Track seeking, head-disk spacing variation and head-disk interface failure

Track seeking and the slider-disk space variation during track seeking are becoming more and more serious concerns when technology moves to 0.8-1.5 μm gap flying-height. This paper reports results of in-situ experimental investigations of the slider´s dynamic flying performance during track seeking. A partial erase method and a slider-disk resistance method were used in the investigation. Results indicate that the suspension´s vibration during track seeking plays an important role in the flying height vibration of slider. Furthermore, results indicate that the likely zone of slider-disk impact can be revealed by monitoring the resistance and the VCM current waveform simultaneously. A model is proposed also to explain the relationship of flying particles inside disk chamber, the slider´s dynamic performance during track seeking and the flying particles induced HDI failure