Concepts and Limitations of Using Optical Profilometry for Air Bearing Simulations of Hard Disk Sliders

Abstract

The topography of hard disk sliders is commonly measured with optical profilometers that produce a regularly spaced matrix of topography data corresponding to the pixel array of the CCD camera. This paper explores a new concept that combines optical profilometry and air bearing simulations to achieve an accurate method for predicting fly height early in the manufacturing process. Various sources of error in the topography measurement are analyzed with regards to their impact on the accuracy of air bearing simulations. The findings are illustrated by a feasibility study based on numerical simulations of a slider with a negative pressure air bearing design.

Presented as a Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers paper at the ASME/STLE Tribology Conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, October 26–28, 1998

KEY WORDS:

• Magnetic Data Storage System Tribology
• Air Bearings
• Hard Disks

Notes

Presented as a Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers paper at the ASME/STLE Tribology Conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, October 26–28, 1998