Abstract: A slider may include a first side-edge surface, a second side-edge surface, and an air-bearing surface (ABS) comprising: a first side cavity adjacent to the first side-edge surface, and a first island side blocker situated at a mouth of the first side cavity, wherein: a first outer surface of the first island side blocker forms a portion of the first side-edge surface, a second outer surface of the first island side blocker is recessed from the first side-edge surface, a first side opening is situated on a leading side of the first island side blocker, and a second side opening is situated on a trailing side of the first island side blocker.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are sliders with segmented front bars, methods of manufacturing them, and data storage devices comprising them. In some embodiments, a slider comprises a segmented front bar, a leading pad, a shallow-edge surface, and a cavity. The segmented front bar includes a plurality of slots situated substantially perpendicular to the leading-edge surface of the slider. The leading pad is situated between the leading-edge surface of the slider and a trailing edge of the slider and is recessed from the segmented front bar. The cavity abuts the segmented front bar and is situated between the segmented front bar and the leading pad. The shallow-etch surface is situated between the cavity and the leading pad. A maximum depth of the plurality of slots relative to a non-recessed surface of the segmented front bar is less than a depth of the cavity relative to the non-recessed surface of the segmented front bar.

Abstract: A slider-mounted read/write transducer for a hard disk drive (HDD) has a topology that mitigates attraction and accumulation of lubricant and hydrocarbons during the HDD operation. The slider topology may include a pattern of cavities and channels symmetrically disposed about a central longitudinal axis. The slider may also have a transverse channel extending perpendicularly inward from an opening in each side edge of the slider to intersect a channel that extends longitudinally along a middle axis towards a leading-edge pad in which a read/write transducer is embedded. The ends of the transverse channel open into an air-carrying groove extending vertically upward in the side of the slider in which a side flow blocker (SFB) restricts the air flow into the channel portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to kiss lapping sliders after patterning an air bearing surface pattern, followed by applying a protective overcoat to the air bearing surface. The present disclosure also involves related sliders.

Abstract: An electrical connector element, for use on a printed circuit board assembly, includes a soldering pad having a longitudinal length and a cross-sectional width. The soldering pad is configured to be electrically-coupleable to a PCB device conductor. At least one impedance inducing feature is positioned along the longitudinal length of the soldering pad.

Abstract: A contact pad includes a first layer of material with a first yield strength and a second layer of material with a second yield strength is laminated to the first layer. A third yield strength of the laminated composite of the first layer and the second layer exceeds the first yield strength and the second yield strength due to the Hall-Petch phenomenon. An overcoat covers an edge of the first layer and the second layer of the contact pad to prevent wear. A method of creating the contact pad or other microelectronic structure includes depositing a first layer of material with a first yield strength on a substrate. A second layer of material with a second yield strength is deposited on the first layer. An edge of the first layer and the second layer is coated with an overcoat material to prevent wear of the first and second layers.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head includes a slider and a head section on the slider. A supporting surface of the slider includes a leading step in an inflow side of airflow, a leading pad on the leading step, a negative-pressure cavity in a downstream side of the leading pad, a trailing step in an outflow end side of the airflow, a center rail extending from the leading step to the trailing step, a guide groove in the center rail, configured to guide the airflow to the trailing step, and an intake groove formed in the leading pad, extending in a direction transverse to the airflow, communicating with the guide groove, and includes two end parts in its longitudinal direction, the two end parts extending in a direction of the airflow and forming openings open to the inflow side of the leading pad.

Abstract: A method for forming a planarized surface for at least one bar of sliders for utilization in a hard disk drive is disclosed. In general, at least one bar of sliders is placed on an adhesive layer. A single thermoplastic layer is then provided above the at least one bar of sliders. The single thermoplastic layer is then heated to a softening temperature such that the single thermoplastic layer will flow between the at least one bar of sliders. The single thermoplastic layer is then cooled to form a planarized surface of both said single thermoplastic layer and said at least one bar of sliders at said adhesive layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a slider that may suppress contamination from being attached to the flying surface of the slider without influence on reduction of the flying height of the slider. Ions exerting an effect of decreasing surface energy are implanted in the whole surface of a flying surface of a magnetic head slider except for a front rail surface and a center rail surface. According to this, contamination is prevented from being attached to a front step bearing surface, a side step bearing surface, a center step bearing surface and a negative pressure groove where contamination is particularly liable to be attached in the flying surface of the magnetic head slider, so as to suppress destabilization in flying of the slider.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a slider of a head includes a negative-pressure cavity defined by a recess formed in a disk-facing surface, a leading step portion which is situated on an upstream side of the negative-pressure cavity with respect to an airflow and projects from a bottom surface of the negative-pressure cavity, a trailing step portion which is provided on an outflow-side end portion of the facing surface on the downstream side of the negative-pressure cavity with respect to the airflow, projects from the bottom surface of the negative-pressure cavity, and constitutes a part of the facing surface, and a maximum-positive-pressure producing step portion which is spaced upstream from the trailing step portion with respect to the airflow, projects from the bottom surface of the negative-pressure cavity, and produces a maximum positive pressure. A head portion is provided on the trailing step portion.

Abstract: A slider resistant to lubricant accumulation. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation includes a positive-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to levitate the slider above a magnetic-recording disk and a negative-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to bring the slider into proximity with the magnetic-recording disk at a fly height sufficient for writing data to and reading data from the magnetic-recording disk. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation also includes a lubricant-accumulation barrier disposed in proximity to a trailing edge of the slider. The lubricant-accumulation barrier is configured to reduce lubricant accumulation on the slider. The lubricant-accumulation barrier also includes a plurality of lubricant-accumulation-barrier portions disposed at a plurality of respective depths below an outer-most surface of a disk-facing side of the slider.

Abstract: A slider resistant to lubricant accumulation. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation includes a positive-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to levitate the slider above a magnetic-recording disk and a negative-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to bring the slider into proximity with the magnetic-recording disk at a fly height sufficient for writing data to and reading data from the magnetic-recording disk. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation also includes a lubricant-accumulation barrier disposed in proximity to a trailing edge of the slider. The lubricant-accumulation barrier is configured to reduce lubricant accumulation on the slider.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a slider designed to reduce fly height sigma. According to one embodiment, a slider includes an air bearing surface, a front shallow step pad, a rear shallow step pad, and rear side pockets. The front shallow step pad and the rear shallow step pad are at a first level deeper than the air bearing surface. The rear side pockets are at a second level deeper than the air bearing surface. The rear side pockets are in close proximity to rear corners of the slider.

Abstract: A slider for use with disk drive data storage devices includes a topography that defines features of the slider. The features facilitate in controlling peak pressure, providing stiffness, and/or inhibiting lubricant accumulation on the slider. For example, the features include an air bearing surface and a cavity disposed in front of the air bearing surface. The cavity is closed on all sides by sidewalls.

Abstract: A slider for use with disk drive data storage devices includes a topography that defines features of the slider. The features facilitate in controlling fly-height and/or inhibiting lubricant accumulation on the slider. For example, a trailing air bearing surface of the slider may be formed around a multi-stepped channel that adjusts the fly-height. Further, a shallow shelf behind an air bearing surface and/or curved edges of the features to alter stagnation may contribute to at least inhibiting lubricant collection on the slider.

Abstract: Apparatus for adjusting the static attitude of a head suspension having a gimbal with at least one gimbal arm. One embodiment of the invention includes a pair of first contacting members contacting a first side of the gimbal arm at a pair of spaced apart locations, and a second contacting member contacting a second side of the gimbal arm at an intermediate location between the spaced apart locations. The first and second contacting members move together relative to each other, plastically deforming the gimbal arm by the relative movement between the second and first contacting members while the spaced apart location between the first contacting members is maintained during the plastic deformation such that at least one of a pitch and roll parameter of the gimbal is adjusted to a desired amount.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preventing TMR MRR drop of a slider, including: positioning a row bar constructed by sliders on a tray, each slider incorporating a TMR element; loading the tray into a processing chamber and evacuating the processing chamber to a predetermined pressure; forming a first etching means; exposing the sliders to the first etching means such that an oxide layer is formed on a surface of the TMR element; forming a second etching means; and exposing the sliders to the second etching means such that the oxide layer is etched to get a reduced thickness. The invention also discloses a method for manufacturing sliders.

Abstract: An air bearing surface for a head assembly for a data storage device comprises at least one air bearing pad. At least one channel is recessed within the at least one air bearing pad. The at least one channel is formed with an open top and is located entirely within boundaries of the at least one air bearing pad.

Abstract: A head has a slider with an air bearing surface having a left trailing air flow dam extending from a trailing pad along a lateral axis, and a right trailing air flow dam extending from the trailing pad along the lateral axis in an opposing direction. A sub-ambient pressure cavity is disposed adjacent to and upstream of at least one of the trailing air flow dams. The trailing pad and the left and right trailing air flow dams together laterally span at least 75% of the width of the slider. Each of the left and right trailing air flow dams is recessed from the primary plane by a step depth in the range 0.05 to 0.5 microns, and the sub-ambient pressure cavity is recessed from the primary plane by a cavity depth in the range 0.8 to 2 microns.

Abstract: A method for assembling an actuator assembly includes providing a first housing portion and a second housing portion; providing a coil, a pole piece, a magnet, and a completed beam; positioning the coil, pole piece, magnet, and completed beam between the housing portions; and coupling the housing portions together.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of producing a magnetic head slider comprises the steps of forming, on the air bearing surface of the slider, an air bearing surface overcoat, removing the surface region from a hard amorphous carbon film by the irradiation with an ion beam which is tilted with respect to a normal to the air bearing surface, and forming a rail in the air bearing surface on which the air bearing surface overcoat has been formed. A high density and covering performance are obtained when the angle of irradiating the ion beam is not smaller than about 60 degrees from a normal to the air bearing surface of the magnetic head slider and when the acceleration voltage for the ion beam is not higher than about 300 V in the step of removing part of the air bearing surface overcoat.

Abstract: An apparatus allowing for a slider for use in a disk drive is disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention may include a leading side, a trailing side, at least two main rails, a slider surface with an air bearing surface, and at least one trench substantially parallel to the width of the slider. The trench in the air bearing surface results in a lower compression length of the slider and allows for particles to be channeled off of the disk surface.

Abstract: An air bearing surface (ABS) for a head assembly for a data storage device is described. The ABS includes a member, comprising a first extended region and a second extended region, wherein these two regions define a channel. This channel is open to the leading edge (LE) of the ABS, and is configured so as to allow air to flow along the channel toward the trailing edge (TE) of the ABS. As a result, the pressure of the air flowing along the channel does not experience significant fluctuations in pressure until approaching the trailing edge.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head slider includes a slider main body, a front rail, and at least a pair of grooves. The slider main body defines a base surface. The front rail rises from the base surface on the air inflow side of the slider main body and defines an air bearing surface on the top surface. The grooves are each formed in the front rail and define the air outflow end closer to the air inflow side than the air outflow end of the air bearing surface. The grooves are spaced apart in the slider width direction of the slider main body.

Abstract: Head elements are formed on a wafer to suppress deterioration in pinning strength of a pinned layer, which is caused by ESD generated during air bearing surface polishing of a thin film magnetic head. The wafer is cut into rovers in each of which are connected head elements. Rover air bearing surfaces are polished until an MR elements attain a predetermined height. A final polishing step finishes air bearing surfaces by applying an electroconductive polishing liquid to achieve a predetermined shape and surface roughness with high accuracy. A pinning defect occurrence rate is reduced by suppressing deterioration in pinning strength of a pinned layer of a read element. To achieve this, a specific resistance of the electroconductive polishing liquid is controlled to 5 G?·cm or less. A shallow rail and a deep rail are formed on the air bearing surfaces, and the rover is cut into thin film magnetic heads.

Abstract: The application discloses processes for fabricating a slider or head for a data storage device. The processes disclosed provide a transducer portion that is separated from a slider body by a gap. In an illustrated embodiment, actuator elements are fabricated in the gap to adjust a position of the transducer portion relative to the slider body.

Abstract: A medium-opposed surface of a slider body is hemisected into first and second areas by the centerline extending in the longitudinal direction of the slider body. The second area is designed to generate a positive pressure larger than that generated at the first area when a load acting on the slider body in a direction toward a recording medium decreases. The head slider of the type is allowed to enjoy the imbalance of the lift on the slider body. This imbalance can be utilized to intentionally induce increases in the roll angle and the pitch angle of the slider body. The increase in the roll and pitch angles causes disappearance of the lift and the negative pressure generated at the medium-opposed surface. The head slider can reliably be distanced from the moving surface of the recording medium solely with the assistance of the airflow acting on the medium-opposed surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a slider structure able to lower a flying height compensation ratio caused by a projecting deformation of an air bearing surface of a slider by a flying height control mechanism and afford a change in flying height with a low control power. In one embodiment, a slider is provided with a leading edge, an air bearing surface, and a trailing edge. The air bearing surface includes a front pad, the front pad being made up of a front step bearing surface, leading rail surfaces, and side step bearing surfaces. The air bearing surface also includes a negative pressure groove surface surrounded by the front pad.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider is configured wherein on the trailing side, which is divided in the lateral direction, a first right-side groove portion and a first left-side groove portion are formed, on the leading side of the first right-side groove portion and the first left-side groove portion, which is divided in the lateral direction, a second right-side groove portion and a second left-side groove portion are formed, the bottom face of each groove portion serves as a negative pressure generating face, and the negative pressure (absolute value) generated at a first right-side negative pressure generating face and a first left-side negative pressure generating face is greater than the negative pressure (absolute value) generated at a second right-side negative pressure generating face and a second left-side negative pressure generating face.

Abstract: To provide a method of manufacturing magnetic head slider which is capable of improving the product quality, simplifying the manufacturing process, and reducing the manufacturing time. This method of manufacturing a magnetic head slider, formed by cutting out from a block member, includes the steps of: processing an end face of the block member forming one surface of a magnetic head slider; holding fixedly the end face of the block member processed; and while maintaining a holding state provided by the step of holding, cutting a portion of the end face side of the block member, and processing a cut surface of the cut portion forming another surface of the magnetic head slider.

Abstract: A method for preventing TMR (tunnel magneto-resistance) MRR (magneto-resistance resistance) drop of a slider, comprises steps of: positioning a row bar constructed by a plurality of slider structural bodies on a tray, each slider body having a pole tip with a TMR element; loading the tray into a processing chamber and evacuating the processing chamber to a preset pressure; introducing a processing gas containing oxygen gas into the processing chamber; and exposing the slider structural bodies to an etching means in the atmosphere of the processing gas to oxidize a surface of the TMR element to form an oxidation layer thereon. The invention also discloses a method for forming micro-texture on a surface of slider in same process, and a method for forming such a slider.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention prevent the reduction of the flying height of a magnetic head slider at a high altitude and thereby to improve the reliability of a magnetic disk drive. In one embodiment, a magnetic head slider has an air inlet end, an air outlet end, and an aerodynamic structure (air bearing surface). The aerodynamic structure includes: a plurality of inlet rails respectively having inlet rail surfaces; an outlet rail having an outlet rail surface flush with the inlet rail surfaces and holding a magnetic head; a bearing surface extending at a predetermined first depth ?1 from a reference plane including the inlet and the outlet rail surfaces; a negative-pressure surface extending in a plane at a predetermined second depth ?2 greater than the first depth ?1 from the reference plane; and longitudinal lands of a predetermined height h formed on the inlet rails. The bearing surface and the inlet rail surfaces extend between the air inlet end and the lands.

Abstract: A method for bonding slider row bars for photolithography process, includes steps of: providing a first carrier plate having a sticky surface; providing slider row bars each having a first surface for forming ABS and an opposite second surface, and securing each slider row bar to the first carrier plate with its first surface facing the sticky surface; providing an encapsulation glue and dispensing it to the second surfaces and gaps between the slider row bars; providing a second carrier plate and attaching it to the second surfaces through the encapsulation glue; irradiating the first carrier plate and the encapsulation glue with ultraviolet light such that the first carrier plate is removed from the slider row bars, and the encapsulation glue is cured to bond the slider row bars with the second carrier plate together.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the slider surface comprises an inflow shallow groove part formed in a stepped manner, two inflow end pads, a negative pressure generating deep groove part, an outflow shallow deep groove part formed on the air outflow end side, an outflow end pad provided on the outflow shallow groove part, and a trimmed part (flying height reducing portion) in which the outflow end pad is extended to the air outflow end while being narrowed in width. A magnetic head is formed on the trimmed part on the outflow side of the outflow end pad, and the trimmed part between the magnetic head and the outflow end is formed with a groove portion in the air outflow direction.

Abstract: A slider of a head has a negative-pressure cavity which is formed in the facing surface and generates a negative pressure, a leading step portion which protrudes from the facing surface and is situated on an upstream side of the air current with respect to the negative-pressure cavity, and a leading pad which is provided on the leading step portion and faces the recording medium. The leading pad has an inlet end edge which is situated on the upstream side of the air current and extends throughout a length of the leading step portion in the transverse direction, and a plurality of recesses which individually open in the inlet end edge and extend in the longitudinal direction from the inlet end edge.

Abstract: An optical-pickup slider is characterized in that a light-transmitting-property substrate is bonded to a surface of a layer having a tapered through hole, on which surface a larger opening of the tapered through hole exists. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the layer having an aperture from being destroyed. A method of manufacturing the optical-pickup slider comprises the steps of a) making a tapered through hole in a layer layered on a first substrate and having a thickness smaller than that of the first substrate; and, after bonding a light-transmitting-property substrate to a surface of the layer, removing the first substrate so as to expose an aperture at a tip of the tapered through hole.

Abstract: A slider manufacturing method includes: providing a row bar constructed from multiple slider bodies having a surface for forming an air bearing surface (ABS); forming multiple cutting lines on the surface for forming an ABS of the row bar; forming a stress absorption region adjacent to the cut line in a cutting region defined by two adjacent cutting lines; grinding the surface for forming an ABS of the row bar; and cutting the row bar along the cutting lines to form multiple individual sliders. When the row bar is cut by a cutter into multiple individual sliders along the cutting lines, stress generated in the cutting region adjacent to cutting lines during cutting is partly or fully absorbed by the stress absorption region, reducing the chances of clear edge jumps forming at the edges of the ABS of the slider after the cutting, and disk surface scratching by the slider.

Abstract: A pair of side pads, which are arranged to face each other by having a negative pressure generating part in the direction orthogonal to an air flow direction of a slider therebetween, are made to have three or more steps, respectively. Of the respective surfaces having the plural steps, the surfaces having a highest height respectively are not subject to a milling, and the respective surfaces of having plural steps are made to gradually have a deeper cavity depth as the surface comes closer to the air inflow end. Further, it is also effective for improving the efficiency in positive pressure generation to surround the second side pad region partially by the region of the surface being not subject to the milling, and to surround the third side pad region partially by the second surface region.

Abstract: An improved slider design with stiction reduction pads is presented along with a method of making the same. In one embodiment, the bases for the stiction reduction pads are made first during an etching process for the air bearing surfaces, then the stiction reduction pads are made higher so as to prevent unwanted contacted between the air bearing surface and the disc as well as reducing meniscal forces that can be caused by a lubricant on the disc.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider has a recess portion recessed with respect to the center rail. The recess portion has a spherical or oval-spherical projection, which includes a read element and a write element disposed in the recess portion. The recess portion may prevent increasing flying height of a slider base due to projection height h may be suppressed, and may secures higher air film stiffness, so that consequently flying stability of the slider may be improved.

Abstract: A head actuator assembly of a disk device has a suspension which supports a head, an arm which supports the suspension and is rotatably supported by a bearing portion, signal wires which extend on the suspension and the arm and are connected electrically to the head, and a board unit. In manufacture, the signal wires are mounted on the suspension and the arm, and a connecting end portion of the board unit is connected to the signal wires mounted on the suspension and the arm. Thereafter, the head is mounted on the suspension and connected electrically to the signal wires.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider includes a floating surface that is opposed to a disk during the use of the magnetic head slider and that has a front part and a rear part with respect to the direction of rotation of the disk, and an electromagnetic transducer element. A front rail extending in the transverse direction and a pair of rear rails are laid on the floating surface. A plurality of first projections is formed on the front side and the rear side of the front rail. A plurality of second projections is formed behind the plurality of first projections. When the disk is stopped, the plurality of first projections is stationed on the disk but the floating surface is not in contact with the disk. The height of each of the plurality of second projections is smaller than the height of each of the plurality of first projections.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider suitable for a disk drive measuring 1.8 inches or less in disk size incorporates preventive measures against the decreases in lifting force that occur in small sliders with a slider width of 0.8 mm or less. The present invention improves the inclination margins of the flying slider in a rolling direction at the lowest flying point, and achieves low flying height and stable flying. The slider is constructed with stepped surfaces on the slider's leading-side flying surface formed up of shallow-grooved surfaces and a deep-grooved surface so that a trailing-side width W2 between the stepped surfaces is smaller than a leading-side width W1.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing sliders from a bar has: a radiating step which includes radiating an electromagnetic wave on at least a part of each space on a second surface of said bar, wherein said second surface is a back surface of a first surface of said bar, said first surface being formed into an air bearing surface of said slider, wherein said space is sandwiched between said elements, and wherein said electromagnetic wave is radiated such that an entire portion of said bar forms a curved shape such that said first surface forms a convex surface; a lapping step of lapping said first surface while pressing said bar against a lapping surface such that said first surface of each element forms a concave shape; and a dicing step of dicing said bar along said spaces to separate said bar into said sliders.

Abstract: A medium-opposed surface of a slider body is hemisected into first and second areas by the centerline extending in the longitudinal direction of the slider body. The second area is designed to generate a positive pressure larger than that generated at the first area when a load acting on the slider body in a direction toward a recording medium decreases. The head slider of the type is allowed to enjoy the imbalance of the lift on the slider body. This imbalance can be utilized to intentionally induce increases in the roll angle and the pitch angle of the slider body. The increase in the roll and pitch angles causes disappearance of the lift and the negative pressure generated at the medium-opposed surface. The head slider can reliably be distanced from the moving surface of the recording medium solely with the assistance of the airflow acting on the medium-opposed surface.

Abstract: A head that flies relative to a disk of a hard disk drive. The head includes a substrate that has a pole tip, and an air bearing surface that has at least one rail and a central pad. The air bearing surface also has a plurality of contact dot that each makes contact with the disk at different skew angles. Providing contact at different skew angles insures that multiple dots do not make contact with the same track of the disk. This is particularly advantageous when the head is landed on the disk at the same skew angle.

Abstract: Embodiments include a method for forming a head suspension assembly. A spacer layer is formed in or on a silicon wafer. A transfer film including an opening defining the shape of a slider support membrane is provided, and the opening is filled with a resin material. The transfer film with the resin material therein is positioned over the silicon wafer so that at least a portion of the resin material is positioned adjacent to the spacer layer. The resin material is baked to form a glassy carbon material. The spacer layer is etched to form a trench in the silicon wafer adjacent to the glassy carbon material, and a slider is positioned on the glassy carbon material over the trench.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for adjusting at least one of a pitch and roll parameter of a gimbal for a head suspension assembly having a pair of members contacting at least one gimbal arm at spaced apart locations and having an additional member contacting the gimbal arm intermediate the spaced apart locations and wherein the members move together to cause plastic deformation of the gimbal arm. A like apparatus and method may be used sequentially or concurrently on a second gimbal arm, and may have an inverted orientation with respect to the first apparatus.

Abstract: A lubricant film forming method has a step of irradiating a lubricant with an OH group laid on a surface of a base material, with infrared laser light that excites vibration of an OH bond of the OH group. In this method, the irradiation with the infrared laser light excites vibration of the OH bond of the OH group in the lubricant. Therefore, it enhances reactivity between the OH group of the lubricant and the surface of the base material, facilitates chemical bonding of the lubricant to the surface of the base material, and enhances durability of the lubricant.

Abstract: According to one aspect, an exemplary method for manufacturing a magnetic head includes forming a plurality of magnetoresistive devices, a reference device, and a monitoring device, where the reference device includes a desired stripe height less than the magnetoresistive devices and monitoring device. Material is removed from the air/tape bearing surface, e.g., by lapping, thereby reducing the stripe height of the magnetoresistive devices and monitoring device. A characteristic of the reference device, e.g., resistance, voltage, or the like, is compared with a similar characteristic of the monitoring device, wherein the characteristic of the monitoring device varies as material is removed. Material may be removed from the bearing surface until the characteristic of the monitoring device and the reference device are substantially equal, at which time, the stripe height of the monitoring device and magnetoresistive devices are substantially equal to that of the reference device.