Method of making disk drives using a frame array with a plurality of disk drive base portions
View Patent ↗An aspect of the invention can be regarded as a method of making disk drives. The method includes providing a frame array. The frame array includes a frame, a plurality of disk drive base portions, and a plurality of tie bars connected between the frame and the disk drive base portions. The method further includes attaching a respective disk drive component to each of the disk drive base portions. The method further includes removing the disk drive base portions from the frame by severing the tie bars.
1. A method of making disk drives comprising:
a) providing a frame array including:
a frame;
a plurality of disk drive base portions; and
a plurality of tie bars connected between the frame and the disk drive base portions;
b) attaching a respective disk drive component to each of the disk drive base portions, the disk drive component being a spindle motor; and
c) removing the disk drive base portions from the frame by severing the tie bars.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the frame array is formed of metal.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the frame array is formed by stamping.
4. The method of claim 1 , prior to step b), further comprises the step of:
partially encapsulating each of the disk drive base portions with a hardenable material.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the encapsulating is a molding process.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the hardenable material is a plastic.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein selected ones of the tie bars are electrical leads.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the disk drive components are electrical components and step b) further includes respectively electrically connecting the electrical components to the electrical leads.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein step b) further includes respectively testing operation of the disk drive components.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the frame array is formed of plastic.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein step a) further includes providing a lead frame overlaid with the frame array, the lead frame includes electrical leads, the disk drive components are electrical components, step b) further includes respectively electrically attaching the disk drive components to the electrical leads.
12. The method of claim 1 , prior to step b), further including molding inserts with each of the disk drive base portions.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the inserts are voice coil motor components.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the frame includes recesses for indexing the frame array.
15. A method of making disk drives comprising:
a) providing a frame array including:
a frame;
a plurality of disk drive base portions; and
a plurality of tie bars connected between the frame and the disk drive base portions;
b) attaching a respective disk drive component to each of the disk drive base portions, the respective disk drive component being a voice coil motor component, the attaching including molding a voice coil motor component with each of the disk drive base portions; and
c) removing the disk drive base portions from the frame by severing the tie bars.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the frame array is formed of metal.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the frame array is formed by stamping.
18. The method of claim 15 , prior to step b), further comprises the step of:
partially encapsulating each of the disk drive base portions with a hardenable material.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the encapsulating is a molding process.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein the hardenable material is a plastic.
21. The method of claim 15 wherein selected ones of the tie bars are electrical leads.
22. The method of claim 21 further including electrically connecting the voice coil motor component to the electrical leads.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein step b) further includes respectively testing operation of the disk drive components.
24. The method of claim 15 wherein the frame array is formed of plastic.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein step a) further includes providing a lead frame overlaid with the frame array, the lead frame including electrical leads, and step b) further includes electrically attaching the voice coil component to the electrical leads.
26. The method of claim 15 wherein the molding is insert molding.
27. The method of claim 15 wherein the frame includes recesses for indexing the frame array.