Method of manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic write head with stepped trailing magnetic shield with electrical lapping guide control

A method for manufacturing a write head for perpendicular magnetic recording, comprising:

• forming a magnetic write pole having non-magnetic trailing gap layer formed at a trailing edge of the write pole and first and second non-magnetic side gap layers formed at first and second sides of the write pole;
• forming a first mask structure configured to cover a region over the write pole and leaving an ELG region uncovered;
• depositing a non-magnetic metal;
• lifting off the first mask structure;
• depositing a non-magnetic bump material;
• forming a second mask structure having a front edge in the write pole region that is configured to define a front edge of a non-magnetic bump and a front edge in the ELG region that is configured to define a front edge of a electrical lapping guide (ELG);
• performing a reactive ion etching to remove portions of the non-magnetic bump material that are not protected by the second mask structure;
• performing a first ion milling to remove portions of the non-magnetic metal that are not protected by a remaining portion of the non-magnetic bump material, thereby forming a front edge of an electrical lapping guide (ELG);
• simultaneously electroplating first and second magnetic structures, the first magnetic structure forming a wrap-around trailing shield over a portion of the write pole, the second magnetic structure forming an electrical lapping guide mask;
• and
• performing a second ion milling to remove remaining portions of the non-magnetic bump material non-magnetic metal that are not protected by the first and second magnetic structures.