Patent ID: 7120988

Claim:
A method for forming a write head having an air bearing surface (ABS), comprising: forming a flux shaping layer; forming a pole tip layer on the shaping layer, the shaping layer being for focusing flux to the pole tip layer; forming a mask layer above the pole tip layer, the mask layer being more resistant to milling than the pole tip layer; forming a layer of resist above the mask layer; patterning the resist, the patterned resist defining about a maximum width of the pole tip in a direction parallel to the ABS of the head; removing portions of the mask layer not covered by the patterned resist; milling for shaping a pole tip from the pole tip layer; depositing a layer of dielectric material above the pole tip and flux shaping layer, wherein the layer of dielectric material extends about adjacent to the mask layer; depositing a stop layer over the dielectric material, the stop layer abutting the mask layer; polishing for forming a substantially planar upper surface consisting of the mask layer and stop layer; forming a gap layer above the pole tip to a desired thickness; and forming a trailing shield above the gap layer.