Offset Swage Baseplate for HDD Head Gimbal Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hard disk drives face challenges in increasing storage capacity while maintaining a standard form factor and meeting operational shock requirements due to limited mechanical clearances in the head gimbal assembly, which affects the spacing between disks and overall shock performance.
Innovation Solution
The use of an offset swage baseplate design that reduces the distance between suspensions coupled to an actuator arm, achieved by positioning swage bosses and clearance holes alternately on either side of the plate, allowing for closer disk placement without compromising operational shock resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the distance between suspensions is reduced to increase storage capacity, then more disks can be installed within standard form factor, but operational shock resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions swage bosses and clearance holes alternately on either side of the baseplate in an offset pattern, transitioning from a symmetric central arrangement to an asymmetric lateral distribution. This dimensional repositioning allows suspensions to be placed closer together in the vertical stacking direction while maintaining adequate horizontal clearance for shock resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The baseplate design employs asymmetric positioning of swage bosses and clearance holes relative to the plate centerline. By alternating features between opposite sides and offsetting their positions, the design creates an asymmetric pattern that optimizes both suspension spacing and mechanical clearance, resolving the contradiction between compactness and shock resistance
2Length of stationary object
If swage bosses are positioned close together to reduce assembly height, then z-height is reduced for higher density, but mechanical clearance is insufficient affecting shock performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the clearance conflict by moving swage bosses laterally to alternating sides of the baseplate rather than positioning them symmetrically near the center. This dimensional shift in the horizontal plane enables vertical compactness while preserving adequate mechanical clearance through lateral offset
Solution Approach 2:
The baseplate design segments the swage boss positions into distinct lateral groups on opposite sides of the plate. By dividing the assembly into alternating regions with and without swage bosses, the design creates sufficient mechanical clearance zones while maintaining reduced overall height
Data Source
AI summary
An approach to a head gimbal assembly, such as for a hard disk drive, includes an offset swage plate coupling a suspension to one side of an actuator arm and another offset swage plate coupling another suspension to an opposing second side of the actuator arm. Each offset swage plate includes a main body, a swage through-hole through a first lateral or longitudinal side of the main body, a swage boss around the perimeter of the swage through-hole and extending substantially normal to the main body, and a clearance through-hole through an opposing second lateral or longitudinal side of the main body, the clearance through-hole having no swage boss. Each offset swage plate is configured in the assembly in a position opposing the other, such that the corresponding swage bosses are positioned on different lateral/longitudinal sides of the arm tip so that there is no coaxial swage boss buildup.