Effect of peak radius on design of W-type donut shaped laser textured surfaces

Friction/stiction behavior of ultra high density magnetic disk drives can be controlled by controlling the size and shape of the laser bumps using a laser texturing tool. Different laser bump parameters like rim radius, rim height, peak radius and number of bumps (under the slider) play an important role in the design of laser textured disk surfaces. In the present study, an algorithm is developed for generation of W-type laser bumps on the computer. W-type laser surfaces with a Gaussian height distribution have been generated and contact analyses of these surfaces have been carried out. Design curves have been generated to calculate critical number of asperities required to minimize wear and stiction. Effect of the coefficient of friction on the number of bumps has also been studied. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.