Seagate Technology Incorporated

Andrew Michael Blair

Brett Robert Herdendorf

Michael Steven Quam

Justin Holwell

Ronald Eldon Anderson

Steven Ernest Wheeler

Mujahid Akbar Khan

Dale Allen Blomgren

Steven Ivars Palks

Kermit Ray Harmon

Klaus Obergfell

Michael Jon Roe

Philip Louis Johnson

David Allen Reints

Michael John Roe

A method for forming an electrical connection with head gimbal assembly. At least a portion of an unmounted head gimbal assembly is placed on a surface. The unmounted head gimbal assembly includes a flexible portion, the flexible portion includes contact pads, and the surface includes electrical contacts and slots. A section of the flexible portion is pushed against the surface, and the contact pads are interconnected with the electrical contacts using a clamp assembly controlled by a computer. The clamp assembly includes a clamp with pins, and the interconnecting includes engaging the pins with the slots, rotating the clamp towards the surface, and clamping the contact pads against the electrical contacts.

Electrical connection for testing head gimbal assemblies

A method for testing head gimbal assemblies includes picking a first head gimbal assembly and holding the first head gimbal assembly with a first an end effector. The first end effector and the picked head gimbal assembly are positioned adjacent a nest using at least one actuator, and the first picked head gimbal assembly is released from the end effector to the nest. The first head gimbal assembly is tested on the nest by reading from and/or writing to a rotating disc. A second head gimbal assembly is held with a second end effector at the same time the first end effector holds the first head gimbal assembly.

End effector for head gimbal assembly testing

A method of loading a head gimbal assembly on a disc includes attaching an unmounted head gimbal assembly to a four bar loader. The four bar loader includes a fixed plate, a pivot plate, and a four bar linkage connecting the fixed plate to the pivot plate. The four bar loader is then used to tilt the attached head gimbal assembly toward the surface of the disc.

Head gimbal assembly loader

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.

Method and apparatus for head gimbal assembly testing

A method for making an electrical connection between a head gimbal assembly and a tester. The method includes providing a solderless connector including a housing with bores extending from a first side of the housing to a second opposed side of the housing, and conductors within the bores of the housing. The conductors have a first end protruding from the first side of the housing and a second end protruding from the second side of the housing. The solderless connector is positioned so the first end of the conductor engages the conductive pad of the tester, and a clamp is applied to the first side of the electrical contact on the head gimbal assembly to urge the second side of the electrical contact against the second end of the conductor on the solderless connector.

Solderless electrical connection for testing head gimbal assemblies

Alignment of unmounted head gimbal assemblies for testing

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New Market, MN, United States of America

Andrew Michael Blair