Head Suspension Load Beam with Stiffening Features

A load beam for a head suspension assembly within a digital data disk drive, the load beam comprising:

• a metal sheet adapted to extend from an actuator mounting portion of the head suspension assembly, the metal sheet comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a void extending through the metal sheet between the first surface and the second surface;
• a load bearing dimple formed from a molded polymeric material on the first surface of the metal sheet proximate the void;
• and
• a dimple attachment member formed from the molded polymeric material on the second surface of the metal sheet and joined to the load bearing dimple through the void.

A method for making a load beam for a head suspension assembly within a digital data disk drive, the method comprising:

• providing a sheet material adapted to extend between an actuator mounting portion of the head suspension assembly and a flexure mounting section of the head suspension assembly, the sheet material comprising a first surface and a second surface;
• placing the sheet material within a mold;
• bending a portion of the sheet material out-of-plane with respect to the first surface of the sheet material;
• and
• injecting a polymeric material into the mold to form a stiffening member comprising a rib formed on the sheet material about the out-of-plane portion of the sheet material.