Patent ID: 6397455
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for forming a flexure for a rigid disc drive data storage device, said flexure comprising a load beam and a load point tab, and the load point tab comprising a load point, comprising the steps of:(I) coating a first side of a material with a resist to form a first side resist coating on the first side; (II) coating a second side of said material with a resist to form a second side resist coating on the second side; (III) exposing said first side resist coating to a first pattern of light; (IV) exposing said second side resist coating to a second pattern of light, wherein said second pattern is not identical to said first pattern; (V) stripping resist from said first side and said second side of said material to define: (1) on said first side, a first exposed metal surface not covered by resist defining a load beam pattern corresponding to a portion of said first pattern; (2) on said second side, a second exposed metal surface not covered by resist having said load beam pattern and positioned such that said first exposed metal surface opposes said second exposed metal surface; (3) on said first side, a third exposed metal surface not covered by photo resist and having dimensions corresponding to said load point tab in first and second perpendicular directions; (4) on said first side, a fourth non-exposed metal surface covered by photo resist, surrounded by said third exposed metal surface, and having dimensions in said first and second perpendicular directions corresponding to dimensions of said load point in said first and second perpendicular directions; and (5) wherein said third exposed metal surface and said fourth non-exposed metal surface are opposed on said second side by photo resist covered surface of said material; and (VI) concurrently exposing said first side and said second side to an etchant for a duration sufficient: (1) to etch away all material between said first metal surface region and said second metal surface region, to thereby define at least lateral edges of said load beam; (2) to not etch away all material between said third exposed metal surface and the opposing portion of said second surface, to thereby define said load point tab; and (3) to not etch away all material between said fourth non-exposed metal surface and opposing the portion of said second surface, to thereby define said load point.