Suspension Assembly Dimples for Reliable Swaging on Uneven Baseplates
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of forming a strong and reliable connection between actuator arms and suspension assemblies in disk drives has been exacerbated by the need for increased data storage capacity and reduced component size, particularly due to issues with baseplate flatness and asymmetric designs affecting the swaging interface.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of dimples on the baseplate or load beam of the suspension assembly, which provide a consistent contact plane with the actuator arm through rounded protrusions terminating in apices, ensuring a reliable swaging process even if the baseplate is not perfectly flat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the baseplate is made thinner to accommodate higher density drives, then the storage capacity increases, but the flatness of the baseplate upper surface deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The dimples are formed on the baseplate upper surface before the swaging process. This preliminary action creates predetermined contact points that will engage with the actuator arm during swaging, ensuring proper alignment and contact regardless of minor variations in baseplate flatness.
Solution Approach 2:
The dimples act as intermediary features between the baseplate and the actuator arm. These dimples provide discrete contact points that mediate the interface between the two components, ensuring reliable engagement even when the overall baseplate flatness is compromised by thinning.
2Quantity of substance
If the baseplate design is made asymmetric to optimize performance, then the storage capacity increases, but the consistency of the baseplate upper surface deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The dimples introduce localized features at specific positions on the baseplate upper surface. These local quality modifications create consistent contact points without requiring the entire baseplate surface to be perfectly flat or symmetric, allowing asymmetric baseplate designs to maintain reliable actuator arm engagement.
3Volume of moving object
If the relative components are made smaller to fit in smaller electronics, then the device size decreases, but the reliability of the connection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact interface between the baseplate and actuator arm is segmented into multiple discrete dimple features rather than relying on a continuous flat surface. This segmentation provides multiple localized contact points, increasing connection reliability even as the overall component size decreases.
Data Source
AI summary
A suspension assembly includes a baseplate having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, a load beam mounted to the baseplate, a cylindrical hub extending from the upper surface, wherein the cylindrical hub comprises an inner surface that defines a swage hole extending through the baseplate, and a plurality of dimples protruding from the upper surface of the baseplate, wherein each of the dimples includes a rounded side protruding from the upper surface of the baseplate and terminating in an apex. The apexes of the dimples define a contact plane for engaging with the lower surface of the actuator arm swaged to the cylindrical hub.