Importance

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Abstract

A disk drive system includes a base, a disk stack rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly movably attached to the base. A ramp assembly includes a set of ramps for loading and unloading the transducing elements to and from the disks in the disk stack. The ramp assembly is attached to the base. The ramp assembly has a series of fixed ramps which are attached to a rigid structure. The ramps have four degrees of freedom which allow for adjustability in the formation of the ramp so that the E-block or actuator formed from separate parts can move with respect to the disks and with respect to the ramps without excessive interference to load or unload the sliders which carry the transducers with respect to the disk. Each individual ramp unit is an integral part. The individual ramp units are positioned with respect to a rigid structure and then fixed into the proper position by either laser ablation, rod melt approaches, adhesives or attachment with mechanical fasteners. The individual ramp units can be properly mated with the disk stack and then finely adjusted before fixing the individual ramp units to the rigid structure. The rigid structure is a post attached to the base or housing of the disk drive. A jig or robotic fingers can be used to hold all the individual ramp units with respect to the post during assembly. A vision system can be used in conjunction with a robot to move the individual ramp units with respect to the post.

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First Claim