Edge welding of disk drive head suspension components

Abstract

A method of affixing head suspension components to one another using an edge weld formed at the edge of one head suspension assembly component positioned in an overlapping fashion relative to another head suspension assembly component, and an apparatus assembled by the method.

1 . A disk drive head suspension assembly including a first component having an edge and a major surface, and a second component having a surface with a perimeter, with the first and second components attached together by at least one weld made by the steps of: 
 a) positioning the first component with respect to the second component such that the surface of the second component contacts the major surface of the first component, and the perimeter of the surface of the second component extends beyond the edge of the first component; and    b) forming an edge weld at the edge, such that the edge weld extends beyond the edge onto the first and second components.    
   
   
       2 . The disk drive head suspension assembly of  claim 1  wherein step b) further includes forming the edge weld by applying laser energy.  
   
   
       3 . A method for welding together components of a disk drive head suspension, the method comprising forming a weld between a first component, comprising a sheet material portion having an edge and a major surface, and a second component, having a surface with a perimeter, such that the surface of the second component contacts the major surface of the first component, and the perimeter of the surface of the second component extends beyond the edge of the first component, the weld being formed at the edge of the sheet material portion.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein forming the weld comprises forming a plurality of weld portions along the edge of the sheet material portion, and further comprises leaving un-welded portions along the edge and between the weld portions.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of forming a plurality of weld portions comprises spot-welding.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein forming the weld includes applying welding energy from a side of the components on which the edge is located.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein forming the weld includes applying welding energy from a side of the components that is opposite a side of the components on which the edge is located.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein forming the weld includes applying laser energy.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein one of the first and second components comprises a flexure and the other of the first and second components comprises a load beam.