Patent ID: 6848168

Claim:
A method for controlling installation of a head stack assembly into a base deck assembly, in which the head stack assembly has a machine readable head stack assembly serial number, and wherein the basedeck assembly has a machine readable head disc assembly serial number, and in which controlling the installation of the head stack assembly into the base deck assembly forms a head disc assembly of a disc drive by steps comprising: (a) aligning the head stack assembly in a head stack installation tool; (b) positioning the base deck assembly within the head stack installation tool, the base deck assembly having a head stack assembly post supporting a tolerance ring; (c) dispatching a robotic assembly to pick and press the head stack assembly onto the tolerance ring on the head stack assembly post by steps comprising: (c1) reading a head stack present signal and reporting presence of the head stack assembly to a computer; (c2) reading a head disc present signal and reporting presence of the basedeck assembly to a computer; (c3) acquiring and reporting the head stack assembly serial number and the head disc assembly serial number to the computer; (c4) querying a head stack assembly data base for physical characteristics of the head stack assembly and a head disc assembly data base for physical characteristics of the basedeck assembly; (c5) comparing compatibility between the physical characteristics of the head stack assembly and the physical characteristics of the basedeck assembly; (d) measuring a mechanical resistance encountered and a distance traveled by the head stack assembly while being pressed onto the tolerance ring; and (e) seating the head stack assembly into the basedeck assembly in response to the mechanical resistance encountered and the distance traveled by the head stack assembly to form the head disc assembly.