Hutchinson Technology Corporation

Duane A Lundin

Rick R Drape

Corey S Hartmann

Shawn P Henze

Joel B Douglas

Jacob D Bjorstrom

Ryan Kariniemi

Gary Berscheit

Justin M Eggert

Mark M Kiviahde

Shane T Dusoski

A relatively stiff head suspension component. The suspension component is comprised of a sheet material having a major surface with side-edges. Tubular stiffening rails are integrally formed on the side-edges from the sheet material. The tubular rails have a substantially symmetrical cross section and extend around at least about 270 degrees from the major surface.

Tubular stiffening rails for head suspension components

A disk drive head suspension headlift formed from a single piece of stainless steel includes a beam region, lift tab and offset region between the beam region and lift tab. The beam region has a major surface and formed side rails. The lift tab is a coined, trough-shaped member at a z-height spaced from the major surface of the beam region. The offset region has a major surface and side rails that transition in height between the side rails of the beam region and the lift tab.

Coined headlift with formed rail offset for a disk drive head suspension component

A disk drive head suspension, including a load beam formed from one or more layers of material, and a flexure mounted to the load beam. The load beam has an offset aperture and stiffening rails, and is characterized by a Z-height dimension between the one or more layers of material and the free end edges of the stiffening rails. The flexure has a slider-receiving region extending at least partially through the offset aperture and located within the Z-height dimension of the load beam. A load point structure is provided on the load beam and/or the flexure for restraining movement of the slider receiving region and for permitting slider-receiving region to pivot in under aerodynamic forces.

Offset dimple in a disk drive with head suspension flexure extending into load beam offset aperture

A load beam or load beam component for a disk drive suspension assembly having a rigid region with concurrently formed side rails and sag region. The side rails have a plurality of segments with a smooth transition between segments. The side rails can have at least one segment with an arcuate shape. A method of forming the load beam or load beam component includes providing a metal forming tool and operating the tool to form the side rails and sag region concurrently.

Multi-radius rails for load beams on disk drive suspension assemblies

Growing community of inventors

Litchfield, MN, United States of America

Duane A Lundin