Patent ID: 7283330
Filing Date: 2007-10-16
Classification: G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a disk drive suspension member, comprising: forming said suspension member into a desired length and width configuration with a nominal thickness dimension; forming plural pockets in a substantially flat main surface of said suspension member by removing material to a desired pocket depth below said suspension member main surface that is less than a thickness of said suspension member; each of said pockets having a pocket surface and a continuous side wall extending from said pocket surface to said suspension member main surface; said pocket surfaces being relatively flat within pocket depth tolerances created by said forming; said pockets being of varying size and shape according to a design that is selected to achieve desired suspension member weight reduction, static strength and dynamic characteristics; and selectively treating said pocket surfaces of said pockets, but not said suspension member main surface, with a compressive force to reduce said pocket depth tolerances until a desired pocket depth tolerance is reached that provides acceptable variations in vertical stiffness, gram loading and frequency characteristics of said suspension member, and to introduce hardness and strength into said pocket surfaces.