Patent ID: 8120879
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: G11B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A load beam having a flat plate body supported in a read/write device so as to turn in the read/write device and apply load onto a slider that writes and reads data to and from a medium in the read/write device, the load beam comprising: a functional part formed on the body of the load beam and having a convex curved surface; a continuous surface covering the body of the load beam and the functional part; and a modified layer extending from the surface of the functional part covering a top of the convex curved surface on the continuous surface to the inside thereof, the modified layer being modified in two steps by irradiating a part of the load beam to be shaped into the functional part with a laser beam and thereafter carrying out a plastically deforming pressing on the irradiated part, said irradiating and pressing causing the surface of the functional part to be uniformly smooth and have lower surface roughness than the body of the load beam on the continuous surface.