Disk Device Boss Swaging for Thin Arm Base-Plate Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limitation of thinner arm thickness in hard disk drives (HDDs) restricts the length and arrangement of bosses, hindering sufficient force for joining them into the through-hole, which affects the attachment of base plates to the arms.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a swaging process using a ball to deform bosses into the inner surface of the arm's through-hole, ensuring secure attachment of base plates by overlapping and compressing them between the arm's inner surface and an inner annular part, enhancing the joining force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the arm thickness is reduced, then the HDD can achieve higher density and smaller form factor, but the joining force between bosses and through-hole becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The boss is preliminarily positioned in the through-hole before the swaging process, ensuring proper alignment and preparation for the joining operation. This preliminary positioning allows the subsequent swaging action to effectively deform the boss and create sufficient joining force even in thinner arms.
Solution Approach 2:
A ball is introduced as a swaging tool to deform the boss into a curved or spherical shape that fits tightly within the through-hole. This spherical deformation creates radial compressive forces that significantly enhance the joining strength between the boss and the arm, overcoming the limitation of reduced arm thickness.
2Length of stationary object
If the arm thickness is reduced, then the HDD achieves compactness, but the length and arrangement of bosses are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the boss, specifically deforming it from a simple cylindrical shape to a swaged shape with increased radial dimension. This parameter change allows the boss to achieve sufficient holding force within the limited thickness of thin arms, enabling flexible arrangement of multiple base plates without being constrained by arm thickness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If two bosses are fitted into a thin through-hole, then both base plates can be attached to the arm, but sufficient joining force cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The ball acts as an intermediary tool that mediates the joining process between the boss and the through-hole. By introducing this intermediate swaging element, the system achieves sufficient joining force for multiple bosses in thin arms, enabling the attachment of multiple base plates without compromising connection strength.
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 method securely attaches base plates to the arm, providing a robust connection that maintains the structural integrity and operational stability of the HDD components.
Implementation Method 1
a swaging process using a ball to deform bosses into the inner surface of the arm's through-hole
Data Source
AI summary
A disk device according to an embodiment includes a first suspension and a second suspension. The first suspension has a first base plate mounted to the arm. The second suspension has a second base plate mounted to the arm. The arm with a through-hole includes a first surface, a second surface, and an inner surface. The through-hole is open to the first surface and the second surface. The inner surface defines the through-hole. The first base plate includes a first boss accommodated in the through-hole in contact with the inner surface. The second base plate includes a second boss accommodated in the through-hole in contact with the inner surface. The second boss is at least partly held between the inner surface and the first boss.