Abstract: A head suspension for a disk drive has a load beam, a base plate, and a recess. The base plate has a thin flange and is capable of improving the attaching accuracy and strength of the head suspension to a carriage arm of the disk drive.

Abstract: A write current circuit (40) adapted to drive a thin film write head (L0) of a mass media information storage device. The write current circuit includes a write current reference voltage circuit (42) adapted to selectively establish amplitude of a write current signal. The write current circuit further includes programming circuitry (M5-M10) driven such that several parameters of the write current waveform can be controlled, including the write current amplitude, overshoot amplitude and overshoot duration. The present invention achieves technical advantages by providing the ability to both produce an accurate write current, and also providing the ability to establish the write current waveform shape so that customers can optimize disk drive performance even when using different thin film write heads available from different suppliers.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for a magnetic head reduces isolation forces caused by swaging the suspension to an actuator arm of a disk drive. The suspension is formed with a first end, and a second end having an inner periphery which defines an opening. Tabs extend from the inner periphery into the opening. A base plate with a cylindrical hub is welded to the tabs and the hub extends through the inner periphery. Multiple isolation welds formed on the suspension cooperate with the tabs to isolate forces and limit force propagation when the hub is swaged to the actuator arm.

Abstract: A low mass baseplate for attaching a suspension load beam to an actuator arm has a planar portion weld-attachable to a load beam base and a cylindrical boss portion attachable to an actuator arm, the planar portion is locally relieved to reduce mass while maintaining the baseplate effectiveness at the load beam spring portion. The baseplate relief is specially sized and configured to be free of entanglements during tumble deburring operations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a baseplate comprising a cylindrical hub, a flat flange, and one or two circular notches of a “V” or “U” shape etc. formed in said flange. This baseplate has the advantages of smaller deformation and larger retention torque during swage operation. Also it is easy to make and has no further cost in production. Moreover, the present invention further provides an arm and suspension assembly equipped with the baseplate and a hard disk drive equipped with the arm and suspension assembly.

Abstract: A method of forming a swagable metal actuator arm tip having a metal swage plug for ceramic actuator arms, the method comprising the formation of a metal swage plug within a tip opening in an actuator arm, the metal insert being an appropriate metal in either solid, thixoformable solid, or liquid (molten) form. The insert, once formed or adhered within the tip opening, constitutes the metal swage plug. There are six basic methods by which the metal insert can be formed or adhered into the tip opening to form the metal swage plug: cold forming, die casting, pressure infusion casting, forging, thixoforming, or the use of adhesives.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension mounting system is provided in which staking of the mounting plate to an actuator arm does not distort the mounting plate flange or impinge on gram loading values of the load beam, by increasing the diameter of the bore to from 95% to 99% of the flange opening, decreasing the diameter of the flange opening to slip fit the staking ball, and lengthening the bore so as to maintain displaced mass and torque values.

Abstract: An improved system for mounting the head suspensions to the actuator mounting arms of a disc drive actuator. The mounting system of the invention includes novel features on both the head suspension mounting plates and on the actuator head mounting arms that facilitate head suspension mounting without the introduction of plastic deformation in any of the mounting elements. The mounting plate of the invention includes a boss and a hole. The boss and hole are dimensioned for interference fit with complementary elements on a second mounting plate located on the opposite side of the actuator head mounting arm, to provide the retention force of the mounting system. The bosses of the mounting plates also form an interference fit with cooperative holes in the actuator head mounting arm. Compliance features are included with the holes on the actuator head mounting arm to prevent plastic deformation of the material of the head mounting arm.

Abstract: A swage mount plate that can be used to attach a suspension arm to an actuator arm of a hard disk drive. The swage mount plate may include a sleeve that can be inserted into corresponding swage openings of the suspension arm and an actuator beam of the actuator arm. The swage plate may include at least one flange that extends from said sleeve and becomes embedded into the actuator beam. The flange may increase the retention torque of the swage plate.

Abstract: A two-piece load beam mounting system supports a load beam in operating proximity to a disk, the mounting system comprising a small mount less subject to flatness problems, the mount having a plate and a central boss, the mount plate having lateral and longitudinal dimensions less than the base portion corresponding dimensions, and a support having lateral and longitudinal dimensions to register with the base portion when the support is sandwiched between the mount and the load beam base portion in attached relation to each; the support and mount plate cooperating to have their combined height no greater than the height of the support to achieve a greater stiffness in the mount system without increasing the height.

Abstract: A base plate chain blank, which is used in the manufacture of a suspension for a hard disk drive, comprises a plurality of base plates arranged in a line at given pitches and a scrap portion connecting the base plates. The base plate chain blank is put in a predetermined position on a load beam chain blank. The base plates are welded individually to load beams that are formed on the load beam chain blank. Thereafter, the base plates and the scrap portion are cut off by means of a die, whereby the scrap portion is separated. The base plate chain blank has notches arranged along cuttable portions at which the scrap portion is to be cut.

Abstract: In a head stack assembly, opposed pairs of up-facing and down-facing head gimbal assembly suspensions are supported on an actuator arm with a sloped end between the suspensions to provide different support to each pair member during staking operations that fasten the suspension to the arm to minimize gram load change differentials resultant from staking.

Abstract: An improved system for mounting the head suspensions to the actuator mounting arms of a disc drive actuator. The mounting system of the invention includes novel features on both the head suspension mounting plates and on the actuator head mounting arms that facilitate head suspension mounting without the introduction of plastic deformation in any of the mounting elements. The mounting plate of the invention includes a boss and a hole. The boss and hole are dimensioned for interference fit with complementary elements on a second mounting plate located on the opposite side of the actuator head mounting arm, to provide the retention force of the mounting system. The bosses of the mounting plates also form an interference fit with cooperative holes in the actuator head mounting arm. Compliance features are included with the holes on the actuator head mounting arm to prevent plastic deformation of the material of the head mounting arm.

Abstract: A head suspension for a disk drive has a base plate (19) to be attached to a carriage of the disk drive and a load beam (21) consisting of a rigid part (27) and a resilient part (29), to apply load onto a slider. The rigid part and resilient part are separately formed. The rigid part is joined to a first side (29a) of the resilient part. The suspension also has a reinforcing plate (37) to hold and fix a second side (29b) of the resilient part between the reinforcing plate and the base plate. The base plate stably and resiliently supports the load beam. This suspension satisfies required characteristics.

Abstract: A swage mount including a base plate having a first side and a second side. A hub extends from the first side of the base plate with the hub having an aperture therethrough. The second side of the base plate is mounted on either the actuator arm or the load beam so that the aperture of the hub is in registration with a swage opening disposed in the actuator arm or the load beam. The hub is inserted in the swage opening of the other of the actuator arm or load beam forming an interference fit therebeteween. The swage mount is surface hardened by gas carburizing, bead blasting or tumbling increasing the torque retention value of the interference fit.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for a magnetic head reduces isolation forces caused by swaging the suspension to an actuator arm of a disk drive. The suspension is formed with a first end, and a second end having an inner periphery which defines an opening. Tabs extend from the inner periphery into the opening. A base plate with a cylindrical hub is welded to the tabs and the hub extends through the inner periphery. The tabs isolate forces caused when the hub is swaged to the actuator arm.

Abstract: In a head stack assembly, opposed pairs of up-facing and down-facing head gimbal assembly suspensions are supported on an actuator arm with a sloped end between the suspensions to provide different support to each pair member during staking operations that fasten the suspension to the arm to minimize gram load change differentials resultant from staking.

Abstract: A device for detaching a suspension assembly, adapted to support a head, staked to an actuator arm of an actuator block of a disc drive. The device includes an expandable device operable between an insertion dimension and a deswaging dimension having a flanged end defining a deswaging surface for forcing the stake from a hole of the actuator arm. In the insertion dimension, the device being sized for insertion through channels of tubular stakes for placement relative to an extended end of the stake. The device being expanded to the deswaging dimension, so that the deswaging surface of the flanged end aligns with an end surface of the stake for removing the stake from the actuator block.

Abstract: A joined metal-resin plate body having a metal plate (1, 12) and a resin plate (2, 13) joined together, in which an insert member having a through-hole therein is embedded in the resin plate. The insert member is in close contact with the resin of the resin plate in the outer periphery of the insert member except for the faces where the through-hole opens. The metal plate has a metallic joining member (4, 16) adhered thereto. The resin plate is joined to the metal plate with the aid of the joining member fitted in the through-hole. The insert member and the surrounding resin have elastic stresses (F3, F4), which give rise to a sufficient joining strength among the joining member, the insert member and the resin plate. The stress of the surrounding resin is due to elastic deformation. The amount (V2-V3) of the elastic deformation is smaller than the amount (V2) of deformation of the insert member which can give rise to an elastic stress (F3) of the insert member.

Abstract: An optimized low profile swage mount or press-in fitted base plate for attachment of a suspension assembly to an actuator arm in a hard disk drive. The base plate has a base plate thickness, TBP, overall height, HH, hub inner diameter, DID, hub outer diameter, DOD, hub inner surface depth, HIS, hub radial width, WH, which is one half the hub outer diameter minus the hub inner diameter (DOD-DID)/2, and a counter bore depth Hcb.

Abstract: A base plate is used to attach the head/gimbal assembly of a disc drive to an actuator arm. The base plate has a boss which fits into an opening in the actuator arm. In one embodiment, the boss includes a plurality of raised portions defining a cylinder having a relaxed outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the opening in the actuator arm. The outer surfaces of the plurality of portions engage the inner surface of the actuator arm to elastically deform and conform to and bias against the inner surface of the actuator arm, thereby providing a connection with superior holding friction, and retention torque.