Contouring magnetic head surfaces

Abstract

A spherical wasp-waist shaped contour is formed on the surface of a magnetic head by rotating a lap plate against a single contact point on the head surface at a time. An arc along the head's length is defined by a fixed longitudinal radius. For each increment along the longitudinal arc, a different arc transverse thereto is defined by a variable transverse radius. The point of contact between the head and the lap plate moves along each transverse arc in sequence from one end of the longitudinal arc to the other and back again until the desired shape and depths are achieved. The longitudinal radius is fixed by the spacing selected between the lap plate on one side of the head and a longitudinal head rocking axis on the other side of the head. The transverse radius is determined by the spacing chosen between the lap plate and a transverse rocking axis placed on the same side of the head as the longitudinal rocking axis. The head is incremented to move its point of contact with the lapping plate along the longitudinal arc under the control of prespecified quantities. For each longitudinal increment, the contact point is moved along a transverse arc defined for that point on the longitudinal arc by prespecified quantities. The head is fed closer to the lap plate in steps until a predetermined quantity of surface material is removed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.