Effects of Laser Textured Disk Surfaces on a Slider’s Flying Characteristics

Abstract

Recently, laser texturing has captured the attention of head/media interface engineers in the hard disk drive industry because it provides precision in the landing zone placement while eliminating the transition zone of a mechanically textured landing zone. It also offers excellent tribological performance in terms of low CSS stiction and good durability. These advantages make it the solution of choice for high-end magnetic hard disk drives. This paper models the effects of laser bumps and laser textured disk surfaces on the Headway AAB slider’s flying characteristics. Two commonly used laser bump profiles (“Sombrero” and “Volcano” types) and various texture patterns are numerically generated in the simulator. The slider’s dynamic responses to these moving laser bumps and textures under two outer rail flying conditions are simulated, and the effects of various bump/texture parameters on the slider’s fly height, pitch, roll and their modulations are discussed. The laser texture mechanism is explained by examining the air bearing pressure profiles induced by the moving laser textures.