Spacer key used for installation of a head gimbal assembly (HGA)
View Patent ↗An apparatus for use in attaching a head gimbal assembly (HGA) onto an actuator arm of an actuator assembly during an HGA installation process. The apparatus includes, a central body portion with a base support surface; and a pair of support arms extending from the central body portion forming a channel sized to accommodate expansion of an attachment aperture of an actuator arm during the installation process. Each support arm includes, a first and second support surface offset from and parallel to the base support surface. A first support arm thickness is formed between the first support surface and the base support surface, while a second support arm thickness is formed between the second support surface and the base support having a thickness less than the first support arm thickness. Each support arm thickness supports a corresponding HGA adjacent actuator arm during the installation process.
1. A tool acting upon an actuator arm during installation of a head gimbal assembly (HGA) onto the actuator arm, the tool comprising:
a central body portion with a base support surface; and
a pair of support arms extending from the central body portion, each support arm comprising:
a first support surface offset from and parallel to the base support surface to form a first support arm thickness; and
a second support surface adjacent the first support surface, the second support surface offset from and parallel to the base support surface to form a second support arm thickness, wherein the second support arm thickness is less than the first support arm thickness, and wherein the first thickness is used as a support means interposed between a first HGA and a first arm of an actuator to bias the first HGA adjacent a second arm of the actuator during an attachment of the first head gimbal assembly to the second arm of the actuator.
2. The tool of claim 1 , in which the pair of support arms extend from the central body in a first direction forming a channel there between, while a handle extends from the central body in a second direction, wherein the handle provides a tooling fixture mounting means for attachment to a tooling fixture, and wherein the channel is sized to accommodate passage of on HGA attachment tooling during an installation of an HGA onto the actuator arm.
3. The tool of claim 1 , in which each support arm comprises a proximal end adjacent the central body and a distal end extending from the proximal end, wherein each distal end provides a support arm lead in portion.
4. The tool of claim 3 , in which each support arm comprises a first radiused shoulder interposed between said lead in portion and the first support surface, and a second radiused shoulder interposed between the first support surface and the second support surface.
5. The tool of claim 2 , in which the central body portion comprises a tooling fixture locating feature for use in locating the central body portion relative to the tooling fixture.
6. The tool of claim 1 , in which the second Thickness is used as a support means interposed between the first HGA biased against the second arm of the actuator and a second HGA to bias the second head gimbal assembly adjacent the first arm of the actuator during an attachment of the second head gimbal assembly to the first arm of the actuator.
7. The tool of claim 6 , in which the base support surface slidingly engages the first arm of the actuator while the first support surface biases the first HGA adjacent the second arm of the actuator during attachment of the first HGA to the second arm of the actuator, and wherein the second support surface slidingly engages the first HGA biased adjacent the second arm of the actuator while the base support surface biases the second HGA against the first arm of the actuator during attachment of the second HGA to the first arm of the actuator.
8. The tool of claim 1 , in which the central body portion comprises a trailing surface offset from and parallel to the base surface.
9. The tool of claim 8 , further comprises a third radiused shoulder interposed between the second support surface and the trailing surface.