A new laser texturing technique for high performance magnetic disk drives

Author

Baumgart, P. ; Krajnovich, D.J. ; Nguyen, T.A. ; Tam, A.C.

Author_Institution

IBM Storage Systems Div., Almaden Res. Center, San Jose, CA, USA

Volume

31

Issue

6

fYear

1995

fDate

11/1/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2946

Lastpage

2951

Abstract

A novel approach to texturing a landing zone at the inner diameter of a magnetic disk is presented. The technique employs a high repetition rate short-pulsed laser to create discrete topographical features with rounded, dome-like protrusions (“bumps”). These bumps serve as smooth support points for the contacting slider. The laser texture technique provides precision in the landing zone placement while eliminating the transition zone of a mechanically textured landing zone. It also provides excellent tribological performance in terms of low contact start/stop stiction and good durability

Keywords

hard discs; laser materials processing; magnetic recording; mechanical contact; surface texture; surface treatment; wear; bumps; contacting slider; dome-like protrusions; durability; high repetition rate short-pulsed laser; landing zone placement; landing zone texturing; laser texturing technique; low contact start/stop stiction; magnetic disk drives; smooth support points; topographical features; tribological performance; Disk drives; Laser beams; Laser transitions; Magnetic separation; Microscopy; Optical pulses; Space vector pulse width modulation; Surface cleaning; Surface emitting lasers; Surface topography;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.490199

Filename

490199