Thin-Film Magnetic Pole Plating Seam Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
The formation of seams in the narrow portion of magnetic poles during the plating process in thin-film magnetic heads leads to mechanical weakness, corrosion susceptibility, and degraded recording characteristics, such as reduced overwrite property.
Innovation Solution
The electrode film is positioned under the wide portion of the magnetic pole rather than the narrow portion, preventing the growth of plating film seams in the narrow area, and the manufacturing method involves forming a plating-film-accommodating layer with a wide groove portion for the wide portion and a to-be-removed groove portion to ensure seamless growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the magnetic pole is formed by plating in a groove with electrode film on both sidewalls, then the magnetic pole can be formed with narrow and wide portions, but seams form in the narrow portion where plating films from opposite sidewalls meet
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode film is extracted from the narrow groove portion and placed only in the wide groove portion. This removes the source of seam formation in the narrow portion while preserving the necessary plating function in the wide portion for mechanical support and electrical connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove is segmented into a narrow groove portion and a wide groove portion, with the electrode film selectively placed only in the wide groove portion. This segmentation allows the plating process to produce a seamless narrow portion while maintaining structural integrity through the wide portion.
2Ease of manufacture
If seams are present in the narrow portion of the magnetic pole, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the mechanical strength and corrosion resistance are significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode film is extracted from the narrow groove portion to eliminate seam formation, thereby improving mechanical strength and corrosion resistance while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through selective placement in the wide groove portion.
3Ease of manufacture
If seams are present in the narrow portion, then the structure is simpler to form, but recording characteristics such as overwrite property are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode film is extracted from the narrow groove portion to eliminate seams that degrade recording characteristics, thereby improving overwrite property and other recording performance metrics while maintaining ease of manufacture through selective electrode placement.
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 eliminates seams in the narrow portion, enhancing mechanical strength, reducing corrosion, and improving recording characteristics like overwrite property, resulting in a more reliable and efficient thin-film magnetic head.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic pole that is formed of a plating film... forming the magnetic pole in the groove by plating
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic pole of a magnetic head includes a narrow and a wide portion, and is formed of a plating film. An electrode film forms the plating film, and is provided only under at least a part of the wide portion. A manufacturing method for the magnetic head includes: forming a plating-film-accommodating layer with an accommodating groove; forming the electrode film in part of the accommodating groove; and forming the plating film in the accommodating groove by plating using the electrode film. The accommodating groove includes a narrow and a wide groove portion for accommodating the narrow and wide portions, respectively. The electrode film is provided only in at least a part of the wide groove portion. In the step of forming the plating film, the plating film grows from the surface of the electrode film, and the narrow groove portion is filled with a part of the plating film.