Gram load adjusting system for magnetic head suspensions

A head suspension adjusting system for adjusting a parameter of a suspension of the type having a load beam with a spring region, a mounting region on a proximal end of the load beam and a head-receiving region on a distal end of the load beam, the system including:

• a load beam-engaging member for engaging the load beam and supporting the head-receiving region of the load beam at adjust positions with respect to the mounting region;
• an actuator for driving and positioning the load beam-engaging member;
• a heat source for stress relieving at least the spring region of the load beam;
• a pre-adjust input terminal for receiving information representative of a measured pre-adjust parameter value of the suspension;
• memory for storing parameter adjust data representative of suspension parameter adjust positions which will cause the suspension to have a desired post-adjust parameter value after the load beam is stress relieved;
• and
• a controller coupled to the pre-adjust input terminal, actuator, heat source and memory, including:
• first means for accessing the memory as a function of the measured pre-adjust parameter value to determine the suspension adjust position which will cause the suspension to have the desired parameter value after the load beam is stress relieved;
• second means for actuating the actuator and causing the load beam-engaging member to position the load beam at the adjust position;
• and
• third means for actuating the heat source to stress relieve at least the spring region of the load beam while the load beam is positioned at the adjust position.

A head suspension gram load adjusting system for adjusting the gram load of a suspension of the type having a load beam with a spring region, a mounting region on a proximal end of the load beam and a head-receiving flexure on a distal end of the load beam, the system including:

• a clamp for releasably receiving and clamping the mounting region of the suspension;
• a load beam-engaging member for engaging the load beam and supporting the load beam at adjust positions with respect to the clamp;
• an actuator for driving and positioning the load beam-engaging member;
• a heat source for stress relieving at least the spring region of the load beam;
• a pre-adjust input terminal for receiving information representative of a measured pre-adjust fly height gram load value of the suspension;
• memory for storing gram load adjust data representative of load beam adjust positions which will cause the suspension to have a desired post-adjust fly height gram load value after the load beam is stress relieved;
• and
• a controller coupled to the pre-adjust input terminal, actuator, heat source and memory, including:
• first means for accessing the memory as a function of the measured pre-adjust fly height gram load value to determine the load beam adjust position which will cause the suspension to have the desired fly height gram load value after the load beam is stress relieved;
• second means for actuating the actuator and causing the load beam-engaging member to position the load beam at the adjust position;
• third means for actuating the heat source to stress relieve at least the spring region of the load beam while the load beam is positioned at the adjust position;
• and
• fourth means for actuating the actuator and causing the load beam-engaging member to release the load beam after the load beam is stress relieved.