Abstract:
Head gimbal assemblies are provided that comprise a slider, a load beam, a flexure, and a lifter tab. The flexure holds the slider against a pivot point of the load beam. The lifter tab extends from the load beam to engage a load/unload ramp. The load beam includes a base portion having the pivot point, a first side rail, and a first limiter stop. The first side rail is disposed adjacent to a transverse side of the slider while the first limiter stop is adjacent to a leading side of the slider. The first limiter stop extends from the first side rail and is essentially perpendicular thereto. The flexure includes a first leading edge tab that extends between the first limiter stop and the base portion of the load beam to limit the movement of the flexure especially during loading and unloading.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/379,778, filed Mar. 4, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,010,847 and entitled “Method of Manufacturing a Head Gimbal Assembly with Substantially Orthogonal Tab, Side Beam, and Base,” which is a divisional of U.S. Pat. No. 6,538,850, issued Mar. 25, 2003, and entitled “Low Profile Head Gimbal Assembly with Shock Limiting and Load/Unload Capability and Method of Manufacture Thereof.” 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates generally to disk drives, and more particularly to disk drive head assemblies. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   As computers have improved over recent years the need for increased data storage has risen dramatically. To meet this need several approaches have been taken to make disk drives capable of storing more data without increasing, and in some cases actually decreasing, their overall size. One approach has been to raise the recording density of the disks by storing more data on the same size disk. Another approach has been to increase the number of disks in the drive&#39;s disk stack by spacing the disks closer together. 
   Increasing the recording density primarily depends on reducing the amount of disk space needed to store each bit of data. A disk drive stores and retrieves data by using a magnetic head which writes data onto the disk by aligning magnetic poles in the magnetic material and reads data by sensing the alignment of previously written poles. The smaller the poles can be made, the more data that can be stored on the disk. However, as the poles are made smaller, the magnetic fields produced by the poles become weaker. Thus, to align and sense the poles, the magnetic head has to be kept very near the surface of the disk. 
   In order to position magnetic heads sufficiently close to the surface of disks, the heads are typically mounted to air bearing sliders. An air bearing slider is a device which is specifically shaped so that when placed into the airstream existing near the surface of a rotating disk, the slider will provide a lifting force, to cause it to fly just above the disk surface. As magnetic heads are normally much smaller than sliders, they can be mounted to and flown along with the slider. This allows the distance between the magnetic head and the disk surface to be kept relatively small and constant. 
   Usually, the slider is part of a head gimbal assembly which is attached to an actuator or support arm. As the support arm reciprocates, the slider is moved across the disk surface to precise positions over individual data tracks on the disk. The head gimbal assembly includes a pivot point and a flexure. As the name implies, the flexure is ordinarily a flexible piece of metal, which is stiff enough to urge the slider to maintain a desired position relative to the disk surface, but flexible enough to allow the slider to pitch and roll about the pivot point. It is important that the slider can move about the pivot point so that the slider can freely fly above the disk. 
   Unfortunately, flying a slider close to the disk surface increases the potential for damage caused by the slider contacting the disk surface. Contact between the slider and disk can result from a shock, jolt or bump to the disk drive, or from the process of loading and unloading the slider between uses. Depending on the flying height of the slider, even a relatively minor shock can displace the slider enough to cause it to collide with the disk surface. Also, an external shock or jolt to the disk drive can cause structural damage to the flexure if the slider is displaced too far about, or from, the pivot point or if the flexure is loaded excessively. Such shocks or jolts can also occur during the manufacturing process when the disk drive is assembled. Damage to the flexure can include dimple separation and bending of the flexure. Dimple separation can occur if the flexure/slider assembly separates too far from the pivot point and deforms the flexure into its plastic range. With dimple separation the flexure no longer can maintain the slider in contact with the pivot point or even if contact can be maintained it cannot be done with the same resiliency. 
   Thus, to allow for the low flying heights required to achieve higher recording density, an apparatus is needed which will limit or prevent damage caused by shocks, jolts or bumps. However, such an apparatus should also allow for load/unload operations. 
   To increase recording density and to improve the head-disk interface (to reduce wear to the slider and surface of the disk and to reduce stiction between the slider and disk), load/unload operations have been employed. As the name implies, a load/unload operation involves unloading and loading steps. The “unload” portion of a load/unload operation involves physically lifting and retaining the head gimbal assembly (with the slider) up and away from the surface of the disk. Unloading is done to keep the slider from contacting the surface of the disk when the disk is slowed to a stop. Without unloading, as the disk slows to a stop, the airflow over its surface will lessen and the slider will stop flying. At this point, the slider will drop to contact and rest upon the disk surface. Slider contact with the surface of the disk causes both the slider and the disk surface to sustain some wear. Further, with the slider resting on the disk, when the disk is spun up again there will exist stiction between the slider and the surface of the disk. Stiction may cause structural damage to the delicate head gimbal assembly. Stiction causes further wear of the slider and disk surface as well as the load on the motor turning the disk. 
   During the “load” portion of the load/unload operation the head gimbal assembly is lowered down from its rest towards the disk. With the disk spinning sufficiently, the slider will begin flying as it is lowered to the surface of the disk. 
   Load/unloading can occur by having a tab on the head gimbal assembly which contacts and is lifted by, a load/unload ramp. As the tab is moved along the ramp it is raised increasingly further up from the disk surface. This in turn raises the slider up from the surface and allows the disk to be stopped without the slider landing and resting on the disk surface. 
   The other approach to increasing the overall disk storage has been to increase the number of disks in the disk drive&#39;s disk stack. However, as additional disks are added to the stack, the spacing between the disks decreases. Therefore, the disk spacing can only be decreased a certain amount. This amount is determined by the height of the portion of the head gimbal assembly which must fit between the disks. 
   In a disk drive having a load/unload ramp, the space between disks is limited by the height of lifter tabs of the head gimbal assemblies. Specifically, the height of the head gimbal assembly is defined by the amount which the lifter tab projects above the rest of the gimbal assembly. The lifter tab rises relative to the test of the head gimbal assembly to allow access by the load/unload ramp. As such, the height of the lifter tab directly limits the spacing between disks, which in turn limits the disk stack density. Therefore, a need exists for a head gimbal assembly with a low overall profile. 
   Thus, a head gimbal assembly with improved head-disk interface is sought which will permit increased data storage by allowing for both greater recording density and closer disk stacking. To provide increased recording density without increasing damage caused by contacts of the slider to the disk caused by external shocks or jolts, the head gimbal assembly must employ an apparatus to limit the slider&#39;s motion. Also, the profile of the head gimbal assembly must be low enough to allow the disks in the disk stack to be placed closer together to increase the stack density. However, the head gimbal assembly must still be capable of load/unload operations to reduce slider-disk wear and stiction. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Head gimbal assemblies of various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, being for use in a disk drive having a load/unload ramp, are disclosed. According to one embodiment the HGA comprises a slider, load beam, flexure, and lifter tab. The slider includes a top surface, a leading side, a trailing side, and first and second transverse sides disposed between the leading and trailing sides. 
   The load beam includes a base portion, a first side rail, and a first limiter stop. The base portion of the load beam has a pivot point above the top surface of the slider. The first side rail is disposed adjacent to the first transverse side of the slider and has a leading end. The first limiter stop is adjacent to the leading side of the slider, extends from the leading end of the first side rail, and is essentially perpendicular to the first side rail. 
   The flexure is disposed between the load beam and the slider and configured to hold the slider against the pivot point. The flexure includes a first leading edge tab extending between the first limiter stop and the base portion. The lifter tab extends from the load beam so as to be engagable with the load/unload ramp. 
   According to another embodiment, the load beam includes a base portion, a leading cross beam, first and second side rails, and a first limiter stop. The base portion defines a longitudinal axis and has a pivot point. The leading cross beam extends from the base portion essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The first and second side rails are attached to opposite ends of the leading cross beam, are disposed beneath the base portion, and each of the first and second side rails has a leading end. The first limiter stop extends from the leading end of the first side rail and is essentially perpendicular to the first side rail. 
   The slider is disposed at least partially between the first and second side rails. The flexure is disposed between the load beam and the slider and is configured to hold the slider against the pivot point. The flexure includes a first leading edge tab extending between the first limiter stop and the base portion. The lifter tab extends from the load beam so as to be engagable with the load/unload ramp. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the head gimbal assembly, actuator arm, disk and load/unload ramp. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a close-up of the head gimbal assembly. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the head gimbal assembly. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-section view showing the head gimbal assembly. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 6   a–d  is a set of cross-section views showing the head gimbal assembly during an unload operation. 
       FIGS. 7   a–e  is a set of perspective views showing the manufacture of the head gimbal assembly. 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart setting forth the method of manufacture. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In the preferred embodiments the invention is embodied in a head gimbal assembly (HGA). The head gimbal assembly includes an apparatus for limiting the pitching, rolling and vertical displacement of the slider relative to the supporting structure of the head gimbal assembly. This limiting apparatus reduces the possibility of damage to the head gimbal assembly and disk from collisions between the slider and disk caused by shocks or jolts to the disk drive from external sources and the manufacturing process. Collisions are also avoided as the head gimbal assembly is configured to produce a positive pitch of the slider during load and unload operations. The head gimbal assembly is also configured to have a low overall height. This height reduction is achieved by reducing the height of the lifter tab in a manner which still allows for load and unload operations. The low profile of the head gimbal assembly allows for a significant increase in stack density. That is, the low profile allows for increased data storage as the disks can be spaced closer together, allowing more disks to be held in the same sized disk stack. The head gimbal assembly is also specifically designed to allow for relatively easy, quick and inexpensive manufacture. 
   Description of Relevant Disk Drive Components 
   The relevant components of the disk drive include the disk  2  and the head stack assembly (HSA)  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the disk  2  includes a disk surface  4  and a disk outside edge  6 . The head stack assembly  10  includes a support arm  12  and a head gimbal assembly or HGA  16 . The head stack assembly  10  can move from side to side to position the slider over a desired position on the disk  2 . Also shown in  FIG. 1  is a load/unload ramp  64 , which operates to receive the head gimbal assembly  16  and lift up the head gimbal assembly  16 , with the slider  20 , well above the disk surface  4 . 
   Description of the Apparatus 
   The primary components of the head gimbal assembly  16  include a slider  20 , a flexure  30 , and a load beam  40  with a lifter tab  60 . These elements are shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
   The slider  20  includes a leading edge  22 , a trailing edge  24 , a read/write head  26  and sides  28 . In the preferred embodiment, the slider  20  is an “air bearing slider.” An air bearing slider is a device which is specifically shaped so when it is placed into the airflow existing close to the surface of a rotating disk, the slider will provide a lifting force to cause it to fly above the disk. The slider  20  operates to carry the read/write head  26  over the disk surface  4 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the slider  20  is rectangular in shape. Normally, slider  20  is positioned such that when it is in an airflow, the air generally flows first past the leading edge  22 , then past sides  28  and lastly past trailing edge  24 . The leading edge  22  and trailing edge  24  are generally kept perpendicular with the airflow and sides  28  generally parallel to the airflow. The slider  20  is attached to the rest of the head stack assembly  10  such that it is free to pivot in both pitch and roll, allowing the slider  20  to be free to fly. The head gimbal assembly  16  typically applies a downward force on the slider  20 . In one embodiment this downward force is about 2.5 g. 
   The flexure  30  is an element that attaches the slider  20  to the rest of the head stack assembly  10 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the flexure  30  is rigidly attached to the slider  20  at the slider&#39;s upper surface  21 . The flexure  30  is also rigidly mounted to the load beam  40  of the head stack assembly  10  at a flexure mount  32 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The flexure  30  is comprised of a relatively flexible material which is stiff enough to urge the slider  20  against a pivot point  47  of the load beam  40  and to resiliently urge the slider  20  to a desired attitude relative to the disk surface  4 . However, the flexure  30  is also flexible enough that the slider  20  can deflect in pitch and roll as necessary to allow the slider  20  to fly in the airflow above the disk surface  4  when disk  2  is rotating. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the flexure  30  is mounted to the load beam  40  forward of the pivot point  47  at the flexure mount  32 . In one embodiment, the flexure  30  is attached to the load beam  40  at two weld points positioned along the length of the load beam  40 . From its mount  32 , the flexure extends back to its attachment to the slider  20 . The flexure  30  is mounted to the load beam  40  such that it is deformed sufficiently from an initial shape to continuously urge the slider  20  in a substantially vertical direction up against the pivot point  47 . The flexure  30  also urges the slider  20  to have a positive pitch (leading edge up relative to the trailing edge) when taking off from the disk  2 . 
   The flexure  30  includes leading edge limiter tabs  36  and trailing edge limiter tabs  38 . As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the leading edge limiter tabs  36  extend from the slider  20  at or near its leading edge  22 . Likewise, the trailing edge limiter tabs  38  extend out from the slider  20  at or near its trailing edge  24 . The limiter tabs  36  and  38  each are positioned above stops of the load beam  40  which act to limit movement of the limiter tabs  36  and  38 . With the limiter tabs  36  and  38  positioned at or near each end and at each side of the slider  20 , the slider  20  is limited in its movement at each of its four corners. 
   The load beam  40  provides support to the other elements of the head gimbal assembly  16 . The load beam  40  is a relatively rigid member which acts to carry the loads imparted to, and generated by, the head gimbal assembly  16 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the load beam  40  is part of the head gimbal assembly  16 . Load beam  40  extends outward from its attachment to the support arm  12  to the slider  20 . By actuation of the support arm  12 , the load beam  40 , carrying the slider  20 , allows slider  20  to be positioned across the disk surface  4 . Moving the slider  20  across the disk surface  4 , allows a read/write head  26 , mounted onto the slider  20  (preferably at the trailing edge), to read or write data across the entire usable portion of disk surface  4 . 
   The load beam  40  includes: a pivot point  47 , a first bend  44 , a base  46 , a forward second bend  48 , a rear second bend  49 , leading cross beam  50 , side beams  52 , a trailing cross beam  54 , leading edge limiter stops  56 , trailing edge limiter stops  58  and the lifter tab  60 . These components are shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 . 
   The base  46  operates to provide a platform for both the pivot point  47  which is mounted to the underside of the base  46  and for the leading cross beam  50  which extends out horizontally on each side of the base  46 . The pivot point  47  can be a dimple formed out of the base  46 . The leading cross beam  50  extends far enough outward to extend past each side  28  of the slider  20 . At each outside ends of the leading cross beam  50  are the forward second bends  48 . The forward second bends  48  angle the beam from a substantially horizontal orientation to a substantially vertical orientation. At the lower end of each of the forward second bends  48  are side beams  52 . The side beams  52  run from the forward second bends  48  aft to each of the rear second bends  49 . The side beams  52  substantially parallel each of their neighboring slider sides  28 . The side beams  52  have sufficiently load capacity to carry the loads of the load beam  40  and to provide sufficient stiffness to prevent or limit deflection of the load beam  40  during load and unload operations. At the trailing edge of the side beams  52  the beams are connected to each of the rear second bends  49 . At each of the rear second bends  49  the beam bends back to being substantially horizontal to connect to the trailing cross beam  54 . The trailing edge cross beam  54  extends across between both of the rear second bends  49 . 
   As shown in both  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the base  46 , leading cross beam  50 , side beams  52  and trailing cross beam  54  define an opening  42 . At the forward end of each side beam  52  are located the first bends  44 . At each first bend  44  the beam bends to extend in front of and substantially parallel to the slider leading edge  22  to form each of the leading edge limiter stops  56 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3  the limiter stops  56  extend from each first bends  44  inward towards one another. The leading edge limiter stops  56  are each positioned to receive a leading edge limiter tab  36 . Receiving both the leading edge limiter tabs  36  acts to limit the downward pitch and translation of the slider  20 . Receiving one limiter tab  36  on one limiter stop  56  can act to limit the rotational motion of the slider  20 . Also, by contacting the leading edge limiter tabs  36  to the limiter stops  56  loads imparted on the slider  20  can be transferred to the load beam  40  through the limiter stops  56 . This protects the flexure  30  from damage (e.g. dimple separation or bending of the flexure) which could otherwise result from excessive displacements of, and/or excessive loads upon, the slider  20  and flexure  30 . 
   Although other embodiments of the load beam  40  can be used, the aforementioned configuration allows for easier manufacture, provides increased stiffness and allows for any possible post-assembly adjustments to the head gimbal assembly  16 . This embodiment of the load beam  40  allows the load beam  40  to be manufactured from a single sheet of material which is bent only two times during manufacture. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , an alternative embodiment of the head gimbal assembly  16 ′ and the load beam  40 ′ includes eliminating the opening  42 . In this embodiment, the base  46 ′ extends across the area of the opening  42 , connecting with the leading cross beam  50 , the trailing cross beam  54  and the side beams  52 . Two small limiter openings  43  are provided in the extended base  46 ′ about the trailing edge limiter tabs  38  to allow for vertical movement of the limiter tabs  38 . Because the limiter openings  43  allow the trailing limiter  38  to move within the openings  43 , the slider  20  continues to be able to pitch, roll and translate vertically relatively freely within the range defined by the interaction of the trailing edge limiter tabs  38 , the limiter openings  43  and the trailing edge limiter stops  58 . This alternative embodiment provides the advantage of increased stiffness of the load beam in both the vertical and lateral directions. 
   Between the load beam  40 ′ and the slider  20  is a pivot point or dimple  47 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Although the pivot point  47  can be any of a variety of shapes, in one embodiment the pivot point  47  is a semi-spherical shape which allows the slider  20  to pitch and roll about the pivot point  47 . The pivot point  47  acts as a gimbal for movement of the slider  20 . The pivot point  47  positions the slider  20  and flexure  30  sufficiently below the underside of the load beam  40 ′ to allow enough room to accommodate the deflections associated with the flight of slider  20 . Although contacting the pivot point  47 , neither the slider  20  nor the flexure  30  is attached to the pivot point  47 . Instead, the slider  20  and flexure  30  are resiliently maintained up against the pivot point  47  by deflection (e.g. pre loading) of the flexure  30 . 
   As noted, the flexure  30  is comprised of a relatively flexible material which resiliently urges the slider  20  in a desired position and attitude and allows the slider  20  to pitch and roll about the pivot point  47  as necessary to allow the slider  20  to fly. In one embodiment, the thickness of flexure  30  is about a third of that of the load beam  40 , making the flexure  30  about twenty-seven (27) times more flexible (in a vertical direction) than the load beam  40 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the leading edge limiter tabs  36  of flexure  30  are positioned above the leading edge limiter stops  56 , such that when the slider  20  pitches downward, the limiter tabs  36  contact the stops  56  and the downward pitching motion of the slider  20  is restrained. With the limiter tabs  36  in contact with the stops  56 , the loads acting to force the slider  20  to pitch downward are transferred to the load beam  40 . This protects the relatively weaker and more easily deformed flexure  30  from damage which might result from the flexure  30  carrying the loads. In other words, transferring the load from the flexure  30  to the load beam  40  protects the flexure  30  from damage due to a displacement beyond the elastic limit of the flexure  30 . 
   Likewise, the trailing edge limiter tabs  38  act to protect the flexure  30  from damage. The trailing edge limiter tabs  38  extend out from the sides of the slider  20  at or near its trailing edge  24 . The limiter tabs  38  are positioned above each of the side beams  52 , such that as the slider  20  is pitched upwards, the limiter tabs  38  will come in contact with the upper surface  55  of each side beam  52 . The portions of each upper surface  55  which receives the limiter tabs  38  are the trailing edge limiter stops  58 . The contact of the limiter tabs  38  with the limiter stops  58  restrains the pitching motion of the slider  20 . As such, the loads forcing the slider  20  to pitch up are transferred to the load beam  40 , protecting the flexure  30  from being damaged from displacements beyond its elastic limit. 
   The leading edge limiter tabs  36  and trailing edge limiter tabs  38  also function to limit the roll of the slider  20 . Since each limiter tab is placed at or near the side of the slider  20 , as the slider  20  rolls to one side, that side will drop and the leading edge limiter tab  36  and the trailing edge limiter tab  38  on that side of the slider  20 , will contact the leading edge limiter stop  56  and trailing edge limiter stop  58  on that same side. This will restrain the rolling of the slider  20  in that direction. With the limiter tabs  36  and  38  in contact with the stops  56  and  58 , the load on the flexure  30  will be transferred to the load beam  40 . 
   Besides limiting the pitching and rolling of the slider  20 , the limiter tabs  36  and  38  and limiter stops  56  and  58  also act to limit vertical translations of the slider  20 . Since the slider  20  and flexure  30  are resiliently urged against the pivot point  47 , but not attached to the pivot point  47 , the slider  20  can be displaced in a vertical direction (downward) from the pivot point  47 . Such a downward displacement can result from a variety of sources, including an external shock or jolt to the disk drive, handling during manufacture or as a result of the unloading of the head gimbal assembly  16 . The downward displacement of the slider  20  is limited by leading edge limiter tabs  36  and the trailing edge limiter tabs  38  contacting the leading edge limiter stops  56  and the trailing edge limiter stops  58  respectfully. Again, as with the pitch and roll limits, the loads on the flexure  30  from the vertical displacement of the slider  20 , transfer to the load beam  40  after the limiter tabs  36  and  38  contact the limiter stops  56  and  58 . 
   In an alternative embodiment, the head gimbal assembly  16  can employ three (3) limiter tabs. In one such embodiment, the trailing edge limiter tabs  38  remain as previously described but only one leading edge limiter tab  36  is used. This embodiment continues to limit the pitch, roll and vertical displacement of the slider  20 . 
   As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , extending from the trailing cross beam outward is the lifter tab or load/unload tab  60 . The lifter tab  60  operates in conjunction with a load/unload ramp or lifter  64  to allow the head gimbal assembly  16  to be lifted up away from the surface of disk  2  when the head stack assembly  10  is not in use. The action of lifting the head gimbal assembly  16  from the disk surface or “parking” the head stack assembly  10 , is advantageous as it protects both the disk  2  and the head gimbal assembly  16  when not in use, from damage caused by external shocks or jolts to the disk drive. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the load/unload ramp  64  has an edge  68  and an inclined surface  66  (inclined relative to the surface of disk  2 ). The inclined surface  66  extends down to near to the disk surface  4 . The load/unload ramp  64  must extend long enough such that its edge  68  will slide under at least a portion of the lifter tab  60 . The load/unload ramp  64  can be either fixed or movable. In one embodiment the load/unload ramp  64  is fixed in its position, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The load/unload ramp  64  is positioned at or near the outside edge  6  of the disk  2  in a position to receive the lifter tab  60  when the head stack assembly  10  is swung far enough to contact the load/unload ramp  64 . In another embodiment the load/unload ramp  64  is movable. The load/unload ramp  64  can move over the disk surface  4  to receive the load/unload ramp tab  60 . The movable load/unload ramp  64  parks the head gimbal assembly  16  by moving under the lifter tab  60  and raising the head gimbal assembly  16  above the disk  2 . The movable load/unload ramp  64  releases the head gimbal assembly  16  by moving back towards the outside edge  6  of the disk  2 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the lifter tab  60  has typically a semi-circular curved lower surface  62  which facilitates the contact of the lifter tab  60  with the load/unload ramp  64 , as well as the movement of the tab  60  along the inclined plane surface  66 . 
   The load/unload ramp  64  allows load/unload operations of the disk drive. As noted, the head gimbal assembly  16  applies a load in a substantially downward direction on the slider  20 . This loading helps to keep the slider  20  close to the disk surface  4  and increases the stability of the slider  20  in flight. As the slider  20  is flying in the airflow above disk  2  (rotating to create the airflow), slider  20  creates a lifting force which counteracts the load imparted by the head gimbal assembly  16 . As the lifter tab  60  contacts and is received by the load/unload ramp  64 , the load of head gimbal assembly  16  is transferred onto the load/unload ramp  64 . With the lifter tab  60  resting on the load/unload ramp  64  the head gimbal assembly  16  is unloaded. When the lifter tab  60  is not resting on the load/unload ramp  64  the head gimbal assembly  16  is loaded. When the head gimbal assembly  16  is loaded and the disk  2  spinning, at a rate fast enough to create a sufficient airflow to cause the slider  20  to fly, the lift force from the slider  20  will counter the load of head gimbal assembly  16 . Therefore, an unload operation occurs when the head gimbal assembly  16  (via the lifter tab  60 ) is parked onto the load/unload ramp  64  and a load operation occurs when the head gimbal assembly  16  is moved off the load/unload ramp  64 . To allow for fast load/unload operations the load beam  40  must be sufficiently rigid to avoid excessive deformations. 
   As can be seen in  FIGS. 6   a–d , the configuration of the head gimbal assembly  16 , including the positioning of the limiter tabs  36  and  38  and their respective stops  56  and  58 , provides that the slider  20  will have a positive pitch attitude when the head gimbal assembly  16  is unloaded. A positive pitch of slider  20  during unloading reduces the potential for damage caused by the slider leading edge  22  contacting the disk surface  4 . As shown in  FIG. 6   a , as the unload process begins, the lifter tab  60  contacts the load/unload ramp  64  which begins to apply a substantially vertical force onto the lifter tab  60 . This force in conjunction with the load force from the head gimbal assembly  16  causes the load beam to deform slightly. The slider  20  is still in flight and free to pitch and roll about the pivot point  47 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 6   b , as the lifter tab  60  moves further up the inclined surface  66 , the load exerted on the lifter tab  60  increases. This in turn increases the deformation of the load beam  40 . At this point the leading edge limiter tabs  36  contact the leading edge limiter stops  58  and the slider  20  is restrained moving past the stop in a negative pitch direction. The trailing edge limiter is not in contact with the trailing edge limiter stop  58 . As such, the slider is still free to pitch in a positive direction. 
   Next, as shown in  FIG. 6   c , as the lifter tab  60  moves further up inclined surface  66  the load on lifter tab  60  and the resulting deformation of load beam  40  increases. With the slider leading edge  22  held in place by contact of the leading edge limiter  36  with the leading edge limiter stop  56 , the relative downward movement of the pivot point  47 , caused by the deformation of the load beam  40 , forces the slider  20  into a positive pitch attitude. This forced positive pitch prevents the slider  20  from pitching in a negative direction which would otherwise allow the slider leading edge  22  to drop and potentially contact the disk surface  4 . At this stage in the unload process the trailing edge limiter  38  is not in contact with the trailing edge limiter stop  58 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 6   d , the unload process is complete and the load beam  40  is deformed sufficiently to cause the trailing edge limiter  38  to contact the limiter stop  58 . 
   During loading of the head gimbal assembly  16  the process is reversed and the load beam  40  is lowered towards the disk surface  4  with a positive pitch attitude. 
   As can be seen in  FIGS. 2–4 , in the preferred embodiment, the lifter tab  60  does not extend above the upper surface  41  of the load beam  40 . This provides the lifter tab  60  with a relatively low profile. The lifter tab  60  does not increase the overall head assembly height H, which as seen in  FIG. 4 , is the distance between the upper surface  41  of the load beam  40  and the lowest point on the bottom  29  of the slider  20 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the low profile of the lifter tab  60  allows for relatively close stacking of disks  2 , allowing a greater disk stack density and increased overall data storage of the disk drive. 
   Description of Method of Manufacture 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , the preferred embodiments of the apparatus can be manufactured by a method which includes: obtaining a load beam having a base, at least one side beam extending from the base and at least one tab extending from the at least one side beam, wherein the base, at least one side beam and the at least one tab are substantially in a common plane  100 ; attaching a flexure/slider assembly to the load beam  110 ; bending the load beam between the at least one tab and the at least one side beam, such that the at least one tab is positioned out of the common plane  120 ; and bending the load beam between the at least one side beam and the base, such that the at least one side beam is positioned out of the common plane  130 . This method is also shown in  FIGS. 7   a–e.    
   The step of obtaining a load beam  100  can be performed in many ways including stamping the load beam  40  out from a sheet of material of a uniform thickness. As seen in  FIG. 7   a , the load beam  40  can be cut from a single sheet of material, with opening  42  cut from the center and with the side beams  52  and the leading edge limit stop tabs  56 . 
   Next, the lifter tab  60  can be formed as shown in  FIG. 7   b . This step involves bending the flat lifter tab  60  into a curved shape to such that during load/unload operations the load/unload ramp  64  can gain access under the lifter tab  60  to raise up the head gimbal assembly  16 . The lifter tab  60  is formed so to retain a low profile of the head gimbal assembly  16  by not rising above the upper surface of the load beam  40 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 7   c , the step of attaching the flexure/slider assembly to the load beam  110  includes attaching the separately manufactured flexure  30  and slider  20  assembly to the load beam  40 . This attachment is at flexure mount  32  and can be two welds along the length of the load beam  40 . With the flexure  30  and slider  20  attached to the load beam  40 , the opening  42  allows access for any possible post-assembly adjustments to elements such as the flexure  30 , limiter tabs  36  and  38 . Further, in the event the wiring to the read/write head is done after the assembly of the head gimbal assembly  16  (instead of during manufacture of the flexure/slider assembly), the opening  42  allows for easier attachment of the wiring. 
   The step of bending the load beam between the at least one tab and the at least one side beam  120  includes bending both of the leading edge limiter stops  56 . As shown in  FIG. 7   d , the leading edge limiter stops  56  are bent downward to a substantially vertical orientation at first bends  44 . In one embodiment of the method, the bend is made over a specifically designed mandrel placed under the unbent load beam  40  at the location of the first bends  44 . In an alternative step, instead of bending the two leading edge limiter stops  56  at the same time, this step can involve two separate bends. First one side of the load beam  40  is bent and then the other. 
   The step of bending the load beam between the at least one side beam and the base  130  includes bending the load beam  40  to create both of the side beams  52 . As seen in  FIG. 7   e , to complete the manufacture of the head gimbal assembly  16 , the side beams  52  are bent downward to a substantially vertical orientation at each forward second bend  48  and rear second bend  49 . In the preferred embodiment, when the load beam  40  is cut, the side beams  52  are made at least wider than the thickness of the load beam. This provides that when the side beams  52  are bent to a vertical orientation, their vertical load capacity and stiffness are greater than if the beam had remained in its original unbent orientation. In one of the method, the second bends are made over a specifically designed mandrel placed under the unbent load beam  40  at the location of the each forward second bend  48  and rear second bend  49 . The bending of the side beams  52  causes the leading edge limiter stops  56  to be rotated up and under the base  46  and forward of the slider  20 , as shown in  FIG. 7   e  with the leading edge limiter stops  56  so positioned. By the second bend, they are able to receive the leading edge limiter tabs  36  when the slider  20  is sufficiently displaced by either pitching, rolling, a vertical displacement or a combination thereof. In an alternative step, instead of bending the two side beams  52  at the same time, this step can involve two separate bends. First one side of the load beam  40  is bent and then the other. 
   While the invention has been described in detail by specific reference to preferred embodiments, it is understood that the above description is not limiting of the disclosed invention and variations and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.