System and method for rounding disk drive slider corners and/or edges using a flexible slider fixture, an abrasive element, and support elements to control slider orientation
US6926582B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 16, 2002 |
| Grant date | Aug 9, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 1, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/53165
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for burnishing the edges and corners of hard disk drive sliders uses a combination of flexible tape fixturing and mechanical protrusions located beneath the tape to systematically orient selected slider corners and edges to be exposed to an abrasive in a flexible manner. This solution carefully exposes the sliders even when there is very little clearance between the sliders. A variety of different rounding geometries are achieved by customizing the protrusions underneath the flexible tape. Multiple slider corners and/or edges are exposed to the abrasive at one time for bulk processing. The sliders are oriented in such a way that sensitive structures located on the air bearing surfaces of the sliders are not harmed during burnishing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.