US20090146653A1 - Slider tester - Google Patents
Slider tester Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090146653A1 US20090146653A1 US12/292,651 US29265108A US2009146653A1 US 20090146653 A1 US20090146653 A1 US 20090146653A1 US 29265108 A US29265108 A US 29265108A US 2009146653 A1 US2009146653 A1 US 2009146653A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- slider
- pressing
- medium
- spring
- socket
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 88
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 238000007667 floating Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 30
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000036316 preload Effects 0.000 description 7
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 7
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000002950 deficient Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000003754 machining Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006866 deterioration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011835 investigation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010998 test method Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
- G11B5/455—Arrangements for functional testing of heads; Measuring arrangements for heads
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
- G11B5/455—Arrangements for functional testing of heads; Measuring arrangements for heads
- G11B5/4555—Arrangements for functional testing of heads; Measuring arrangements for heads by using a spin-stand, i.e. a spinning disc or simulator
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
- G11B5/48—Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed
- G11B5/58—Disposition or mounting of heads or head supports relative to record carriers ; arrangements of heads, e.g. for scanning the record carrier to increase the relative speed with provision for moving the head for the purpose of maintaining alignment of the head relative to the record carrier during transducing operation, e.g. to compensate for surface irregularities of the latter or for track following
- G11B5/60—Fluid-dynamic spacing of heads from record-carriers
- G11B5/6005—Specially adapted for spacing from a rotating disc using a fluid cushion
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/02—Contact members
- H01R13/22—Contacts for co-operating by abutting
- H01R13/24—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted
- H01R13/2407—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted characterized by the resilient means
- H01R13/2421—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted characterized by the resilient means using coil springs
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R2201/00—Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications
- H01R2201/20—Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications for testing or measuring purposes
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a slider tester that tests the characteristics of a slider (magnetic head) used to read/write data on a medium such as a magnetic disk.
- a slider (magnetic head) used to read/write data on a medium such as a magnetic disk is installed in an actual device after rotating a medium and testing the float characteristics above the medium surface and a read/write function for data on the medium.
- the functions of a slider have been tested by installing the slider on a suspension to form a slider assembly and setting the slider assembly in a tester.
- FIG. 7 shows an example construction of a slider tester for testing the characteristics of a slider as a single body.
- Reference numeral 10 designates the tester main body of the slider tester.
- the tester main body 10 includes a driving unit that rotates a test medium 12 in the same way as in an actual device, a movement control unit for moving the medium 12 to a test position where a slider is set, and an investigation apparatus for investigating the data read/write characteristics for the combination of the medium 12 and the slider at the test position.
- the slider tester in the illustrated example is provided with setting units where sliders 14 that are the tested products are set at four corners of the upper surface of the tester main body 10 .
- the setting units respectively include a set plate 20 that supports a slider 14 , an arm part 22 that supports the set plate 20 , and a mounting base 24 that supports the arm part 22 .
- the medium 12 is supported on a spindle 13 so that the medium surface is horizontal.
- the spindle 13 is provided so as to be movable from one side of the tester main body 10 to the other, and by moving the medium 12 supported by the spindle 13 from one side of the tester main body 10 to the other, it is possible to test the respective sliders 14 set on the set plates 20 .
- FIG. 8 shows a slider attaching construction for attaching a slider 14 onto a set plate 20 .
- the set plate 20 includes a ring spring 30 for supporting the slider 14 in a floating state with respect to the surface of the medium 12 , a socket 40 for detachably supporting the slider 14 , and a pressing mechanism 50 for elastically pressing the socket 40 to apply a predetermined load to the slider 14 .
- the ring spring 30 and the socket 40 construct a movable support part that can movably support the slider 14 .
- the ring spring 30 supports the slider 14 so that the slider 14 can be tilted in freely chosen directions (in a pitching direction and in a rolling direction).
- the ring spring 30 is formed by providing arc-shaped slits in a thin metal plate so that the slider 14 can be tilted in the freely chosen directions.
- the socket 40 is joined to a lower surface of a setting part 34 formed in the center of the ring spring 30 .
- a contact block 42 and a pressing spring 48 that faces the contact block 42 are provided on the upper surface of the socket 40 .
- the slider 14 By elastically pressing the slider 14 toward the contact block 42 using the pressing spring 48 , the slider 14 is set with the terminals of the slider 14 pressed into contact with contact terminals provided on the contact block 42 .
- the contact terminals of the contact block 42 are electrically connected to the investigating apparatus via a wiring pattern provided on the ring spring 30 and the electrical characteristics of the slider 14 are measured.
- the pressing mechanism 50 includes a pressing pin 51 disposed below the socket 40 and a coil spring 52 provided so as to push out the pressing pin 51 .
- the coil spring 52 causes an upper end surface of the pressing pin 51 to contact a lower surface of the socket 40 to elastically press the slider 14 supported on the ring spring 30 toward the medium surface.
- the present invention was conceived to solve the problems described above and it is an object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable slider tester that is easier to maintain due to the pressing plate being easily replaceable, that can prevent fluctuations in the load that acts on the slider, and that can correctly test a slider as a single body.
- a slider tester includes a driving unit that rotates a test medium, a set plate that detachably supports a slider as a single body, and an investigating apparatus that is electrically connected to the slider supported by the set plate and investigates the characteristics of the slider, wherein a movable support part that tiltably supports the slider is provided on the set plate and a pressing mechanism that elastically presses the slider via the movable support part toward a surface of the medium to dispose the slider floating over the surface of the medium is provided, and wherein the pressing mechanism includes an elastic body composed of a plate spring that contacts the movable support part and elastically presses the movable support part.
- Another slider tester includes a driving unit that rotates a test medium, a set plate that detachably supports a slider as a single body, and an investigating apparatus that is electrically connected to the slider supported by the set plate and investigates the characteristics of the slider, wherein a movable support part that tiltably supports the slider is provided on the set plate, and a pressing mechanism including a pressing pin that contacts the movable support part and elastic means that elastically presses the slider via the pressing pin toward a surface of the medium to dispose the slider floating over the surface of the medium is provided, and wherein an ultrasonic generator that reduces the sliding resistance of the pressing pin is attached to the pressing mechanism.
- Yet another slider tester includes a driving unit that rotates a test medium, a set plate that detachably supports a slider as a single body, and an investigating apparatus that is electrically connected to the slider supported by the set plate and investigates the characteristics of the slider, wherein a movable support part that tiltably supports the slider is provided on the set plate, and a socket for setting the slider is provided on the movable support part and a pressing spring that supports the slider is detachably provided on the socket.
- FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective view showing constructions of a pressing spring and a socket
- FIG. 2 is a diagram useful in explaining the construction of an unload bar
- FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the constructions of pressing mechanisms
- FIG. 4 is a diagram useful in explaining the arrangement of the pressing mechanism and the socket
- FIG. 5 is a diagram useful in explaining the construction of the pressing mechanism that uses an elastic body composed of a plate spring
- FIGS. 6A to 6D are diagrams useful in explaining examples of elastic bodies used in the pressing mechanism
- FIG. 7 is a diagram useful in explaining the overall construction of a slider tester.
- FIG. 8 is a diagram useful in explaining an attaching construction of a set plate for attaching a slider.
- FIG. 1 shows constructions of a socket 40 and a pressing spring 48 in the slider tester according to the present invention.
- the present embodiment is characterized by the pressing spring 48 being detachably provided on the socket 40 .
- FIG. 1A is an example where an attachment groove 43 for attaching a pressing spring 48 is provided in the upper surface of the socket 40 on which the slider 14 is set, so that the pressing spring 48 can be detachably attached to the attachment groove 43 .
- the pressing spring 48 is formed in a U-shape, with one spring arm being used as a pressing arm 48 a that presses the slider 14 and the other spring arm being used as an attachment arm 48 b that is fitted into the attachment groove 43 .
- the attachment arm 48 b is formed in a wave-like shape and by fitting the attachment arm 48 b into the attachment groove 43 that is formed in a straight shape, the pressing spring 48 is fixed to the socket 40 by the elastic force of the attachment arm 48 b.
- the upper surface of the socket 40 Due to the attachment groove 43 being formed, the upper surface of the socket 40 has a stepped shape, and therefore the thickness (the length in the depth direction for fitting into the attachment groove 43 ) of the attachment arm 48 b of the pressing spring 48 is set larger than the thickness of the pressing arm 48 a , and when the attachment arm 48 b has been fitted into the attachment groove 43 , the pressing arm 48 a is positioned on the upper surface of the socket 40 at a location facing the contact block 42 .
- FIG. 1B shows an example where instead of forming the attachment arm 48 b of the pressing spring 48 in a wave-like shape, the attachment arm 48 b is formed in a straight shape and an elastic pressing part 44 in a wave-like shape is provided in the attachment groove 43 formed in the socket 40 .
- the attachment arm 48 b of the pressing spring 48 is fitted into the attachment groove 43 , the attachment arm 48 b is elastically sandwiched by the elastic pressing part 44 a to fix the pressing spring 48 to the socket 40 .
- the slider 14 that is the tested product is set on the set plate 20 , the slider 14 is brought close to the surface of the test medium 12 in a state where the medium 12 is rotated and after carrying out a test with the slider 14 floating over the surface of the medium 12 , the slider 14 is withdrawn from the medium 12 , and a slider 14 that is the next tested product is set on the set plate 20 .
- FIG. 2 shows an example which is constructed to prevent such deformation of the ring spring 30 by inserting a T-shaped unload bar 60 between the medium 12 and the ring spring 30 when the slider 14 is withdrawn from the surface of the medium 12 .
- the unload bar 60 contacts the surface of the ring spring 30 and the slider 14 is withdrawn from the medium while the ring spring 30 is being pressed with the unload bar 60 , so that even if the rigidity of the ring spring 30 is low, the slider 14 can still be withdrawn without the ring spring 30 deforming.
- FIG. 3 shows constructions for the pressing mechanism 50 of the slider tester according to the present invention.
- the pressing mechanism 50 includes a pressing pin 51 that contacts a lower surface of the socket 40 and a coil spring 52 that elastically presses the pressing pin 51 toward the medium 12 .
- FIG. 3A shows a construction where the pressing pin 51 is supported so as to be slidable in an axial direction thereof by a support block 53 .
- the pressing pin 51 is housed in a slide hole 53 a provided in the support block 53 so as to be slidable in the axial direction.
- the pressing pin 51 presses the slider 14 via the socket 40 toward the surface of the medium 12 and should preferably have the lowest possible sliding resistance so that there is no shaft vibration when moving in the axial direction.
- the clearance between the pressing pin 51 and the slide hole 53 a is large, although there is little sliding resistance, there is the problem that the pressing pin 51 will vibrate during testing.
- the pressing force (load) that acts on the slider 14 is extremely small at around 1.5 g, when a large sliding resistance acts on the pressing pin 51 , the predetermined pressing force will no longer act on the slider 14 .
- FIG. 3B shows an example construction where the clearance between the slide hole 53 a provided in the support block 53 and the pressing pin 51 is reduced to prevent shaft vibration of the pressing pin 51 and an ultrasonic generator 54 is placed in contact with the support block 53 and the support block 53 is caused to ultrasonically vibrate with a small amplitude of around 1 ⁇ m or less to reduce the sliding resistance of the pressing pin 51 .
- an ultrasonic generator 54 is placed in contact with the support block 53 and the support block 53 is caused to ultrasonically vibrate with a small amplitude of around 1 ⁇ m or less to reduce the sliding resistance of the pressing pin 51 .
- the pressing pin 51 is an extremely small component, and therefore for machining reasons it is difficult to use a construction where the sliding resistance is reduced by disposing a bearing on the sliding part.
- the construction of the present embodiment is effective in that the desired action can be obtained by machining the pressing pin 51 and the slide hole 53 a formed in the support block 53 with high precision.
- FIG. 4 shows an example construction where the upper end surface of the pressing pin 51 is a flat surface, a hemispherical protruding part 40 a is provided on a lower surface of the socket 40 facing the upper end surface of the pressing pin 51 , and the energizing force of the coil spring 52 acts on the socket 40 by having the pressing pin 51 contact the protruding part 40 a.
- the pressing pin 51 is guided in the axial direction by a guide bushing 53 b .
- the pressing pin 51 is guided by the slide hole 53 a and the guide bushing 53 b , thereby preventing sliding resistance from acting on the pressing pin 51 .
- the preloading stopper 58 holds the elastic body 56 in an already-compressed state and is used to preadjust the load applied to the slider 14 .
- By adjusting the position of the preloading stopper 58 to apply a preload to the elastic body 56 it is possible to have a load that matches the floating rigidity of the slider 14 act upon the slider 14 when the elastic body 56 contacts the socket 40 .
- the elastic body 56 composed of a plate spring does not contact the stopper guide 59 . Accordingly, the elastic body 56 that presses the socket 40 is completely free from the stopper guide 59 and the like, and no sliding resistance at all acts when a load is placed upon the socket 40 .
- the elastic force acts on the slider 14 from the elastic body 56 without being affected, and therefore the float characteristics of the slider 14 in a state where the slider 14 is mounted as a single body in a slider tester can be obtained as conditions that are extremely close to the float characteristics in a state where the slider is mounted on a suspension.
- FIG. 6 shows other examples of an elastic body 56 formed using a plate spring.
- FIG. 6A shows an example where the elastic body 56 uses a plate spring and is shaped like an oval when viewed from the front.
- a straight part 56 a on an upper side of the elastic body 56 shaped like an oval contacts the socket 40 and therefore an elastic force acts on the slider 14 from the elastic body 56 .
- the preload value of the elastic body 56 can be adjusted.
- FIG. 6B shows a construction where the end part of a plate spring is curved to produce the elastic body 56 and the elastic body 56 is cantilevered on the support body 57 .
- the elastic body 56 By forming the elastic body 56 in a shape where a plate spring extends a long way, the end part of the plate spring that is shaped so as to be flat is provided so as to move up and down in parallel.
- the stopper guide 59 By providing a preloading stopper on the stopper guide 59 , it is possible to apply a preload to the elastic body 56 .
- FIG. 6C shows a construction where an elastic body 56 composed of a plate spring formed in a straight line is held at both ends by a pair of support bodies 57 a , 57 b .
- FIG. 6D shows a construction where an elastic body 56 is produced by bending a plate spring into a wave shape.
- the direction in which the elastic body 56 shown in the respective embodiments becomes displaced is always a direction that makes the slider 14 perpendicular to the surface of the medium 12 , which is favorable for the load that acts on the slider 14 .
Landscapes
- Supporting Of Heads In Record-Carrier Devices (AREA)
- Testing Electric Properties And Detecting Electric Faults (AREA)
Abstract
A slider tester includes a driving unit that rotates a test medium, a set plate that detachably supports a slider as a single body, and an investigating apparatus that is electrically connected to the slider supported by the set plate and investigates the characteristics of the slider. A movable support part 30 that tiltably supports the slider is provided on the set plate. There is also provided a pressing mechanism that elastically presses the slider via the movable support part toward a surface of the medium to dispose the slider floating over the surface of the medium. The pressing mechanism includes an elastic body 56 composed of a plate spring that contacts the movable support part and elastically presses the movable support part.
Description
- This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/326,598, filed Jan. 6, 2006, which application claims priority of International Application No. PCT/JP03/00880, filed Jul. 11, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
- The present invention relates to a slider tester that tests the characteristics of a slider (magnetic head) used to read/write data on a medium such as a magnetic disk.
- A slider (magnetic head) used to read/write data on a medium such as a magnetic disk is installed in an actual device after rotating a medium and testing the float characteristics above the medium surface and a read/write function for data on the medium. Conventionally, the functions of a slider have been tested by installing the slider on a suspension to form a slider assembly and setting the slider assembly in a tester.
- However, when the fraction defective for sliders is high, the suspension will be discarded together with the slider, and therefore there is the problem that the manufacturing cost of the suspension and the cost of assembling the slider assembly are wastefully incurred in addition to the manufacturing cost of the slider. For this reason, a method of testing the functions of a slider as a single body before mounting on a suspension and mounting only non-defective sliders on suspensions has been considered.
-
FIG. 7 shows an example construction of a slider tester for testing the characteristics of a slider as a single body.Reference numeral 10 designates the tester main body of the slider tester. The testermain body 10 includes a driving unit that rotates atest medium 12 in the same way as in an actual device, a movement control unit for moving themedium 12 to a test position where a slider is set, and an investigation apparatus for investigating the data read/write characteristics for the combination of themedium 12 and the slider at the test position. - The slider tester in the illustrated example is provided with setting units where
sliders 14 that are the tested products are set at four corners of the upper surface of the testermain body 10. The setting units respectively include aset plate 20 that supports aslider 14, anarm part 22 that supports theset plate 20, and amounting base 24 that supports thearm part 22. - The
medium 12 is supported on aspindle 13 so that the medium surface is horizontal. Thespindle 13 is provided so as to be movable from one side of the testermain body 10 to the other, and by moving themedium 12 supported by thespindle 13 from one side of the testermain body 10 to the other, it is possible to test therespective sliders 14 set on theset plates 20. -
FIG. 8 shows a slider attaching construction for attaching aslider 14 onto aset plate 20. Theset plate 20 includes aring spring 30 for supporting theslider 14 in a floating state with respect to the surface of themedium 12, asocket 40 for detachably supporting theslider 14, and apressing mechanism 50 for elastically pressing thesocket 40 to apply a predetermined load to theslider 14. It should be noted that thering spring 30 and thesocket 40 construct a movable support part that can movably support theslider 14. - In a state where the
slider 14 is supported by thesocket 40, thering spring 30 supports theslider 14 so that theslider 14 can be tilted in freely chosen directions (in a pitching direction and in a rolling direction). Thering spring 30 is formed by providing arc-shaped slits in a thin metal plate so that theslider 14 can be tilted in the freely chosen directions. Thesocket 40 is joined to a lower surface of asetting part 34 formed in the center of thering spring 30. Acontact block 42 and apressing spring 48 that faces thecontact block 42 are provided on the upper surface of thesocket 40. By elastically pressing theslider 14 toward thecontact block 42 using thepressing spring 48, theslider 14 is set with the terminals of theslider 14 pressed into contact with contact terminals provided on thecontact block 42. The contact terminals of thecontact block 42 are electrically connected to the investigating apparatus via a wiring pattern provided on thering spring 30 and the electrical characteristics of theslider 14 are measured. - The
pressing mechanism 50 includes apressing pin 51 disposed below thesocket 40 and acoil spring 52 provided so as to push out thepressing pin 51. Thecoil spring 52 causes an upper end surface of thepressing pin 51 to contact a lower surface of thesocket 40 to elastically press theslider 14 supported on thering spring 30 toward the medium surface. By adjusting the energizing force of thecoil spring 52, it is possible to adjust the load that acts on theslider 14 and therefore the float of theslider 14 with respect to the medium surface can be adjusted. - By doing so, it is possible to set the
sliders 14 on theset plates 20, to cause thesliders 14 to float with respect to the medium in a state where the test medium is rotated, and to carry out read/write tests for data. According to this slider tester, it is possible to test the characteristics of sliders as single bodies before mounting on a suspension, and therefore it is possible to avoid the wasted manufacturing cost and assembly cost described above. - However, in the slider tester according to the construction described above, since the pressing spring is fabricated using a metal plate spring, there has been the problem of the spring being susceptible to deterioration and the problem that it is not possible to replace the pressing spring without dismantling the assembled components.
- In addition, sliding resistance is produced by the pressing mechanism guiding the pressing pin, and therefore there has been the problem that the load applied to the slider fluctuates and the floating posture of the slider becomes unstable.
- The present invention was conceived to solve the problems described above and it is an object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable slider tester that is easier to maintain due to the pressing plate being easily replaceable, that can prevent fluctuations in the load that acts on the slider, and that can correctly test a slider as a single body.
- To achieve the stated object, a slider tester according to the present invention includes a driving unit that rotates a test medium, a set plate that detachably supports a slider as a single body, and an investigating apparatus that is electrically connected to the slider supported by the set plate and investigates the characteristics of the slider, wherein a movable support part that tiltably supports the slider is provided on the set plate and a pressing mechanism that elastically presses the slider via the movable support part toward a surface of the medium to dispose the slider floating over the surface of the medium is provided, and wherein the pressing mechanism includes an elastic body composed of a plate spring that contacts the movable support part and elastically presses the movable support part.
- Another slider tester includes a driving unit that rotates a test medium, a set plate that detachably supports a slider as a single body, and an investigating apparatus that is electrically connected to the slider supported by the set plate and investigates the characteristics of the slider, wherein a movable support part that tiltably supports the slider is provided on the set plate, and a pressing mechanism including a pressing pin that contacts the movable support part and elastic means that elastically presses the slider via the pressing pin toward a surface of the medium to dispose the slider floating over the surface of the medium is provided, and wherein an ultrasonic generator that reduces the sliding resistance of the pressing pin is attached to the pressing mechanism.
- Yet another slider tester includes a driving unit that rotates a test medium, a set plate that detachably supports a slider as a single body, and an investigating apparatus that is electrically connected to the slider supported by the set plate and investigates the characteristics of the slider, wherein a movable support part that tiltably supports the slider is provided on the set plate, and a socket for setting the slider is provided on the movable support part and a pressing spring that supports the slider is detachably provided on the socket.
-
FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective view showing constructions of a pressing spring and a socket; -
FIG. 2 is a diagram useful in explaining the construction of an unload bar; -
FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the constructions of pressing mechanisms; -
FIG. 4 is a diagram useful in explaining the arrangement of the pressing mechanism and the socket; -
FIG. 5 is a diagram useful in explaining the construction of the pressing mechanism that uses an elastic body composed of a plate spring; -
FIGS. 6A to 6D are diagrams useful in explaining examples of elastic bodies used in the pressing mechanism; -
FIG. 7 is a diagram useful in explaining the overall construction of a slider tester; and -
FIG. 8 is a diagram useful in explaining an attaching construction of a set plate for attaching a slider. - Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. It should be noted that the overall construction of the slider tester and the construction of the set plate for setting a slider according to the present invention are fundamentally the same as the constructions of the slider tester and the set plate shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8 . Accordingly, descriptions of such constructions are omitted. - Socket Construction
-
FIG. 1 shows constructions of asocket 40 and apressing spring 48 in the slider tester according to the present invention. The present embodiment is characterized by thepressing spring 48 being detachably provided on thesocket 40. -
FIG. 1A is an example where an attachment groove 43 for attaching apressing spring 48 is provided in the upper surface of thesocket 40 on which theslider 14 is set, so that thepressing spring 48 can be detachably attached to theattachment groove 43. Thepressing spring 48 is formed in a U-shape, with one spring arm being used as apressing arm 48 a that presses theslider 14 and the other spring arm being used as anattachment arm 48 b that is fitted into theattachment groove 43. In the present embodiment, theattachment arm 48 b is formed in a wave-like shape and by fitting theattachment arm 48 b into theattachment groove 43 that is formed in a straight shape, thepressing spring 48 is fixed to thesocket 40 by the elastic force of theattachment arm 48 b. - Due to the
attachment groove 43 being formed, the upper surface of thesocket 40 has a stepped shape, and therefore the thickness (the length in the depth direction for fitting into the attachment groove 43) of theattachment arm 48 b of thepressing spring 48 is set larger than the thickness of thepressing arm 48 a, and when theattachment arm 48 b has been fitted into theattachment groove 43, thepressing arm 48 a is positioned on the upper surface of thesocket 40 at a location facing thecontact block 42. -
FIG. 1B shows an example where instead of forming theattachment arm 48 b of thepressing spring 48 in a wave-like shape, theattachment arm 48 b is formed in a straight shape and an elasticpressing part 44 in a wave-like shape is provided in theattachment groove 43 formed in thesocket 40. When theattachment arm 48 b of thepressing spring 48 is fitted into theattachment groove 43, theattachment arm 48 b is elastically sandwiched by the elastic pressing part 44 a to fix thepressing spring 48 to thesocket 40. - In this way, by using a construction where the
pressing spring 48 is detachably attached to theattachment groove 43 provided in thesocket 40, when thepressing spring 48 has deteriorated due to repeated use, it is possible to replace only thepressing spring 48. Also, when replacing thepressing spring 48, it is not necessary to dismantle the assembled components, which makes it easy to replace thepressing spring 48. - Construction of Unload Bar
- When testing a
slider 14 using the slider tester according to the present invention, theslider 14 that is the tested product is set on theset plate 20, theslider 14 is brought close to the surface of thetest medium 12 in a state where the medium 12 is rotated and after carrying out a test with theslider 14 floating over the surface of the medium 12, theslider 14 is withdrawn from the medium 12, and aslider 14 that is the next tested product is set on theset plate 20. - During such operations, when the
slider 14 is withdrawn from the medium 12, the pressure between theslider 14 and the medium 12 becomes negative, thereby causing an action whereby theslider 14 is pulled toward the medium. Although there is no problem when thering spring 30 has high rigidity, if thering spring 30 has low rigidity, when theslider 14 is withdrawn from the medium 12, thering spring 30 is pulled toward the medium together with theslider 14, resulting in the problem of thering spring 30 deforming. When suppressing the float amount of theslider 14, it is necessary to set the rigidity of thering spring 30 low, and in this case thering spring 30 becomes susceptible to deformation. -
FIG. 2 shows an example which is constructed to prevent such deformation of thering spring 30 by inserting a T-shaped unloadbar 60 between the medium 12 and thering spring 30 when theslider 14 is withdrawn from the surface of the medium 12. By providing this type of unloadbar 60, when theslider 14 is withdrawn from the medium 12, the unloadbar 60 contacts the surface of thering spring 30 and theslider 14 is withdrawn from the medium while thering spring 30 is being pressed with the unloadbar 60, so that even if the rigidity of thering spring 30 is low, theslider 14 can still be withdrawn without thering spring 30 deforming. - Construction of the Pressing Mechanism
-
FIG. 3 shows constructions for thepressing mechanism 50 of the slider tester according to the present invention. Thepressing mechanism 50 includes apressing pin 51 that contacts a lower surface of thesocket 40 and acoil spring 52 that elastically presses thepressing pin 51 toward the medium 12.FIG. 3A shows a construction where thepressing pin 51 is supported so as to be slidable in an axial direction thereof by asupport block 53. Thepressing pin 51 is housed in aslide hole 53 a provided in thesupport block 53 so as to be slidable in the axial direction. - The
pressing pin 51 presses theslider 14 via thesocket 40 toward the surface of the medium 12 and should preferably have the lowest possible sliding resistance so that there is no shaft vibration when moving in the axial direction. When the clearance between thepressing pin 51 and theslide hole 53 a is large, although there is little sliding resistance, there is the problem that thepressing pin 51 will vibrate during testing. Also, since the pressing force (load) that acts on theslider 14 is extremely small at around 1.5 g, when a large sliding resistance acts on thepressing pin 51, the predetermined pressing force will no longer act on theslider 14. -
FIG. 3B shows an example construction where the clearance between theslide hole 53 a provided in thesupport block 53 and thepressing pin 51 is reduced to prevent shaft vibration of thepressing pin 51 and anultrasonic generator 54 is placed in contact with thesupport block 53 and thesupport block 53 is caused to ultrasonically vibrate with a small amplitude of around 1 μm or less to reduce the sliding resistance of thepressing pin 51. According to the embodiment shown inFIG. 3B , even if the clearance is set for theslide hole 53 a provided in thesupport block 53 at a value where thepressing pin 51 does not slide due to the elastic force of thecoil spring 52, it is possible to reduce the sliding resistance of thepressing pin 51 using the ultrasonic vibration and therefore it becomes possible to achieve the conflicting aims of preventing shaft vibration of thepressing pin 51 and reducing the sliding resistance. - The
pressing pin 51 is an extremely small component, and therefore for machining reasons it is difficult to use a construction where the sliding resistance is reduced by disposing a bearing on the sliding part. The construction of the present embodiment is effective in that the desired action can be obtained by machining thepressing pin 51 and theslide hole 53 a formed in thesupport block 53 with high precision. -
FIG. 4 shows an example construction where the upper end surface of thepressing pin 51 is a flat surface, a hemispherical protrudingpart 40 a is provided on a lower surface of thesocket 40 facing the upper end surface of thepressing pin 51, and the energizing force of thecoil spring 52 acts on thesocket 40 by having thepressing pin 51 contact the protrudingpart 40 a. - In the pressing mechanism shown in
FIG. 4 , thepressing pin 51 is guided in the axial direction by aguide bushing 53 b. In the same way as the pressing mechanism shown inFIG. 3 , thepressing pin 51 is guided by theslide hole 53 a and theguide bushing 53 b, thereby preventing sliding resistance from acting on thepressing pin 51. -
FIG. 5 shows another example construction of the pressing mechanism, and is an example construction where thepressing pin 51, thecoil spring 52, and theconvex part 53 b are not used and instead anelastic body 56 composed of a plate spring is provided between abase plate 55 and thesocket 40, with theelastic body 56 being placed in direct contact with thesocket 40. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 5 , anelastic body 56 formed by folding a plate spring in a Z shape is used.Reference numeral 57 designates a support body that supports an end part of theelastic body 56, reference numeral 58 a preloading stopper, and 59 a stopper guide. - The preloading
stopper 58 holds theelastic body 56 in an already-compressed state and is used to preadjust the load applied to theslider 14. By adjusting the position of the preloadingstopper 58 to apply a preload to theelastic body 56, it is possible to have a load that matches the floating rigidity of theslider 14 act upon theslider 14 when theelastic body 56 contacts thesocket 40. By merely guiding the preloadingstopper 58 using thestopper guide 59, theelastic body 56 composed of a plate spring does not contact thestopper guide 59. Accordingly, theelastic body 56 that presses thesocket 40 is completely free from thestopper guide 59 and the like, and no sliding resistance at all acts when a load is placed upon thesocket 40. - That is, according to the construction of the pressing applying mechanism of the present embodiment, the elastic force acts on the
slider 14 from theelastic body 56 without being affected, and therefore the float characteristics of theslider 14 in a state where theslider 14 is mounted as a single body in a slider tester can be obtained as conditions that are extremely close to the float characteristics in a state where the slider is mounted on a suspension. - It should be noted that since the preloading
stopper 58 adjusts the elastic force that acts on theslider 14 from theelastic body 56 according to the attachment position of the preloadingstopper 58 on thestopper guide 59, when the preload pressure is adjusted, it is necessary to pay sufficient attention to the manufacturing tolerances of the respective components. That is, it is necessary to set the dimensional tolerances of the mounting position of the preloadingstopper 58 and the like so that the preload can be adjusted to a predetermined preload value. -
FIG. 6 shows other examples of anelastic body 56 formed using a plate spring.FIG. 6A shows an example where theelastic body 56 uses a plate spring and is shaped like an oval when viewed from the front. Astraight part 56 a on an upper side of theelastic body 56 shaped like an oval contacts thesocket 40 and therefore an elastic force acts on theslider 14 from theelastic body 56. By attaching a preloading stopper to thestopper guide 59 and changing the degree of curvature of theelastic body 56, the preload value of theelastic body 56 can be adjusted. -
FIG. 6B shows a construction where the end part of a plate spring is curved to produce theelastic body 56 and theelastic body 56 is cantilevered on thesupport body 57. By forming theelastic body 56 in a shape where a plate spring extends a long way, the end part of the plate spring that is shaped so as to be flat is provided so as to move up and down in parallel. In this embodiment also, by providing a preloading stopper on thestopper guide 59, it is possible to apply a preload to theelastic body 56. -
FIG. 6C shows a construction where anelastic body 56 composed of a plate spring formed in a straight line is held at both ends by a pair ofsupport bodies 57 a, 57 b.FIG. 6D shows a construction where anelastic body 56 is produced by bending a plate spring into a wave shape. - The direction in which the
elastic body 56 shown in the respective embodiments becomes displaced is always a direction that makes theslider 14 perpendicular to the surface of the medium 12, which is favorable for the load that acts on theslider 14. - It should be noted that when controlling the clearance between the surface of the medium 12 and the
slider 14, a position (origin position) where thesocket 40 contacts theelastic body 56 is used as a reference position, and control is carried out to set the clearance between the surface of the medium 12 and theslider 14 at the float gap. However, in reality, there are cases where theslider 14 is supported more stably by pressing theslider 14 closer to the surface of the medium 12 than the origin position. When controlling the position of theslider 14 with respect to the surface of the medium 12 by setting a “pressing-in margin” in this way, it is necessary to set the position of the preloadingstopper 58 and the preload value with consideration to such margin. - In this way, with a method that applies a load to the
slider 14 using theelastic body 56, unlike when apressing pin 51 is used, no sliding resistance at all is caused and therefore the method can be effectively used when the float amount of theslider 14 is adjusted using an extremely small load. It should be noted that when theelastic body 56 is formed using a plate spring, it is necessary to adjust and use theelastic body 56 with consideration to the elastic force and the like produced due to the spring constant of the plate spring and the compression amount of the plate spring so as to obtain a suitable load for the float rigidity of theslider 14.
Claims (1)
1. A slider tester comprising a driving unit that rotates a test medium, a set plate that detachably supports a slider as a single body, and an investigating apparatus that is electrically connected to the slider supported by the set plate and investigates the characteristics of the slider,
wherein a movable support part that tiltably supports the slider is provided on the set plate, and a pressing mechanism including a pressing pin that contacts the movable support part and elastic means that elastically presses the slider via the pressing pin toward a surface of the medium to dispose the slider floating over the surface of the medium is provided, and
wherein an ultrasonic generator that reduces the sliding resistance of the pressing pin is attached to the pressing mechanism.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/292,651 US20090146653A1 (en) | 2003-07-11 | 2008-11-24 | Slider tester |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2003/008880 WO2005006332A1 (en) | 2003-07-11 | 2003-07-11 | Slider testing machine |
US11/326,598 US7471081B2 (en) | 2003-07-11 | 2006-01-06 | Slider tester |
US12/292,651 US20090146653A1 (en) | 2003-07-11 | 2008-11-24 | Slider tester |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/326,598 Division US7471081B2 (en) | 2003-07-11 | 2006-01-06 | Slider tester |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20090146653A1 true US20090146653A1 (en) | 2009-06-11 |
Family
ID=34044621
Family Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/326,598 Expired - Fee Related US7471081B2 (en) | 2003-07-11 | 2006-01-06 | Slider tester |
US12/292,651 Abandoned US20090146653A1 (en) | 2003-07-11 | 2008-11-24 | Slider tester |
US12/292,650 Abandoned US20090146652A1 (en) | 2003-07-11 | 2008-11-24 | Slider tester |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/326,598 Expired - Fee Related US7471081B2 (en) | 2003-07-11 | 2006-01-06 | Slider tester |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/292,650 Abandoned US20090146652A1 (en) | 2003-07-11 | 2008-11-24 | Slider tester |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (3) | US7471081B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JPWO2005006332A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2005006332A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2012009163A1 (en) * | 2010-07-12 | 2012-01-19 | Xyratex Technology Ltd. | Fly capable slider test socket |
US20180240480A1 (en) * | 2017-02-23 | 2018-08-23 | Seagate Technology Llc | Slider test socket |
US11105847B1 (en) | 2018-06-18 | 2021-08-31 | Seagate Technology Llc | Data storage component test socket opener |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP5271597B2 (en) * | 2008-04-28 | 2013-08-21 | 日本発條株式会社 | Slider testing machine |
US8089730B1 (en) | 2009-10-28 | 2012-01-03 | Western Digital (Fremont), Llc | Suspension assembly having a read head clamp |
US8514522B1 (en) | 2011-01-25 | 2013-08-20 | Western Digital (Fremont), Llc | Systems for interconnecting magnetic heads of storage devices in a test assembly |
US9337613B1 (en) | 2013-03-12 | 2016-05-10 | Western Digital Technologies, Inc. | Chip on submount carrier fixture |
CN111795717A (en) * | 2020-06-01 | 2020-10-20 | 南京以恒科技发展有限公司 | Electronic instrument overhauling device and using method thereof |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3896495A (en) * | 1974-02-25 | 1975-07-22 | Control Data Corp | Mechanically isolated transducer head with spring loaded arm for flying |
US6943971B2 (en) * | 2002-08-26 | 2005-09-13 | Fujitsu Limited | Slider tester |
US6947242B2 (en) * | 2002-04-16 | 2005-09-20 | Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V. | Apparatus and method for dynamic fly height adjustment |
US7196512B2 (en) * | 2001-07-30 | 2007-03-27 | Fujitsu Limited | Magnetic head tester |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH08106745A (en) * | 1994-09-30 | 1996-04-23 | Sony Tektronix Corp | Magnetic head fixture |
JPH11265557A (en) * | 1998-03-16 | 1999-09-28 | Fujitsu Ltd | Floating dynamic tester for magnetic head slider |
JP2003036624A (en) * | 2001-07-23 | 2003-02-07 | Fuji Electric Co Ltd | Recording operation evaluating device |
-
2003
- 2003-07-11 WO PCT/JP2003/008880 patent/WO2005006332A1/en active Application Filing
- 2003-07-11 JP JP2005503865A patent/JPWO2005006332A1/en active Pending
-
2006
- 2006-01-06 US US11/326,598 patent/US7471081B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2008
- 2008-11-24 US US12/292,651 patent/US20090146653A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2008-11-24 US US12/292,650 patent/US20090146652A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3896495A (en) * | 1974-02-25 | 1975-07-22 | Control Data Corp | Mechanically isolated transducer head with spring loaded arm for flying |
US7196512B2 (en) * | 2001-07-30 | 2007-03-27 | Fujitsu Limited | Magnetic head tester |
US6947242B2 (en) * | 2002-04-16 | 2005-09-20 | Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V. | Apparatus and method for dynamic fly height adjustment |
US6943971B2 (en) * | 2002-08-26 | 2005-09-13 | Fujitsu Limited | Slider tester |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2012009163A1 (en) * | 2010-07-12 | 2012-01-19 | Xyratex Technology Ltd. | Fly capable slider test socket |
US8379348B2 (en) | 2010-07-12 | 2013-02-19 | Xyratex Technology Limited | Fly capable slider test socket |
US20180240480A1 (en) * | 2017-02-23 | 2018-08-23 | Seagate Technology Llc | Slider test socket |
US10839836B2 (en) | 2017-02-23 | 2020-11-17 | Seagate Technology Llc | Slider test socket |
US11105847B1 (en) | 2018-06-18 | 2021-08-31 | Seagate Technology Llc | Data storage component test socket opener |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20090146652A1 (en) | 2009-06-11 |
WO2005006332A1 (en) | 2005-01-20 |
JPWO2005006332A1 (en) | 2006-08-24 |
US20060172575A1 (en) | 2006-08-03 |
US7471081B2 (en) | 2008-12-30 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US7471081B2 (en) | Slider tester | |
JP4099362B2 (en) | Slider testing machine | |
EP1391738A2 (en) | Probe card | |
US7644493B2 (en) | Adjustable head stack comb | |
US4843502A (en) | Magnetic head slider loading mechanism for magnetic disk apparatus | |
JPH11232806A (en) | Piezoelectric nanopositioner | |
US8093888B2 (en) | Head assembly drive mechanism, head holder, magnetic head tester and magnetic disk tester | |
US6741425B1 (en) | Minimizing flexure pitch static attitude angle change with dimple height change | |
US7581309B2 (en) | Method of assembling a carriage assembly | |
JP3621759B2 (en) | Z movement stage mechanism | |
EP1388847A1 (en) | Head supporting assembly, head driving assembly, and disk drive apparatus | |
US8487609B2 (en) | Testing apparatus with read head holder having a gas jet pointing into a channel | |
JP4041745B2 (en) | Slider testing machine | |
US6355122B1 (en) | Method for ultrasonically connecting and inspecting slider-lead joints for disk drive head gimbal assemblies | |
US20210231719A1 (en) | Insulation resistance measurement device and insulation resistance measurement method | |
US4719692A (en) | Method of manufacturing a magnetic head assembly | |
US6317295B1 (en) | Adjustment apparatus for magnetic head device | |
JPH05217134A (en) | Clamping mechanism for magnetic head | |
KR100732933B1 (en) | Head stack assembly, its manufacturing method, and magnetic disc drive having the same | |
JPS61278088A (en) | Magnetic head device | |
JPH10239390A (en) | Inspection probe equipment of socket for ic test | |
JPS586517A (en) | Magnetic head assembly | |
JP2722981B2 (en) | Guide drum | |
US20050005425A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for HDD suspension gimbal-dimple separation (contact) force measurement | |
JP2000155919A (en) | Mechanism for supporting magnetic head |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO PAY ISSUE FEE |