Base plate for suspension assembly in hard disk drive with stress isolation

A base plate comprising:

• a hub;
• and,
• a flange;
• said flange having an outer flange region at an outer periphery of said flange and a clamping region that surrounds and is contiguous with said hub;
• said flange having a strain isolation region made up of relief holes, each hole piercing through said flange from a side of said flange that is opposite said hub, said holes partially within an area where said hub meets said flange, and partially within said clamping region of the flange, that surrounds and is contiguous with said hub.

A base plate comprising:

• a hub;
• and,
• a flange;
• said flange having an outer flange region at an outer periphery of said flange and a clamping region that surrounds and is contiguous with said hub;
• said flange having a strain isolation region that surrounds and is contiguous with said clamping region,
• said strain isolation region having a stress reducing configuration that provides alternately patterned areas of continuity and areas of discontinuity between said strain isolation region and adjacent areas of said outer flange region and said clamping region;
• said areas of discontinuity extending completely through said base plate to form holes through said base plate.