An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a die comprising an array of transducers in a transducer region of the die, a first region extending from the transducer region to a first end of the die and a second region extending from the transducer region to a second end of the die, and a beam, wherein the transducer region of the die is fixedly attached to the beam.

According to one embodiment, a method includes attaching a die to a beam, wherein the die comprises an array of transducers positioned in a transducer region of the die, a first region extending from the transducer region to a first end of the die and a second region extending from the transducer region to a second end of the die. The first region of the die is attached to the beam. The transducer region and the second region are not attached to the beam.

A dual PMR writer is disclosed wherein a first main pole (MP1) in writer 1 is a mirror image of a second main pole (MP2) in writer 2 with respect to a center plane aligned orthogonal to the air bearing surface (ABS). MP1 and MP2 may have an asymmetrical top-down shape to reduce writer-writer spacing (WWS) and read write offset (RWO) when a single or double reader is positioned down-track at the center plane. Accordingly, there is less track misregistration and better area density capability. Each of MP1 and MP2 as well as a top yoke (TY), and a tapered bottom yoke (tBY) have a rectangular back portion of width w from 4 to 10 microns. Spacing between MP1 and MP2 back portions may be 4 microns to prevent cross-talk. RWO is reduced from 4 microns for symmetrical TY/MP/tBY shapes to 3 microns or less for asymmetrical shapes.

A dual PMR writer is disclosed wherein a first main pole (MP1) in writer 1 is a mirror image of a second main pole (MP2) in writer 2 with respect to a center plane aligned orthogonal to the air bearing surface (ABS). MP1 and MP2 may have an asymmetrical top-down shape to reduce writer-writer spacing (WWS) and read write offset (RWO) when a single or double reader is positioned down-track at the center plane. Accordingly, there is less track misregistration and better area density capability. Each of MP1 and MP2 as well as a top yoke (TY), and a tapered bottom yoke (tBY) have a rectangular back portion of width w from 4 to 10 microns. Spacing between MP1 and MP2 back portions may be 4 microns to prevent cross-talk. RWO is reduced from 4 microns for symmetrical TY/MP/tBY shapes to 3 microns or less for asymmetrical shapes.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a die comprising an array of transducers in a transducer region of the die, a first region extending from the transducer region to a first end of the die and a second region extending from the transducer region to a second end of the die. The apparatus also includes a beam. The first region of the die is fixedly attached to the beam. The transducer region and the second region are not fixedly attached to the beam. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a die and a beam. The transducer region of the die is fixedly attached to the beam.

Embodiments of the present disclosure demonstrate a lapping carrier system for a bar to be lapped. The lapping carrier system may be configured with a single piece insert whose bridge is separated from a plurality of joints of the carrier insert by a varying distance. The varying distance can be greater at a medial portion of the bridge than at an end portion of the bridge to collectively form a parabolic shape. In some embodiments, a lapping insert can include a bridge with its length longer than the bar. In some embodiments in a lapping insert, the centerline between the end joint edge and the end finger edge extends beyond the edge of bar.

A high density slider clamp fixture is disclosed for accurately positioning a large number of head sliders for metrology testing. The slider clamp fixture may include a single piece, monolithic structure comprising a large number of slider nests, aligned in rows and columns in the slider fixture. Each slider nest includes a reference datum surface machined to precisely align with all other reference datum surfaces in a row of the monolithic structure. Each slider nest further includes a flexure clamp for independent clamping of each slider in the row against the reference datum surfaces.

A method according to one embodiment includes forming a bearing surface slot in an end of a section of a thin film wafer at a location that defines a tape bearing surface extending between the bearing surface slot and portions of transducers exposed on the end. The section has a plurality of rows of transducers formed on a substrate. A row is sliced from the section, the row having the end and bearing surface slot.

The present disclosure involves a row bar that includes a plurality of slider bodies to be lapped. At least one slider body includes at least a first row of a plurality of electrical contact pads; and a second row of a plurality of electrical contact pads. The first row of electrical contact pads extends along the cross-track direction at a first position in a lapping direction. The second row of electrical contact pads extends along the cross-track direction at a second position in the lapping direction. The second row of electrical contact pads are electrically isolated from ground. The present disclosure also involves related methods of locating electrical contact pads on a slider body.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a substrate, and a thin film layer on the substrate having transducers therein. A portion of a bearing surface slot extends along the substrate, the portion of the bearing surface slot defining a skiving edge. A length of a tape bearing surface between the substrate and the skiving edge is in a range of about 7 to about 30 microns.