Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head is provided, in which joined are: a light source unit that includes a light source having a surface including a light-emission center on the joining surface side of a unit substrate; and a slider that includes an optical system having a light-receiving end surface reaching a back surface opposite to the opposed-to-medium surface. This method utilizes “semi-active alignment” that uses an alignment light, and comprises steps of: causing a light to enter the light source from a surface opposite to the light-emission center; detecting the light that has passed through the light source and is emitted from the light-emission center to align the light-emission center with the light-receiving end surface of the slider; and bonding the light source unit to the slider. This manufacturing method can achieve the alignment with a sufficiently high alignment accuracy in a short processing time.

Abstract: A method of assembling a recording head includes attaching a first segment having a plurality of toroidal coils to a second segment having a plurality of flexure beams to form a wafer assembly. The method also includes attaching the wafer assembly to a slider body such that a cavity portion of the second segment cooperates with a cavity portion in the slider body to form a transducer cavity. The method also includes vacuum attaching the slider body to a reference flat surface. The method also includes positioning a transducer body having a transducer in the transducer cavity using a touch sensor.

Abstract: A magnetic tape head assembly is provided along with a method of manufacturing a magnetic tape head. The magnetic tape head comprises a cluster of thin film inductive or magnetoresistive read/write elements, an I-block preferably made of a ceramic material, a U-bar also preferably made of a ceramic material, and a base preferably made of a ceramic or metal material. The U-bar has a substantially U-shaped form providing a recess into which the I-block and the cluster are fixed. A bottom surface of the U-bar, I-block, and cluster is fixed to the base to form a slider assembly. A top surface of the U-bar, I-block, and cluster is machined or etched to form one or more tape bearing surfaces thereon.

Abstract: A device for processing workpieces utilizes a frame and a fixture. The frame has a perimeter with an opening, and inner and outer side walls. A pair of shelves are located in the opening for supporting a workpiece and a spring retains the workpiece on the frame. The fixture has work locations with elevators that are moved by an elevator handle. The fixture also has an engagement handle for actuating the springs. The workpieces may be simultaneously mounted to or removed from the frames with the fixture. The frames are loaded into the locations and both handles are rotated to raise the elevators and bend the springs. The workpieces are then placed on top of the elevators, and the elevator handle is rotated to lower the workpieces. Next, the engagement handle is rotated to release the springs to form assemblies that can be removed from the fixture.