Effect of air-bearing design on slider dynamics during unloading process

Slider dynamics during unloading process are studied experimentally using a laser Doppler vibrometer. A lift tab of a suspension is vertically lifted to unload the slider, and vertical displacements of the slider and suspensi on at several locations are measured. Using this procedure, the following s teps are clearly observed; I) the lift tab bending, II) dimple separation f rom the slider back surface, III) contact of a load beam with limiters, and IV) slider unloading from disk surface followed by the slider vibration. T he unloading process for three different sliders with different levels of n egative pressure force are examined. As negative pressure force of the slid er decreases, slider unloading occurs early and amplitude of the slider vib ration after unloading decreases. It is experimentally shown that the slide r air-bearing design has a strong effect on dynamics on unloading process.