A uniform flying height rotary actuated air bearing slider

A new air bearing slider is presented and its flying characteristics are studied for large variations in skew angle due to rotary actuator positioning. The new slider contour is seen to remove most of the sensitivity of flying height and roll to skew angle and radial position. This should provide a more uniform magnetic head flying height over the recording band and allow a wider variation of slider skew angle. Conventional machining operations are required for production of the slider contour.