Method for manufacturing a magnetic head suspension

A method of manufacturing a magnetic head suspension assembly comprising the steps of:

• providing a metal member which is to form a resilient suspension for a magnetic head, said metal member having a pair of opposed surfaces;
• forming a layer of a flexible insulating base material having a desired shape on selected portions of one surface of said metal member whereby a portion of said one surface of said metal member is exposed;
• cladding an electrically conductive metal thin film on said exposed portion of said one surface of said metal member and on the surface of said flexible insulating base material layer;
• forming a resist pattern on selected portions of the surface of said electrically conductive metal thin film, said resist pattern comprising areas where said surface of said conductive metal film is uncovered and areas where said surface of said conductive metal film is covered by the resist material, said uncovered areas defining a circuit wiring pattern;
• plating said electrically conductive metal thin film with electrically conductive material in said uncovered areas to produce the conductors of the circuit wiring pattern;
• removing said resist pattern and the unplated portions of said electrically conductive metal thin film;
• forming a surface protecting layer on, at least, the surface of said conductors of said circuit wiring pattern;
• and
• shaping said metal member to form a suspension element integrated with the circuit wiring pattern.