Magnetic head with adaptive data island and mini-outrigger and methods of manufacture
In one aspect, an exemplary method of manufacturing a magnetic head assembly is provided. In one example, the method includes forming islands in a magnetic head structure to define a pair of mini-outriggers adjacent a data island, where the data island is separated from each mini-outrigger by a void, and a width of the data island along a direction of tape transport is greater than a width of the mini-outrigger. The method further includes lapping the head structure to remove a portion of the mini-outrigger, thereby creating a wrap angle between the tape and the surface of the data island. In one example, the lapping process reduces the mini-outrigger height relative to the data island in an adaptive manner, where the final contour and height of the mini-outrigger is influenced by the data island surface, e.g., by the width, radius of curvature, and the like.
1. A method for manufacturing a magnetic head for use with a magnetic storage medium, comprising:
forming islands in a magnetic head structure to define a mini-outrigger adjacent a data island, wherein a supporting surface of the data island is separated from a supporting surface of the mini-outrigger by a void, and a width of the supporting surface of the data island is greater than a width of the supporting surface of the mini-outrigger along a direction of media transport; and
lapping the magnetic head structure to remove a portion of the mini-outrigger, thereby creating a wrap angle with the supporting surface of the data island.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein lapping comprises removing the portion of the mini-outrigger while leaving the data island surface substantially unchanged.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mini-outrigger adapts to the data island surface contour and width when lapped.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein lapping comprises lapping according to a known lapping function to remove a predetermined portion of the mini-outrigger surface.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming comprises etching.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming comprises machining.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wrap angle is less than 3 degrees.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wrap angle is less than 1 degree.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wrap angle is less than 0.5 degrees.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data island includes a radius of curvature and the mini-outrigger includes a radius of curvature, and the radius of curvature of the mini-outrigger is less than the radius of curvature of the data island.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the radius of curvature of the mini-outrigger is between one-third and two-thirds of the radius of curvature of the data island.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the radius of curvature of the mini-outrigger is less than one half of the radius of curvature of the data island.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the width of the mini-outrigger along the direction of media transport is less than 8 milli-inches.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the width of the data island along the direction of media transport is between 10 and 50 milli-inches.
15. A method for manufacturing a magnetic head for use with a magnetic storage medium, comprising:
forming islands in a magnetic head structure to define a mini-outrigger adjacent a data island, wherein a supporting surface of the data island is separated from a supporting surface of the mini-outrigger by a void, a width of the supporting surface of the data island is greater than a width of the supporting surface of the mini-outrigger along a direction of tape transport, and an initial height of the supporting surface of the data island and the supporting surface of the mini-outrigger are equal; and
lapping the head structure including the supporting surface of the data island and the supporting surface of the mini-outrigger, wherein the lapping removes a greater portion of the mini-outrigger than the data island.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein lapping comprises removing the portion of the mini-outrigger while leaving the data island surface substantially unchanged.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the mini-outrigger adapts to the data island surface contour and width when lapped.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein lapping comprises lapping according to a known lapping function to remove a predetermined portion of the mini-outrigger surface.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein forming comprises etching.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein forming comprises machining.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the wrap angle is less than 3 degrees.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the wrap angle is less than 1 degree.
23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the wrap angle is less than 0.5 degrees.
24. The method of claim 15 , wherein the data island includes a radius of curvature and the mini-outrigger includes a radius of curvature, and the radius of curvature of the mini-outrigger is less than the radius of curvature of the data island.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the radius of curvature of the mini-outrigger is between one-third and two-thirds of the radius of curvature of the data island.
26. The method of claim 24 , wherein the radius of curvature of the mini-outrigger is less than one half of the radius of curvature of the data island.
27. The method of claim 15 , wherein the width of the mini-outrigger along a direction of tape transport is less than 8 milli-inches.
28. The method of claim 15 , wherein the width of the data island along a direction of tape transport is between 10 and 50 milli-inches.