Hutchinson Technology Corporation

Rick R Drape

Corey S Hartmann

Jeffry S Bennin

Haven A Mercer

Thomas J Glaeser

Daniel P Noga

Duane A Lundin

Jacob D Bjorstrom

Justin M Eggert

Shawn P Henze

Shane T Dusoski

Various embodiments concern a suspension assembly of a disk drive. The suspension assembly includes a load beam comprising a major planar area formed from a substrate. The load beam further comprises a window in the substrate, a dimple formed from the substrate, and a flange. The flange is a region of the major planar area that extends partially around the dimple but does not extend along an edge of the dimple. The edge of the dimple is adjacent to the window. The dimple is in contact with the flexure. A HAMR block or other element can extend through the window. The lack of a full flange can minimize the necessary clearance between the dimple and the HAMR block or other element and thereby allow the window to be enlarged to accommodate the HAMR block or other element.

Disk drive suspension assembly having a partially flangeless load point dimple

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 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

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Hutchinson, MN, United States of America

Rick R Drape