Cutting Jig for Head Suspension Slider Reworking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for reworking head suspensions in disk drives often damage the components, leading to deformation and separation, making them unusable and reducing product yields.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a cutting jig with a blade that presses and cuts the bonding material between the slider and the flexure, while a holding mechanism stops the slider, preventing extra stress on other components, allowing for the slider to be removed without deforming the head suspension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If force is applied in the direction to remove the slider from the tongue using heated tweezers, then the slider can be removed from the tongue, but stress is applied to the tongue and periphery causing deformation and separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pulling force method (heated tweezers) with a thermal cutting method. A heated blade cuts the adhesive bonding the slider to the tongue, eliminating the need for tensile force that causes deformation. The blade temperature is controlled to melt the adhesive while leaving the tongue and slider intact, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of repair and structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the adhesive from solid to liquid by controlling the blade temperature above the adhesive's melting point. This parameter change allows the slider to be separated without applying mechanical stress to the tongue, preventing deformation while enabling easy removal.
2Ease of repair
If heated tweezers are used to hold and remove the slider, then the slider can be detached, but the tongue and dimple may separate making the head suspension unusable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical detachment force with thermal cutting action. The heated blade severs the adhesive bond between slider and tongue through controlled heating, allowing slider removal without mechanical stress that could separate the tongue from the dimple, thus maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heated blade acts as an intermediary tool that transfers thermal energy to the adhesive rather than directly applying mechanical force to the tongue or slider. This intermediary approach enables separation while protecting the structural integrity of the head suspension components.
3Ease of repair
If tensile force is applied to remove the slider, then the slider can be separated from the tongue, but the adhesive and bonding material undergo stress leading to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the separation mechanism from mechanical tension to thermal cutting. By heating the blade above the adhesive's melting point, the bonding material transitions from a load-bearing state to a melted state, allowing slider separation without stress-induced deformation and maintaining manufacturing precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach prevents deformation of the head suspension during reworking, improving product yields by ensuring the components remain stress-free during the process.
Implementation Method 1
pressing a blade to the bonding material from the first side toward the second side in the longitudinal direction of the slider, stopping the second side of the slider in the longitudinal direction with a holding mechanism, thereby forcing the blade to bite and cut the bonding material
Data Source
AI summary
A cutting jig cuts bonding material of a terminal joint between a magnetic head's slider and a flexure's wiring terminal. A base of the jig receives the slider. A blade moves along the base and faces a front side wall of the slider in a moving direction. An upright portion of the jig is formed on the base and has a stop face that faces a rear side wall of the slider in the moving direction. The blade moves toward the slider to come into contact with the bonding material, and is pressed to the front side wall of the slider. The bonding material is interposed in the moving direction while the rear side wall of the slider is brought into contact with and is stopped by the stop face when the slider is set on the base and the bonding material is cut.