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

Abstract

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 suspension at several locations are measured. Using this procedure, the following steps are clearly observed: (I) the lift tab bending, (II) dimple separation from the slider back surface, (III) contact of a load beam with limiters, and (IV) slider unloading from disk surface followed by the slider vibration. The unloading process for three different sliders with different levels of negative pressure force are examined. As negative pressure force of the slider decreases, slider unloading occurs early and amplitude of the slider vibration after unloading decreases. It is experimentally shown that the slider air-bearing design has a strong effect on dynamics on unloading process.