Patent ID: 8634164

Claim:
A method for detaching a head suspension component from a semi-finished suspension product including at least one head suspension component and a locating and transport structure, the locating and transport structure including a carrier strip, the head suspension component integrally connected to the carrier strip by a tab positioned along an axis between the head suspension component and the carrier strip, the tab including a detaching region having a lower tensile strength than other regions of the tab, the method comprising the steps of: (a) holding the head suspension component in a first fixed location; (b) holding the carrier strip in a second fixed location; and (c) advancing a punch towards a predetermined region in the tab along a direction generally perpendicular to a major surface of the semi-finished suspension product, wherein the punch applies a force to the predetermined region, wherein the predetermined region in the tab is between the detaching region and the carrier strip, and wherein the force generates a tensile load along the axis sufficient to fracture the tab.