Weld free high performance laminate suspension

In a disk drive suspension assembly mounting a transducer-carrying slider and a weld free laminate suspension, said suspension comprising:

• a composite laminate structure having a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, a fourth layer and a fifth layer, said second layer being disposed between said first and third layers and said fourth layer being disposed between said third and fifth layers;
• a mount plate comprising at least said first, second and third layers;
• a load beam functional end comprising at least said third, fourth and fifth layers;
• a hinge defined in a hinge area between said mount plate and said load beam by removal of all or part of said first and second layers in said hinge area;
• a flexure gimbal system comprising said third, fourth and fifth layers, but not said first layer;
• and
• an electrical lead system comprising said fifth layer.

In a disk drive having a housing, a rotatable magnetic recording medium in the housing, an actuator carrying an actuator arm, a weld free laminate suspension, a slider and a read/write transducer, said suspension comprising:

• a composite laminate structure having a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, a fourth layer and a fifth layer, said second layer being disposed between said first and third layers and said fourth layer being disposed between said third and fifth layers;
• a mount plate comprising at least said first, second and third layers;
• a load beam functional end comprising at least said third, fourth and fifth layers;
• a hinge defined in a hinge area between said mount plate and said load beam by removal of all or part of said first and second layers in said hinge area;
• a flexure gimbal system comprising said third, fourth and fifth layers, but not said first layer;
• and
• an electrical lead system comprising said fifth layer.