Patent ID: 7384531

Claim:
A method for forming an electroplated electrical interconnect on an integrated lead suspension or suspension component of the type having a stainless steel spring metal layer, a conductive lead layer and an insulating layer separating portions of the spring metal and conductive lead layers, including: forming an aperture through at least the insulating layer and exposing the stainless steel spring metal layer at an interconnect site; applying an interconnect mask around the interconnect site; removing oxide from the exposed stainless steel spring metal layer at the interconnect site; electroplating a first conductive material of nickel or nickel alloy in a nickel plating bath on the oxide-removed stainless steel spring metal layer at the interconnect site to form a plated nickel or nickel alloy interconnect having the physical structure of the conductive material as electroplated, including building up the first conductive material on the spring metal layer to a height about equal to or greater than a surface of the conductive lead layer, then with continued electroplating, contacting and forming an electrical connection to any unmasked portions of the conductive lead layer, and also plating onto and building up the first conductive material onto any unmasked portions of the conductive lead layer; removing the interconnect mask; and wherein the integrated lead suspension or suspension component is for incorporation into a disk drive with the plated nickel or nickel alloy interconnect having the physical structure of the conductive material as electroplated.