Abstract A head-gimbal assembly for suspending a magnetic head over a spinning disk in a magnetic disk drive having head suspension positioning apparatus includes a base plate fastenable to the positioning apparatus in the magnetic disk drive. a load beam coupled at one end thereof to the base plate and a first dimple in the load beam at another end thereof, a flexible gimbal coupled to the load beam near the other end thereof and a second dimple in the gimbal having a concave surface facing a convex surface of the first dimple and a convex surface to which the magnetic head is attachable. Preferably, the convex surface of the first dimple has a radius smaller than a radius of the concave surface of the second dimple. The head is attached to the gimbal by an adhesive material attached to the convex surface of the second dimple and a top surface of the magnetic head. The adhesive material is hardened while a bottom surface of the head and the base plate are held in a predetermined attitude relative to one another (e.g., parallel to one another). Preferably, a predetermined force is applied to the head-gimbal interface while the adhesive material hardens corresponding to (e.g., equal to) an operational force exerted on the head-gimbal interface during operation of the magnetic disk drive.
A method of making a head gimbal assembly capable of suspending a magnetic head over a spinning disk in a magnetic disk drive having head suspension positioning apparatus, comprising the steps of: providing a base plate; providing a load beam coupled at one end thereof to said base plate and providing a first dimple in said load beam at another end thereof; providing a flexible gimbal coupled to said load beam near the other end thereof and providing a second dimple in said gimbal having a concave surface facing a convex surface of said first dimple and a convex surface to which one surface of said magnetic head is attachable; attaching said magnetic head to said flexible gimbal while holding said head in a predetermined attitude relative to said base plate; wherein said head and said gimbal are separated by a head-gimbal interface therebetween and wherein said attaching step is performed while a predetermined force is applied to said head-gimbal interface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of making a head gimbal assembly capable of suspending a magnetic head over a spinning disk in a magnetic disk drive having head suspension positioning apparatus, comprising the steps of: providing a base plate; providing a load beam coupled at one end thereof to said base plate and providing a first dimple in said load beam at another end thereof; providing a flexible gimbal coupled to said load beam near the other end thereof and providing a second dimple in said gimbal having a concave surface facing a convex surface of said first dimple and a convex surface to which one surface of said magnetic head is attachable; attaching said magnetic head to said flexible gimbal while holding said head in a predetermined attitude relative to said base plate; wherein said head and said gimbal are separated by a head-gimbal interface therebetween and wherein said attaching step is performed while a predetermined force is applied to said head-gimbal interface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined force corresponds to an operational force exerted on said head-gimbal interface after installation of said head gimbal assembly in said magnetic disk drive.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said predetermined force at least nearly equals said operational force.