Method of forming a head suspension with an integral boss tower
View Patent ↗A method of making a multi-piece head suspension for a rigid disk drive. The method includes providing a first layer including a mounting region with an integral boss tower attached to a stiffener by one or more positioning tabs; attaching a second layer including a spring region to an interface between the mounting region and the stiffener; attaching a flexure to the stiffener; and removing the positioning tabs. The flexure can optionally be a portion of the second layer.
1. A method of forming a multi-piece head suspension for a rigid disk drive, comprising the steps of:
providing a first layer comprising a mounting region with an integral boss tower attached to a rigid region by at least one positioning tab;
providing a second layer comprising a spring region;
attaching the second layer to the first layer so at least a portion of the spring region is located at an interface between the mounting region and the rigid region;
providing a flexure on the rigid region; and
removing the at least one positioning tab.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the rigid region comprises a stiffener.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the flexure comprises a portion of the second layer.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the flexure comprises a portion of a third layer.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of providing a first layer comprising a mounting region with an integral boss tower, comprises the steps of:
forming an aperture in the mounting region;
creating at least one projecting portion integrally formed from the material comprising the mounting region located along a perimeter of the aperture;
positioning the projecting portion at an angle with respect to the mounting region; and
attaching a boss tower to the projecting portion.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of attaching comprises adhesively bonding the boss tower to the projecting portion.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of attaching comprises welding the boss tower to the projecting portion.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of attaching comprises forming a fastening mechanism adapted to attached the boss tower to the projecting portion.
9. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of attaching comprises injection molding the boss tower in place over the projecting portion.
10. The method of claim 5 wherein the projecting portion comprises a continuous structure.
11. The method of claim 5 wherein the projecting portion comprises a discontinuous structure.
12. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of attaching comprises using the projecting portion to position and align the boss tower relative to the aperture.
13. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of attaching comprises mechanically interlocking the boss tower with the projecting portion.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of providing a first layer comprising a mounting region with an integral boss tower, comprises the steps of:
forming an aperture in the mounting region;
creating a plurality of holes around the aperture in the material comprising the mounting region; and
attaching a boss tower to the holes in the mounting region.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of attaching comprises adhesively bonding the boss tower to the mounting region such that the adhesive flows into at least a portion of the holes.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of attaching comprises welding the boss tower to the mounting region.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of attaching comprises forming a fastening mechanism adapted to attached the boss tower to the holes in the mounting region.
18. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of attaching comprises injection molding the boss tower in place over the holes in the mounting region.
19. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of attaching comprises using the holes in the mounting region to position and align the boss tower relative to the aperture.
20. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of attaching comprise mechanically interlocking the boss tower with the holes in the mounting region.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of mechanically interlocking comprises snap-fitting the boss tower with the holes.
22. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of attaching comprises injection molding a boss tower on the mounting region such that at least a portion of a material from which the boss tower is molded flows through the holes.
23. A method of forming a multi-piece head suspension for a rigid disk drive, comprising the steps of:
providing a first layer comprising a mounting region with an integral boss tower attached to a rigid region by at least one positioning tab;
attaching a second layer comprising a spring region at an interface between the mounting region and the rigid region;
attaching a flexure to the rigid region; and
removing the at least one positioning tab.