Patent ID: 7193819
Filing Date: 2007-03-20
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a disk drive comprising a base casting, a disk, and a head stack assembly (HSA), the HSA comprising at least one actuator arm, a suspension connected to a distal end of the actuator arm, a head connected to a distal end of the suspension, and a shipping comb attached to the actuator arm that limits relative vertical motion of the suspension, the method comprising the steps of: (a) inserting the HSA into the base casting; (b) actuating the shipping comb to bend the suspension in a vertical direction to facilitate the insertion of a merge tool comprising a finger for engaging the suspension; (c) inserting the merge tool such that the finger of the merge tool moves into position without scraping against the suspension; (d) detaching the shipping comb from the actuator arm wherein the suspension retracts vertically and engages the finger of the merge tool; and (e) actuating the merge tool to merge the HSA with the disk.