Seagate Technology Incorporated

Klaus Obergfell

Steven Ernest Wheeler

Ronald Eldon Anderson

Brett Robert Herdendorf

Justin Holwell

James H McGlennen

Andrew Michael Blair

Michael Steven Quam

Charles Newell Miller

Thomas J Schmitt

Gary D Sorenson

Timothy J Fleming

Mujahid Akbar Khan

Steven Ivars Palks

Dale Allen Blomgren

Kermit Ray Harmon

Philip Louis Johnson

Michael John Roe

David Allen Reints

Shawn Eric Fosness

In one implementation, an assembly for testing a head gimbal assembly comprises a rotatable test disc, a mounting surface configured to mount the head gimbal assembly, and a shroud covering the head gimbal assembly. The mounting surface is located in proximity to the test disc to facilitate loading the head gimbal assembly on the test disc. The shroud is configured to shield the head gimbal assembly from airflow produced when the test disc rotates.

Shroud for head gimbal assembly testing

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

An assembly for testing a head gimbal assembly (HGA) comprises a support platform configured to hold a base plate of the HGA. A base plate of the HGA is mounted on the support platform. The assembly further comprises a channel with an opening adjacent to a tail of the HGA and a vacuum source connected the channel. The vacuum source creates a negative pressure in the channel to secure the tail of the HGA to the opening of the channel. Embodiments of the invention may be useful to inhibit vibration in the tail of an HGA, which may also reduce vibration in the head of the HGA. Reducing vibration in the head of the HGA may increase the accuracy and precision of tests performed on the HGA using the assembly.

Vibration reduction for head gimbal assembly testing

Vibration control of rotating disc

A retractable grounding device for a spindle motor having a rotor shaft is provided. The retractable grounding device includes a grounding connector configured to connect the rotor shaft to ground and a position adjuster coupled to the grounding connector. The position adjuster moves the grounding connector between a first position where the grounding connector is in contact with the rotor shaft and a second position where the grounding connector is retracted from the rotor shaft. In addition, a method of selectively grounding a rotor shaft of a spindle motor is provided.

Retractable grounding device for a spindle motor

Growing community of inventors

Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Klaus Obergfell