THE DEVELOPMENT OF FINITE ELEMENT MODELING AND EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES FOR DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF READ/WRITE HEAD DESIGNS ON FLOPPY DISK MEDIA

Scope and Method of Study. The finite element method is used to study vibration characteristics of both gimbaled and non-gimbaled read/write heads. Both eigenvalue and transient analyses are performed. An experimental apparatus is developed which can sense the three major displacement components versus time. Experimental data thereof is correlated to results from the finite element study.; Findings and Conclusions. The finite element technique is found to be well suited to this study as verified by the experimental data. It is found that the flexibility of gimbaled designs will promote high frequency response of the read/write head flexures denoted as "squeal". While non-gimbaled designs suppress this response, the stiffness of these flexures is such that disk wear may be increased.