Patent ID: 8318031

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head, comprising: depositing a non-magnetic bump material over a surface; forming a first photoresist mask on the non-magnetic bump material; performing a first ion milling process to remove a portion of the non-magnetic bump material that is not protected by the first photoresist mask, the first ion milling process being performed at one or more angles relative to normal such that shadowing from the first photoresist mask forms a tapered back edge on the non-magnetic bump material and exposes a portion of the underlying surface; depositing a magnetic write pole material full film over the remaining non-magnetic bump portion and exposed portion of the surface; forming a non-magnetic step structure over the magnetic write pole material, the non-magnetic step structure having a front edge that is recessed from an air bearing surface plane; and performing a second ion milling to remove a portion of the write pole material, the second ion milling being performed in such a manner that shadowing from the non-magnetic step structure causes the ion milling to form a tapered portion on an upper surface of the write pole material.