Hutchinson Technology Corporation

Shane J Van Sloun

Stevenson J Marek

Mark R Christianson

Jeffry S Bennin

Mark A Schmidt

James Roger Mahoney

Randolph Edward Fossum

Brandon K Fraser

Craig A Leabch

Yiduo Zhang

Wade A Linnertz

Michael E Detjens

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 method of making a multi-piece head suspension for a rigid disk drive. The method includes providing a first layer including a mounting region with an integral boss tower attached to a stiffener by one or more positioning tabs; attaching a second layer including a spring region to an interface between the mounting region and the stiffener; attaching a flexure to the stiffener; and removing the positioning tabs. The flexure can optionally be a portion of the second layer.

Method of forming a head suspension with an integral boss tower

A stacked suspension assembly for a data storage drive having, for example, at least two suspension members with each suspension member has a bearing hole therethrough. At least one spacer is positioned between the at least two suspension members to separate adjacent suspension members Each spacer has a bearing hole therethrough. A bearing member can be inserted within the bearing holes of the at least two suspension members and the at least one spacer. The bearing member has an actuator hole into which an actuator pivot member is insertable.

Suspension bearings for data storage drive

An actuator assembly for supporting a read/write device in an information storage device having an actuator arm having at least one tower protruding from a first surface of the actuator arm, a loadbeam having at least one tower receiving means for receiving the at least one tower, wherein the at least one tower is shaped to extend into the at least one tower receiving means when the loadbeam is joined with the actuator arm, and wherein the tower and tower receiving means are configured such that deforming the at least one tower when within the at least one tower receiving means provides a deformation interference between the at least one tower and the at least one tower receiving means that reduces movement of the tower receiving means relative to the tower.

Method for making an actuator assembly for supporting a read/write device in an information storage device

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

A method for mounting removably secured actuator arms that include head suspensions to an actuator assembly spindle. Each arm is mounted to an actuator spindle via a spacer with an annular lip with at least one detent formed into its perimeter edge. Each actuator arm includes two resilient fingers, annularly shaped to form an interior radius smaller than the spacer radius with at least one engagement member formed into a finger. Each arm is mounted by expanding the resilient fingers to a stressed state, engaging the fingers with the lip, and positioning the fingers so that each engagement member is aligned and engaged with a detent. The spacer alternatively includes a guide slot in a planar surface from which the lip extends, with the guide slot being engaged by a boss tower on the arm to properly orient the arm when mounting the arm to the spacer.

Method for mounting an arm to an actuator

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.

Weld pads for head suspensions

A head suspension assembly in a rigid disk drive having a load beam with a mounting region, a rigid region and a spring region located between the mounting region and rigid region. The mounting region includes an integral boss tower having attachment features. A method of making a multi-piece head suspension for a rigid disk drive is also disclosed. The method includes providing a first layer including a mounting region with an integral boss tower attached to a stiffener by one or more positioning tabs; attaching a second layer including a spring region to an interface between the mounting region and the stiffener; attaching a flexure to the stiffener; and removing the positioning tabs. The flexure can optionally be a portion of the second layer.

Intergral base plate with boss tower

An actuator assembly having a plurality of head suspensions removably secured to a spindle of the actuator assembly. Each head suspension is mounted to an arm, which is mounted to an actuator spindle through the use of a spacer having an annular lip. A spacer having an aperture is coupled to the actuator spindle by inserting the spindle through the aperture of the spacer. The actuator arm includes a pair of spring arms that can be expanded from a neutral state to a stressed state to engage an annular lip on the spacer for removably securing the arm to the spacer. A stacked array of arms can be formed on the actuator spindle by arranging a desired number of spacers on the spindle and mounting the arms to the spacers. In one embodiment, the spacer includes a single annular lip extending from a first planar surface of the spacer. In a second embodiment, the spacer includes an annular lip that extends from each of a pair of opposite planar surfaces, and an arm is attached to each of the lips. The lips can include a detent in a perimeter edge of the lip that is engaged by a proximal tip of one of the spring arms of the actuator arm. The spacer can also include a guide slot located in the planar surface of the spacer from which the lip extends, with the guide slot being engaged by a boss tower on the arm to properly orient the arm on the spacer when mounting the arm to the spacer.

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Waconia, MN, United States of America

Shane J Van Sloun