Hutchinson Technology Corporation

Randolph Edward Fossum

Shane J Van Sloun

Yiduo Zhang

Wade A Linnertz

Don J Rydberg

A baseplate has a flange and a boss tower with an opening for receiving a swaging ball during a swaging process. The flange has a pre-swaging profile that compensates for swaging-induced deformation of the flange. A portion of the baseplate is clamped into a flattened configuration and the flange is mounted to a suspension. The boss tower is inserted into an opening in an actuator arm. A swaging ball is passed through the swaging opening. The pre-swaging profile compensates for forces exerted on the flange during swaging such that deformation of the baseplate due to swaging is substantially eliminated.

Pre-shaped head suspension baseplate for swaging deformation compensation

A base plate adapted to attach a head suspension assembly to an actuator arm. The base plate includes a flange portion with a boss tower perpendicular to a plane of the flange portion. The boss tower includes a swaging hole with a tapered portion that increases in diameter in a direction away from the flange portion.

Suspension base plate with boss tower having tapered swage ball-engaging surface

A baseplate for swaging a disk drive head suspension to an arm having a thickness and a neutral axis. The baseplate includes a boss tower having an outer diameter high point configured to be located within about &#xb1;6% of the arm thickness from the neutral axis when swaged to an arm.

Swaging-optimized baseplate for disk drive head suspension

Method and apparatus for providing a welded attachment between components for a disk drive head suspension where the material of at least one of the components is not suitable for welding directly to the material of the other component. The method and apparatus include providing at least one insert in an aperture in one component compatible with material of the second component or an insert in the second component to enable the first component to be welded to the second component. The insert may be an interference fit in the aperture or it may be coined to enhance retention. Fully hardened or annealed stainless steel may be used for the insert, and aluminum, ceramic or a polymer or composite may be the material receiving the insert. The aperture may be preformed or formed in by the insert during the operation of punching and installing the insert.

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Richfield, MN, United States of America

Randolph Edward Fossum