Disk Drive Headlift Composite Stiffener Resists Bending

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for disk drive headlifts with improved performance and manufacturing efficiency, particularly for laminate load beams that require strong headlifts resistant to bending and twisting.

Innovation Solution

A head suspension component with a headlift comprising first and second layers of relatively stiff metal separated by a polymer layer, where the polymer layer includes a stiffening portion extending over the headlift tab, enhancing the rigidity and resistance to bending and twisting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a headlift is formed from a single stainless steel layer in a laminate load beam, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the headlift strength and resistance to bending and twisting is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheadlift strength and rigidityVSAvoidheadlift structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The headlift is constructed as a composite structure with multiple stainless steel layers separated by polymer layers, combining different materials to achieve superior strength and rigidity properties that single-layer structures cannot provide

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The headlift transitions from a single-layer two-dimensional structure to a multi-layer three-dimensional composite structure, adding vertical dimensionality through stacked layers to enhance mechanical properties without significantly increasing planar footprint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the headlift is made stronger to resist bending and twisting, then the headlift performance improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheadlift performance under loadVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The headlift is segmented into multiple discrete layers (stainless steel and polymer) that can be manufactured separately and then assembled through lamination, allowing each layer to be optimized independently while maintaining manufacturing efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple layers are merged through lamination processes to create a unified composite structure that provides enhanced mechanical performance while being manufactured using standardized multi-step lamination techniques

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7804664B1Laminate beam transition headlift for a disk drive head suspension

Publication Date: 2010.09.28 HUTCHINSON TECH INC

AI summary

A headlift for a disk drive head suspension extending from a planar base region on a load beam of the head suspension. The headlift is formed from first and second layers of relatively stiff metal separated by a layer of polymer. The headlift includes a headlift tab and a stiffener extending over at least a portion of the headlift tab. The headlift tab includes a convex headlift region formed out of one of the two metal layers. The stiffener is formed from one of the two metal layers or from a combination of the polymer layer and one of the two metal layers.