Karl Brian Beckle

US Patent:

20030192167, Oct 16, 2003

Filed:

Apr 16, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/123320

Inventors:

Karl Beckle - Gilroy CA, US
Michael Chaw - San Jose CA, US
Richard Koch - Cupertino CA, US
Mark Thurber - San Jose CA, US
Bruno Valdes - Santa Clara CA, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation

International Classification:

G11B005/127
H04R031/00
B23P019/00

US Classification:

029/603120, 029/603070, 029/737000

Abstract:

A system and method for burnishing the edges and corners of hard disk drive sliders uses a combination of flexible tape fixturing and mechanical protrusions located beneath the tape to systematically orient selected slider corners and edges to be exposed to an abrasive in a flexible manner. This solution carefully exposes the sliders even when there is very little clearance between the sliders. A variety of different rounding geometries are achieved by customizing the protrusions underneath the flexible tape. Multiple slider corners and/or edges are exposed to the abrasive at one time for bulk processing. The sliders are oriented in such a way that sensitive structures located on the air bearing surfaces of the sliders are not harmed during burnishing.