Programmable manufacturing system for load/support arms for magnetic disk drive data storage systems

An apparatus for bending a plurality of planar spring elements extending perpendicularly at equally spaced intervals from a longitudinal fret comprising, in combination,

• a. a plurality of walking beam units each having means for engaging and transporting the fret in steps longitudinally, the walking beam units sequentially positioning each extending spring element along the longitudinal fret at a series of stations,
• b. a thickness measuring station located between first and second walking beam units having means for measuring the thickness of each planar spring element extending from the fret and generating a corresponding electrical "thickness" signal;
• c. a forming station located between third and fourth walking beam units having,
• (i) a bending means for engaging and forming each planar spring element around a curved mandrel surface, and
• (ii) load sensing means engaging each spring element positioned at the forming station after it has been formed around the mandrel surface and released by the bending means for deflecting each spring element to a specified position and for sensing force imparted by each spring element at that deflected position generating a corresponding first electrical "load" signal;
• d. a memory controller means receiving "thickness" signals from the measuring station, and the "load" signals from the load sensing means for controlling:
• (i) an angular extent to which each spring element is formed around the curved mandrel surface by the bending means,
• (ii) engagement and release of each spring element by the load sensing means,
• (ii) stepping of the plurality of walking beam units transporting the fret whereby a spring element may be held at and moved from a particular station.

An apparatus for adjusting load imparted by a plurality of bent planar spring elements extending perpendicularly at equally spaced intervals from a longitudinal fret and shearing only those spring elements meeting a specified load and deflection criteria from the fret, comprising, in combination:

• a. a plurality of walking beam units each having means for engaging and transporting the fret in steps longitudinally, the walking beam units sequentially positioning each extending spring element along the longitudinal fret at a series of stations;
• c. a thermal adjust station located between first and second walking beam units having,
• (i) a load sensing means engaging and releasing each spring element at the station for deflecting each spring element to the specified position, and for continuously sensing force imparted by each so deflected element generating a corresponding electrical "load" signal, and
• (ii) radiating means for thermally stress relieving the deflected spring element decreasing the force imparted to the load sensing means,
• c. a memory controller means receiving the "load" signals from the load sensing means for controlling:
• (i) exposure of each spring element to the radiating means thermally stress relieving it, thereby, adjusting load imparted by each spring element when deflected to the specified position to the specified load if possible;
• and
• (ii) engagement and release of each spring element by the load sensing means;
• and
• (iii) stepping of the plurality of walking beam units transporting the fret whereby a spring element may be held at and moved from a particular station;
• and
• d. a shear station located between third and fourth walking beam units having shear means controlled by the memory controller means for shearing only those spring elements meeting the specified load and deflection criteria from the longitudinal fret.