Rigid disk slider micromachining challenges to meet microtribology needs

The air bearing surface (ABS) of a rigid disk drive recording head has to s atisfy two tribological needs. For a head in transition during spin up or s hut down the ABS has to allow either contact start stop (CSS) or ramp load/ unload (LUL). The ABS also has to provide a stable flight attitude when a h ead is in operation. These tribological challenges translate into two sets of fabrication tasks: an ABS plane with a given surface geometry needs to b e created as well as an ABS contour and depth profile. In slider fabricatio n these challenges are met by a combination of mechanical and physical micr omachining processes. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.