Head gimbal assembly high performance shock limiter

1. A suspension assembly comprising a gimbal;

a load beam having an actuator engagement end and a gimbal engagement end opposite the actuator engagement end, the gimbal engagement end including a tip region having two side edges; and

a shock limiter formed from the gimbal, the shock limiter having a pair of flange extensions arranged symmetrically relative to a longitudinal axis of the shock limiter, the flange extensions positioned outside of the side edges of the tip region to limit movement of the gimbal relative to the load beam during a shock event.

2. The suspension assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shock limiter further comprises:

an arm extending from each flange extension.

3. The suspension assembly of claim 2 , wherein each arm has a width that defines a limiter gap.

4. The suspension assembly of claim 2 , wherein each flange extension is bent at an angle of approximately 80 degrees relative to the gimbal and around the gimbal engagement end, and wherein each arm is bent at an angle of approximately 80 degrees relative to each flange extension, such that the arms extend toward one another over a top surface of the load beam adjacent the gimbal engagement end.

5. The suspension assembly of claim 1 , wherein each flange extension is positioned adjacent a slider bonding area and adjacent a load point.

6. The suspension assembly of claim 2 wherein the length of the flange and arm extensions do not exceed the width of the gimbal.

7. The suspension assembly of claim 2 , wherein the arm extending from each flange extension defines an adjustment gap between atop surface of the load beam at the tip region of the gimbal engagement end and a bottom edge of an arm extension extending from the flange extension.

8. A method of fabricating a shock limiter for use with a suspension assembly, the method comprising:

etching a gimbal with a limiter from a fiat substrate, the limiter having a pair of flange extensions, each flange extension having an arm extension;

bending the flange extensions to an angle approaching normal relative to the flat substrate of the gimbal;

bending the arm extensions toward one another; and

attaching the gimbal with the limiter to a load arm, the load arm having a gimbal engagement end with edges extending longitudinally along a length of the load arm, such that the flange extensions and the arm extensions are bent around the edges.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

adjusting a pitch and roll attitude.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of attaching further comprises:

aligning the gimbal with a dimple on the load arm such that the flange extensions and the arm extensions are in close proximity to a load point.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

adjusting a pitch and roll attitude of the gimbal within an adjustment range that is maximized by the arm extensions being in close proximity to the load point.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the flange extension is bent at an angle of approximately 80 degrees relative to the gimbal and the arm extension is bent at angle of approximately 80 degrees relative to the flange extension.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein attaching comprises:

positioning the gimbal with the limiter adjacent the gimbal engagement end; and

welding the gimbal to the load arm adjacent the gimbal engagement end.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the flange extensions and the arm extensions are positioned adjacent a center of mass of a slider attached to the gimbal.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein bending the arm extensions comprises:

bending the arm extensions toward a dimple of the load arm.

16. A shock limiter for use with system having an actuator arm, a load beam, a gimbal, and a slider, the shock limiter being integrally formed with the gimbal, the shock limiter comprising:

a pair of flange extensions extending from a body of the gimbal at an angle approaching normal relative to a planar surface of the gimbal on opposing sides of the body in a symmetric arrangement about side edges a tip of a load beam; and

a pair of arm extensions, each arm extension extending from each flange extension at an angle approaching normal relative to a planar surface of the flange extension such that the pair of arm extensions point toward one another to interleave the arm extensions around the tip of the load beam.

17. The shock limiter of claim 16 , wherein the gimbal is attached to the load beam via weld points.

18. The shock limiter of claim 16 , wherein the flange extensions are defined within a profile of the gimbal.

19. The shock limiter of claim 16 , wherein the arm extensions have a width less than a width of the flange extensions such that the arm extensions define a gap between a top surface of the tip and a bottom edge of the arm extensions to allow for pitch and roll adjustment of the gimbal after installation.

20. The shock limiter of claim 16 , wherein the gimbal, the shock limiter, and the suspension arm are formed from the same material.

21. The shock limiter of claim 16 wherein the flange extensions and the arm extensions are positioned adjacent a center of mass of the slider attached to the gimbal.

22. The shock limiter of claim 16 , wherein the flange extensions are bent toward the gimbal of the load beam.

23. The shock limiter of claim 16 , wherein the flange extension define a gap for adjusting an attitude of the gimbal relative to a surface of a rotating disc.

24. The shock limiter of claim 23 , wherein the gap is greater than a thickness of the load beam.

25. The shock limiter of claim 16 , wherein the flange extensions are designed to be located at or near a center of mass of a gimbal slider assembly.

26. The shock limiter of claim 16 wherein the flange extensions maximize an area on a tongue of the gimbal for bonding the slider to the gimbal.

27. The shock limiter design of claim 16 wherein placement of the limiter in close proximity to a center line of the load beam enhances resonance performance of a head gimbal assembly.