Method of assembling a disk drive including actuating a shipping comb to bend a suspension vertically to facilitate a merge tool
View Patent ↗A head stack assembly (HSA) is disclosed for use in a disk drive comprising a disk, wherein a merge tool is used to merge the HSA with the disk. The HSA comprises at least one actuator arm with a suspension connected to the distal end of the actuator arm. A multi-level shipping comb attached to the actuator arm comprises a finger having a first surface and a second, raised surface. During shipping of the HSA, the first surface of the finger contacts the suspension to protect against overstressing. During manufacture of the disk drive, the shipping comb is actuated so that the second surface contacts the suspension thereby bending the suspension in a vertical direction to facilitate the insertion of the merge tool.
1. A method of manufacturing a disk drive comprising a base casting, a disk, and a head stack assembly (HSA), the HSA comprising at least one actuator arm, a suspension connected to a distal end of the actuator arm, a head connected to a distal end of the suspension, and a shipping comb attached to the actuator arm that limits relative vertical motion of the suspension, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) inserting the HSA into the base casting;
(b) actuating the shipping comb to bend the suspension in a vertical direction to facilitate the insertion of a merge tool comprising a finger for engaging the suspension;
(c) inserting the merge tool such that the finger of the merge tool moves into position without scraping against the suspension;
(d) detaching the shipping comb from the actuator arm wherein the suspension retracts vertically and engages the finger of the merge tool; and
(e) actuating the merge tool to merge the HSA with the disk.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the shipping comb is actuated by rotating the shipping comb to bend the suspension in a vertical direction to facilitate the insertion of the merge tool.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
(a) the shipping comb comprises a beveled surface; and
(b) the suspension slides over the beveled surface when the shipping comb is actuated.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the shipping comb is detached from the actuator arm by rotating the shipping comb.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the suspension comprises a coating for reducing friction between the shipping comb and the suspension.