Head gimbal assembly loading with fixed mounting surface
A device comprises a mounting surface configured to mount a head gimbal assembly (HGA), a housing that pivots relative to the mounting surface, and a mechanism coupled to the housing that deflects the HGA when the housing pivots relative to the mounting surface. For example the mechanism may be a pneumatically actuated finger that pulls the HGA towards the housing. The device may be used to load the HGA on a rotating test disc. Once loaded on the test disc, the HGA is supported only by the mounting surface and an air bearing at an interface of a slider of the HGA and the test disc. Embodiments of the invention may provide precise and repeatable positioning of the HGA because dimensional tolerances and vibrations in the mechanism are not transferred to the HGA once it is loaded on the test disc.
1. A device comprising:
a base including a mounting surface configured to releasably mount a baseplate of a head gimbal assembly, wherein the mounting surface comprises an arrangement of alignment pins to engage an aperture in the head gimbal assembly baseplate;
a pivotable housing;
a retractable finger moveable into and out of an aperture in the housing, wherein the retractable finger is configured to releasably engage the head gimbal assembly mounted on the mounting surface and, when retracted into the housing, to deflect the head gimbal assembly toward the aperture in the housing; and
an actuatable linkage connected to the housing and to the base, wherein the linkage actuates to pivot the housing relative to the base to further mechanically deflect the head gimbal assembly be and the mechanical deflection provided by the retractable finger alone.
2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator connected to the linkage, wherein the actuator pivots the housing by moving the linkage relative to the base.
3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a snap-lock interface between the housing and the base.
4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a piston in the aperture in the housing, wherein the piston extends and retracts the finger.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the piston is operated pneumatically.
6. The assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a spring that biases the piston to a position in which the finger is retracted.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the mounting surface comprises at least one of a boss hole pin and an alignment pin.
8. An assembly comprising:
a head gimbal assembly loader; and
a head gimbal assembly mounted on the gimbal assembly loader, wherein the loader comprises:
a base including a mounting surface releasably mounting a baseplate of the head gimbal assembly wherein the mounting surface comprises an arrangement of mounting pins engaging an aperture in the head gimbal assembly baseplate;
a pivotable housing;
a retractable finger moveable to extend and retract relative the housing, wherein the retractable finger releasably engages the head gimbal assembly mounted on the mounting surface and, when retracted toward the housing, mechanically deflects the head gimbal assembly toward the housing; and
an actuatable linkage connected to the housing and to the base, wherein the linkage pivots the housing relative to the base when the head gimbal assembly is engaged by the retractable finger to further mechanically deflect the head gimbal assembly beyond the mechanical deflection provided by the retractable finger alone.
9. The assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
a rotating media disc; and
a mechanism that moves the head gimbal assembly loader laterally with respect to the rotating disc to locate the head gimbal assembly adjacent to an underside of the disc.
10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first height of the mounting surface on the loader is fixed with respect to a plane of a major surface of the disc.
11. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the mechanism comprises a servo controlled linear motor.
12. The device of claim 8 , further comprising an actuator connected to the linkage, wherein the actuator pivots the housing by moving the linkage relative to the base.
13. The device of claim 8 , further comprising a snap-lock interface between the housing and the base.
14. The device of claim 8 , further comprising a piston in an aperture in the housing, wherein the piston extends and retracts the finger.
15. The device of claim 14 , further comprising a pneumatic mechanism operating the piston.
16. The assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a spring that biases the piston to a position in which the finger is retracted.
17. The device of claim 8 , wherein the mounting surface comprises at least one of a boss hole pin and an alignment pin.
18. A device comprising:
a base including a fixed mounting surface configured to releasably mount a baseplate of a head gimbal assembly, wherein the mounting surface comprises an arrangement of alignment pins to engage an aperture in the head gimbal assembly baseplate;
a pivotable housing; and
a retractable finger moveable to extend and retract relative the housing, wherein the retractable finger is configured to releasably engage the head gimbal assembly when the head gimbal assembly is mounted on the mounting surface and, when retracted toward the housing, to deflect the head gimbal assembly toward housing,
wherein the housing is configured to pivot relative to the base when the head gimbal assembly is engaged by the retractable finger to further mechanically deflect the head gimbal assembly beyond the mechanical deflection provided by the retractable finger alone.
19. The device of claim 18 , further comprising a piston in the housing, wherein the piston extends and retracts the finger.
20. The device of claim 18 , further comprising an actuator configured to pivots the housing relative to the base.