Method of attaching a magnetic recording head suspension assembly to a thermoplastic actuator arm
AssigneeIntriplex Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRyan Schmidt, Kevin Hanrahan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Transducer suspensions are attached to actuator arms by means of bonding a portion of a thermoplastic actuator arm to the magnetic recording head suspension assembly. The actuator arm has rail portions that provide a channel in which the load beam and base plate flange fit. The rail portions are ultrasonically welded using a clamping ultrasonic horn, which causes melted plastic to flow over the flange The clamping ultrasonic horn causes heat to be applied and focused at prongs to cause the rails to flow and expand onto the flange rigidly connecting the base plate and load beam to the actuator arm.
Claims12
A method of attaching a head suspension to an actuator arm having a surface delineated by at least one outer side edge, the method comprising steps of:
- A. Fabricating said actuator arm of thermoplastic;
- B. Clamping said suspension and actuator arm together to form a head stack assembly;
- and,
- C. Heating said thermoplastic actuator arm with a heating tool that causes said thermoplastic actuator arm to deform so as to engage at least one outer side edge of said head suspension and said actuator arm.
A method of attaching a head suspension to a thermoplastic actuator arm having a surface delineated by at least one outer side edge, the method comprising steps of:
- A. Heating a heating tool having a number of tapered prongs;
- and,
- B. Driving said heating tool tapered prongs onto a rail portion located along at least one outer side edge of said thermoplastic actuator arm so as to cause said rail portion to fold over onto said suspension to constrain said suspension to said thermoplastic actuator arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.