Disk drive having a sheet metal clamp with a stamped annular protruding disk contact feature
AssigneeWestern Digital Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDavid D. Brause, Curtis S. German
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A disk drive includes a spindle motor attached to a disk drive base. The spindle motor includes a hub that rotates about a spindle rotation axis. An annular disk is mounted on the hub. A clamp is attached to the hub. The clamp has a body portion that is stamped from a metal sheet. The clamp also includes an annular rib that protrudes from the stamped sheet metal body portion towards the annular disk. The annular rib includes an annular contact surface that may be lapped to enhance flatness and that contacts the annular disk. The annular rib also includes inner and outer side walls that are each normal to the annular contact surface.
Claims10
A method to fabricate a disk clamp for a disk drive, the method comprising:
- stamping a clamp body portion from a metal sheet;
- forming an annular rib that protrudes from the stamped sheet metal body portion, the annular rib including an annular contact surface, and inner and outer side walls that are each normal to the annular contact surface;
- and
- lapping the annular contact surface;
- wherein the lapping reduces but does not eliminate the protrusion of the annular rib from the stamped sheet metal body portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.