Hutchinson Technology Corporation

David J Zachmeyer

Mark A Miller

Raymond R Wolter

John A Rickeman

Brett T Holaway

Richard A Schnitzler

Eric O Naatz

A method of affixing head suspension components to one another using an edge weld formed at the edge of one head suspension assembly component positioned in an overlapping fashion relative to another head suspension assembly component, and an apparatus assembled by the method.

Method for welding components of a disk drive head suspension

A head suspension for supporting a head slider over a rigid disk in a dynamic storage device having a component that includes a compliant feature adapted to engage a first pin and a datum engaging surface spaced from the compliant feature. The component being locatable relative to a datum by manipulation of the component with respect to the datum and a first pin to cause the first pin to engage and deflect the compliant feature when the datum engaging surface of the component is engaged and positioned with respect to the datum. The head suspension also including a second component having a pin engaging feature and possibly a datum engaging surface alignable with the compliant feature and datum engaging surface of the first component, respectively. The pin engaging feature of the second component being compliant or non-compliant. The compliant and non-compliant features being usable for locating head suspension components, such as load beams, flexures, and base plates, relative to each other or to tooling for head suspension fabrication purposes. The compliant and non-compliant features also being usable for locating other types of small precision components relative to a datum or to each other. A method for locating a component relative to a datum using a compliant feature formed within the component is also provided.

Head suspension with compliant feature for component location

A head suspension for supporting a head slider over a rigid disk in a dynamic storage device having a component that includes a compliant feature adapted to engage a first pin and a datum engaging surface spaced from the compliant feature. The component being locatable relative to a datum by manipulation of the component with respect to the datum and a first pin to cause the first pin to engage and deflect the compliant feature when the datum engaging surface of the component is engaged and positioned with respect to the datum. The head suspension also including a second component having a pin engaging feature and possibly a datum engaging surface alignable with the compliant feature and datum engaging surface of the first component, respectively. The pin engaging feature of the second component being compliant or non-compliant. The compliant and non-compliant features being usable for locating head suspension components, such as load beams, flexures, and base plates, relative to each other or to tooling for head suspension fabrication purposes. The compliant and non-compliant features also being usable for locating other types of small precision components relative to a datum or to each other. A method for locating a component relative to a datum using a compliant feature formed within the component is also provided

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Hutchinson, MN, United States of America

David J Zachmeyer