According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a first magnetic disk, a second magnetic disk, a first actuator with a first head which reads/writes data from/to the first magnetic disk, a second actuator with a second head which reads/writes data from/to the second magnetic disk, the second actuator operated independently from the first actuator, a first controller configured to retracts the first actuator at a first time, and a second controller configured to retract the second actuator at a second time which is shifted from the first time by a certain period of time.

A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric microactuator having a wrap-around electrode includes forming a piezoelectric element having a large central electrode on a top face, and having a wrap-around electrode that includes the bottom face, two opposing ends of the device, and two opposing end portions of the top face. The device is then cut through the middle, separating the device into two separate piezoelectric microactuators each having a wrap-around electrode.

A drive latch apparatus may include a latch coupled to a chassis such that the latch secures a hard drive to the chassis. The apparatus may also include a handle coupled to a proximal end of the latch such that compressing the handle unlocks the latch from the chassis. In addition, the apparatus may include a drive holder coupled to a distal end of the latch such that a distal end of the drive holder bends under the hard drive to unseat the hard drive and the drive holder slides vertically from the chassis in tandem with the latch. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

A method of assembly a dual stage actuated suspension includes either applying an adhesive to a microactuator motor and then B-staging the adhesive, or applying an adhesive that has already been B-staged such as in film adhesive form to the microactuator then assembling the microactuator into a suspension and then finishing the adhesive cure. The adhesive can be applied to bulk piezoelectric material, with the adhesive being B-staged either before or after it is applied to the bulk piezoelectric material, and the piezoelectric material then singulated into a number of individual piezoelectric microactuators. The method allows greater control over how much adhesive is used, and greater control over spread of that adhesive and control over potential contamination, than traditional liquid epoxy dispense methods.

A PZT microactuator such as for a hard disk drive has a restraining layer bonded on its side that is opposite the side on which the PZT is mounted. The restraining layer comprises a stiff and resilient material such as stainless steel. The restraining layer can cover most or all of the top of the PZT, with an electrical connection being made to the PZT where it is not covered by the restraining layer. The restraining layer reduces bending of the PZT as mounted and hence increases effective stroke length, or reverses the sign of the bending which increases the effective stroke length of the PZT even further. The restraining layer can be one or more active layers of PZT material that act in the opposite direction as the main PZT layer. The restraining layer(s) may be thinner than the main PZT layer.

A tri-stage actuated disk drive suspension is described. The tri-stage actuated disk drive suspension including a beam and a gimbal attached to the beam. The gimbal is configured to receive a first actuator to mount on a first surface of the suspension near a first lateral side of the suspension and is configured to receive a second actuator to mount on the first surface of the gimbal near a second lateral side of the suspension. The gimbal is configured to receive a head slider to mount on the first surface of the suspension. And, the tri-stage actuated disk drive suspension including a baseplate having the beam attached thereto. The baseplate configured to receive a third actuator from the first surface of the suspension to mount on a pair of shelves.

A method of assembly a dual stage actuated suspension includes either applying an adhesive to a microactuator motor and then B-staging the adhesive, or applying an adhesive that has already been B-staged such as in film adhesive form to the microactuator then assembling the microactuator into a suspension and then finishing the adhesive cure. The adhesive can be applied to bulk piezoelectric material, with the adhesive being B-staged either before or after it is applied to the bulk piezoelectric material, and the piezoelectric material then singulated into a number of individual piezoelectric microactuators. The method allows greater control over how much adhesive is used, and greater control over spread of that adhesive and control over potential contamination, than traditional liquid epoxy dispense methods.

A PZT microactuator such as for a hard disk drive has a restraining layer bonded on its side that is opposite the side on which the PZT is mounted. The restraining layer comprises a stiff and resilient material such as stainless steel. The restraining layer can cover most or all of the top of the PZT, with an electrical connection being made to the PZT where it is not covered by the restraining layer. The restraining layer reduces bending of the PZT as mounted and hence increases effective stroke length, or reverses the sign of the bending which increases the effective stroke length of the PZT even further. The restraining layer can be one or more active layers of PZT material that act in the opposite direction as the main PZT layer. The restraining layer(s) may be thinner than the main PZT layer.

A process of assembling a voice coil motor (VCM), such as for a hard disk drive, includes creating an opening in a yoke, attaching a primary magnet to an inside surface of the yoke, installing through the opening in the yoke a cross-flux magnet into a channel of the primary magnet, and installing a plug into the opening in the yoke. Thus, part count is minimized and the manufacturing process is readily incorporated into existing VCM manufacturing processes.

A tolerance ring has a band with outwardly extending corrugated protrusions forming waves that engage an outer surface of a shaft. At one end of the tolerance ring is an inwardly flared guide surface extending axially and radially from the band. The guide surface acts as a tapered entrance to a bore of a housing to assist during assembly.