flexure tongue. The method includes applying laser energy to the dielectric tab. The laser energy is characterized by one or more parameters, e.g., a pulse width and/or an energy density, causing de-bonding of the dielectric tab from the first and second stainless steel portions.

Abstract: A data storage device is made by molding a portion of a motor into a first enclosure member, and then coupling the first enclosure member to a second enclosure member to define an interior environment for other data storage device components.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to a method for bonding slider row bars for a photolithography process. A holding device having a sticky surface is formed. A plurality of slider row bars is provided, with each having a first surface for forming an air bearing surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The slider row bars are secured to the holding device with their first surfaces facing the sticky surface so that the first surfaces of the slider row bars are aligned each other. The slider row bars are bonded together by an encapsulating glue. A carrier is provided, and the carrier is bonded to the second surfaces of the slider row bars. The holding device is removed. The example embodiments also can be used to manufacture sliders.

Abstract: An automated system for setting the linear distance from a mounting surface of a pivot cartridge to critical features on actuator arms is disclosed. This distance is set to eliminate the tolerance incurred via normal manufacturing of these components. The system adjusts for every component to customize each actuator and/or pivot assembly to meet the functionality requirements for disk drives.

Abstract: A method for loading single head in a hard disk drive includes the following steps: mounting a head assembly (30) in a baseplate (10) of a hard disk drive, the head assembly comprising an actuator arm (32), a suspension (34) and a HGA, the baseplate engaging a motor (110) and the HGA is positioned close to the motor; biasing the suspension by a mounting tool (50) from the original position, the mounting tool comprising a cantilever arm (52), a pressing head (54) and a supporting rod (56), wherein, the mounting tool rotates to the suspension and gets down to press the suspension; mounting a disk (90) on the motor in the baseplate; and releasing the pressing head from the suspension, loading the HGA of the head assembly to a parking zone of the disk.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for assembling a disk drive including steps that providing a head stack assembly (HSA), providing a shipping comb for assembling the disk drive, inserting a comb pin of the shipping comb into a locating holes in a HSA to assemble the shipping comb with the HSA together, positioning the HSA and shipping comb on a base cover of the disk drive, installing the HSA on the base cover via a bearing device thereof, rotating the assembled HSA and shipping comb to park the HSA on the ramp and aligning the comb pin with the securing hole, pushing the comb pin into a securing hole to lock the HSA in the base cover, assembling a latch device and a top voice coil magnet on the base cover, rotating out the shipping comb to a position where the shipping comb is not interfered with the disk drive.

Abstract: Methods to make rotary and linear voice coil motors, having either single air gaps or dual air gaps. A first embodiment of the invention involves a method to manufacture voice coil motor magnetic returns on a substrate. A second embodiment of the invention involves a method to manufacture a plurality of voice coil motor magnet assembly ends from voice coil motor magnetic returns on a substrate. A third embodiment involves a method to manufacture voice coil motors from voice coil motor magnet assembly ends.

Abstract: In accordance with certain aspects of the present invention, there is provided system and method for reducing the production cycle in the manufacturing of hard disk drives and a generic hard disk drive ready for customization. In one embodiment of the present invention a generic hard disk drive is provided. The generic disk drive includes a hard disk drive assembly and a printed circuit board having an electronic system for controlling the hard disk drive assembly with associated custom microcode specified by a customer during the customization of the generic disk drive.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a rotor hub for use in a spindle motor, free-cutting stainless steel is used as a material of the rotor hub. A slug of free-cutting stainless steel is subjected to a plastic working to form a disk mounting portion and a cylindrical surface positioned radially inwardly of the disk mounting portion. Then, a cylindrical disk fitting surface is formed by machining substantially the entirety of the cylindrical surface. The rotor hub contains A-type inclusions appearing in a cross section taken along a center axis of the disk mounting portion. The A-type inclusions are oriented in directions different than the center axis.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a simpler, miniaturizable, and highly reliable hermetically sealed enclosure structure in a disk drive device. According to one embodiment, a hard disk drive (HDD) comprises an HDD main unit, a case for housing the HDD main unit, a lid with a feedthrough function for closing an opening of the case, and an FPC connector for interconnecting the HDD main unit and a plurality of pins fixed to the lid. The lid is joined to the case and completely closes the opening of the case. The case and the lid form a sealed enclosure; the internal HDD main unit is housed in the sealed space. Housing the HDD main unit in a sealed space may increase resistance of the HDD to external environmental changes. Sealing low density gas like helium in the sealed space may improve the performance of the HDD.

Abstract: An existing disk drive storage enclosure is converted into a standalone network storage system by removing one or more input/output (I/O) modules from the enclosure and installing in place thereof one or more server modules (“heads”), each implemented on a single circuit board. Each head contains the electronics, firmware and software along with built-in I/O connections to allow the disks in the enclosure to be used as a Network-Attached file Server (NAS) or a Storage Area Network (SAN) storage device. An end user can also remove the built-in head and replace it with a standard I/O module to convert the enclosure back into a standard disk drive storage enclosure. Two internal heads can communicate over a passive backplane in the enclosure to provide full cluster failover (CFO) capability.

Abstract: A method for picking and placing a clinging part. Gripper fingers spaced apart from each other by a central spacing on each of first and second gripper jaws are provided. The gripper jaws are moved between a grip position in which the gripper jaws grip the clinging part and a release position in which the gripper jaws release and retract from the clinging part. An ejector having a cling resistant part pusher movable in the central spacings is moved between a retracted position in which the part pusher is retracted and contacts the clinging part. and an eject position in which the part pusher ejects the clinging part.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention can include a method of assembling an actuator arm system for a hard disk drive. The method can include: placing a lower bearing on a shaft; placing an actuator arm on the lower bearing; placing an upper bearing on the shaft; applying an adhesive between an inner race of the upper bearing and the shaft; applying an axial preload force to the inner race of the upper bearing; curing the adhesive; and releasing the preload force.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a first disk drive includes incorporating a first storage disk having a first storage surface, and a first slider having a first read/write head and a slider mover into the first disk drive. Further, the first read/write head is movably positioned a first head-to-disk spacing relative to the first storage surface. The method also includes determining an incremental power level necessary to be delivered to a second slider mover of a second slider having a second read/write head to adjust a second head-to-disk spacing relative to a second storage surface by a predetermined increment. In addition, the method includes adjusting a first head-to-disk spacing by directing an operational power level to the first slider mover. The operational power level is derived from the incremental power level.

Abstract: A method of assembling a carriage assembly is disclosed. The method is are capable of suppressing fluctuation in the crimped (deformed) states of spacer portions when suspensions are attached to carriage arms. The method aligns fitting holes 10a provided in carriage arms 10 with spacer holes 12b of suspensions 12. Then the method passes a ball 20 with a diameter equal to or greater than an inner diameter of the spacer holes 12b through the spacer holes 12b to crimp edge portions of the spacer holes 12b in spacer portions 12a and thereby attach the suspensions 12 to the carriage arms 10. While the ball 20 is being pressed and sandwiched from both sides of the spacer holes 12b by two pressure-applying members 40a, 40b an ultrasonic vibration is applied to the two pressure-applying members 40a, 40b, the two pressure applying members 40a, 40b are moved so as to pass the ball 20 through the spacer holes 12b.

Abstract: A method for dynamic electrical testing of head gimbal assemblies may include initiating an automated continuous process that includes selecting an unmounted head gimbal assembly; aligning the unmounted head gimbal assembly; loading the unmounted head gimbal assembly to a disc; and testing the unmounted head gimbal assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus for assembling a carriage assembly includes space maintaining plates to be inserted between carriage arms fitted with suspensions. The plates have penetrating holes communicating with spacer holes provided in the suspensions. The carriage arms are held from opposite sides in the arrangement direction thereof. Pressing means force a ball having a larger diameter than the spacer holes in an axial direction of the spacer holes using a stick-like pressing member, in order to crimp the suspensions to the tips of the carriage arms. The guide members are made of an elastic material, and guide the pressing member to move substantially along the axis of the spacer holes in the crimping step. The guide members are fitted to the inner peripheral surfaces of the penetrating holes provided in the space maintaining plates.

Abstract: A method for mounting a head slider of the type having terminal pads to a wireless disk drive head suspension flexure including a slider mounting region, lead contact pads, and a deflectable and resilient slider engagement member for releasably mounting a head slider to the slider mounting region. The method includes engaging and deflecting the slider engagement member and positioning the head slider onto the slider mounting region and between the lead contact pads and the slider engagement member while the slider engagement member is deflected. The method further includes disengaging the slider engagement member and causing the slider engagement member to force the head slider into frictional engagement with the lead contact pads and the slider engagement member with the lead contact pads in mechanical and electrical contact with the head slider terminal pads.

Abstract: A robotic tool for assembling a portion of a disk drive includes a movable end effector that includes a first portion and a second portion that is movable relative to the first portion. The first portion may be configured to engage the actuator assembly and the second portion may be configured to engage the flex circuit connector. A controller may be provided to control the movable end effector, causing the end effector to pick up the head stack assembly in a first configuration, move the second portion of the end effector relative to the first portion thereof so as to articulate the head stack assembly into a second configuration that is different than the first configuration, and place the head stack assembly into the base.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a disk drive for use with a host electronic unit (HEU). The HEU including a printed circuit board having a socket and HEU disk drive circuitry. The method includes providing a lead frame. The lead frame is a single component having material continuity rather than an assembly of subcomponents. The method includes forming a plurality of leads in the lead frame by removing material of the lead frame, and attaching the lead frame to a housing body. The housing body defines a housing periphery sized and configured to be engaged within the socket. The leads extend to the housing periphery. The method includes attaching a disk drive electrical component to the housing body, and electrically connecting the disk drive electrical component to at least one of leads. The disk drive circuitry is located on the HEU printed circuit board rather than within the housing periphery.

Abstract: A method of producing hard disk drives of reduced size including using a one or more MEMS spindle motors, and one or more magnetic heads. Each spindle motor includes a rotor and a stator. The rotor carries a film of magnetic film, and a head is arranged to communicate data with the magnetic film. The rotors are formed by MEMS technology. Rotor elements are formed within a substrate 4, and the substrate is subsequently cut to simulate the rotor elements, and turn them into rotors.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to techniques to remove a defective head gimbal assembly (HGA) from a head stack assembly and replace the defective HGA with a good one without allowing any good HGAs to be damaged. In one embodiment, a volatile alcohol solvent is moved by gravity from a holder included in a reworking tool provided for a reworking jig to a shearing edge of a cartridge type edge mounted in the holder. The alcohol solvent is thereby deposited on the shearing edge in a drop-like shape through surface tension. The cartridge type edge is made to slide on a surface of an actuator arm and is inserted in a gap between contacting surfaces of a mount plate and the actuator arm. This assigns the drop-like alcohol solvent a function as a lubricant. Possible vibration can therefore be prevented from being transmitted through a carriage to other HGAs.