Within-row stripe height and wedge angle control for magnetic recording read-write heads

1. A lapping mount tool comprising:

a rotatable first structural member housing a plurality of angular actuation pins each positioned to apply an angular lapping force to a corresponding head slider of a row-bar of magnetic read-write head sliders, said first structural member comprising a fixture for holding said row-bar;

a second structural member coupled with said first structural member via a first flexure and a second flexure, said second structural member housing a plurality of stripe height actuation pins each positioned to apply a lapping force to a corresponding head slider of said row-bar, wherein said first flexure and said second flexure virtually intersect at and define an axis of rotation about an x-axis associated with said row-bar; and

a third structural member coupled with said second structural member via a third flexure and a fourth flexure.

2. The lapping mount tool of claim 1 , wherein each said stripe height actuation pin, in response to first actuation, applies a substantially z-directional force to said corresponding head slider for lapping to a respective reader element and/or writer element target stripe height.

3. The lapping mount tool of claim 2 , wherein each said angular actuation pin, in response to second actuation and according to a virtual intersection of said first and second flexures, applies an angular lapping force to said corresponding head slider about said axis of rotation.

4. The lapping mount tool of claim 3 , further comprising:

a compliant elastomer adhered to said fixture of said first structural member and to said row-bar to transfer a y-direction pressure gradient corresponding to said angular lapping force from each said angular actuation pin to said corresponding head slider.

5. The lapping mount tool of claim 4 , wherein:

said compliant elastomer has a first level of surface roughness on a first side facing said fixture of said first structural member and a second level of surface roughness on an opposing second side facing said row-bar,

said second surface roughness is higher than said first surface roughness.

6. The lapping mount tool of claim 1 , wherein each said angular actuation pin, in response to second actuation and according to a virtual intersection of said first and second flexures, applies an angular lapping force to said corresponding head slider about said axis of rotation.

7. The lapping mount tool of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of stripe height and angular actuation pins is positioned to apply a force targeting a single corresponding head slider of said row-bar.

8. The lapping mount tool of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said third flexure and said fourth flexure are curved along a y-direction.

9. The lapping mount tool of claim 1 , further comprising a gap between a respective terminal portion of at least some said stripe height actuation pins and a surface of a notch in the first structural member.

10. The lapping mount tool of claim 1 , further comprising at least one gap between a terminal portion of said second structural member and a corresponding opposing surface of said third structural member.

11. A method for lapping a row-bar of magnetic read-write head sliders wherein each head slider comprises a reader element and a writer element, wherein said row-bar has an x-axis along the direction of the row and a y-axis along the direction of a reader-writer offset associated with said head sliders in said row-bar, the method comprising:

affixing said row-bar to a lapping mount tool fixture;

independently actuating each of a plurality of first actuation pins, of said lapping mount tool, corresponding to a respective head slider of said row-bar, thereby setting each said head slider of said row-bar for lapping to a respective element target stripe height; and

simultaneously lapping each said head slider of said row-bar according to each said respective element target stripe height.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said target stripe height corresponds to said reader element.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said target stripe height corresponds to said writer element.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

actuating each of a plurality of second actuation pins housed within a first structural member of said lapping mount tool which, based on a virtual intersection of a first flexure and a second flexure that interconnect said first structural member with a second structural member of said lapping mount tool and defines an axis of rotation about an x-axis associated with said row-bar, applies an angular lapping force through each said second actuation pin to a corresponding head slider about said axis of rotation, thereby setting each said head slider of said row-bar for lapping to a respective target wedge angle; and

simultaneously lapping each said head slider according to each said respective target wedge angle.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said actuating said second actuation pins is performed after said actuating said first actuation pins.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein said actuating said second actuation pins includes applying a respective angular lapping force to a compliant elastomer between each said second actuation pin and said corresponding head slider, to transfer a y-direction pressure gradient corresponding to said respective angular lapping force to said corresponding head slider.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein said actuating said second actuation pins includes changing, during said lapping to said wedge angles, at least one said angular lapping force, to dynamically change a y-direction pressure gradient corresponding to said at least one angular lapping force.

18. A magnetic read-write head slider prepared from a row of magnetic read-write head sliders wherein each head slider comprises a reader element and a writer element, wherein said row has an x-axis along the direction of the row and a y-axis along the direction of a reader-writer offset associated with said head sliders in said row, said read-write head slider prepared by a process comprising:

affixing said row to a lapping mount tool fixture;

actuating each of a plurality of first actuation pins of said lapping mount tool, thereby setting each said head slider of said row for lapping to a respective element target stripe height; and

simultaneously lapping each said head slider according to each said respective element target stripe height;

actuating each of a plurality of second actuation pins housed within a first structural member of said lapping mount tool which, based on a virtual intersection of a first flexure and a second flexure that interconnect said first structural member with a second structural member of said lapping mount tool and defines an axis of rotation about an x-axis associated with said row, applies an angular lapping force through each said second actuation pin to a corresponding head slider about said axis of rotation, thereby setting each said head slider of said row for lapping to a respective target wedge angle; and

simultaneously lapping each said head slider according to each said respective target wedge angle.

19. A data storage device comprising:

one or more recording disk medium rotatably mounted on a spindle;

a read-write head slider comprising a read-write transducer configured to read from and to write to at least one of said one or more disk medium; and

a voice coil actuator configured to move said head slider to access portions of said at least one disk medium;

wherein said read-write head slider is prepared from a row of magnetic read-write head sliders wherein each head slider comprises a reader element and a writer element, wherein said row has an x-axis along the direction of the row and a y-axis along the direction of a reader-writer offset associated with said head sliders in said row, said read-write head slider prepared by a process comprising:

affixing said row to a lapping mount tool fixture;

actuating each of a plurality of first actuation pins of said lapping mount tool, thereby setting each said head slider of said row for lapping to a respective element target stripe height; and

simultaneously lapping each said head slider according to each said respective element target stripe height;

actuating each of a plurality of second actuation pins housed within a first structural member of said lapping mount tool which, based on a virtual intersection of a first flexure and a second flexure that interconnect said first structural member with a second structural member of said lapping mount tool and defines an axis of rotation about an x-axis associated with said row, applies an angular lapping force through each said second actuation pin to a corresponding head slider about said axis of rotation, thereby setting each said head slider of said row for lapping to a respective target wedge angle; and

simultaneously lapping each said head slider according to each said respective target wedge angle.

20. A lapping tool assembly comprising:

a lapping mount tool comprising:

a rotatable first structural member housing a plurality of angular actuation pins each positioned to apply an angular lapping force to a corresponding head slider of a row-bar of magnetic read-write head sliders, said first structural member comprising a fixture for holding said row-bar;

a second structural member coupled with said first structural member via a first flexure and a second flexure, said second structural member housing a plurality of stripe height actuation pins each positioned to apply a lapping force to a corresponding head slider of said row-bar; and

a third structural member coupled with said second structural member via a third flexure and a fourth flexure; and

a base part comprising a plurality of pins each of which, when engaged with said lapping mount tool, is positioned within a corresponding pocket associated with a group of adjacent stripe height actuation pins of said second structural member, thereby limiting displacement of the stripe height actuation pins.

21. The lapping tool assembly of claim 20 , further comprising:

a plate comprising:

a plurality of lower pins each of which, when engaged with said lapping mount tool, is positioned within a corresponding pocket associated with a group of adjacent angular actuation pins, and

a plurality of upper pins each of which, when engaged with the lapping mount tool, is positioned between a corresponding group of one or more adjacent angular actuation pins;

wherein said lower and upper pins of said plate limit displacement of the angular actuation pins.

22. A lapping tool for lapping a row-bar of magnetic read head sliders, the lapping tool comprising:

means for affixing said row-bar to a lapping mount tool fixture;

means for independently actuating each of a plurality of first actuation mechanisms corresponding to a respective head slider of said row-bar to set each said head slider for lapping to a respective element target stripe height; and

means for simultaneously lapping each head slider according to each said respective element target stripe height.