ABRASION TEST METHODS AND DEVICES

• US 20130186172A1
• Filed: 01/25/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Biskeborn, Robert G., Liang, Jason, Lo, Calvin S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,293,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/7
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/56 Investigating resistance to wear or abrasion
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/00821 using stationary heads
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/187 Structure or manufacture of the surface of the head in physical contact with, or immediately adjacent to the recording medium; Pole pieces; Gap features G11B5/265, G11B5/29 , G11B5/31 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/255 comprising means for protection against wear in thin film structures G11B5/3106
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/455 Arrangements for functional testing of heads; Measuring arrangements for heads

Abstract

A system according to one embodiment includes a carrier for receiving a module; a transport mechanism for running a tape across a tape bearing surface of the module; and a measuring device for measuring an extent of wear of a coating on a tape bearing surface of the module. A module according to one embodiment includes a body having a tape bearing surface, the body having an approximate tape bearing surface profile and dimensions as a module of interest; and a coating on the tape bearing surface. A method according to one embodiment includes measuring an initial coating thickness on a tape bearing surface of a module in a carrier; running a tape across the tape bearing surface; and at intervals, measuring a residual thickness of the coating.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a carrier for receiving a module;

a transport mechanism for running a tape across a tape bearing surface of the module; and

a measuring device for measuring an extent of wear of a coating on a tape bearing surface of the module.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the carrier and measuring device are configured and/or positioned to allow measuring the extent of wear of the coating without removing the module from the carrier.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the measuring device includes an ellipsometer.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the measuring device includes a stylus profiler.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the measuring device is configured to use areas of the tape bearing surface not contacted by the tape as reference gauges for the measuring.

6. A module, comprising:

a body having a tape bearing surface, the body having an approximate tape bearing surface profile and dimensions as a module of interest; and

a coating on the tape bearing surface.

7. A module as recited in claim 6, wherein the coating has a similar coefficient of friction as the module of interest.

8. A module as recited in claim 6, wherein the coating has a deposition thickness of at least about 10 nanometers.

9. A module as recited in claim 6, wherein the coating is transparent.

10. A module as recited in claim 6, wherein the coating is primarily polycrystalline alumina.

11. A module as recited in claim 6, wherein the module is nonfunctional.

12. A module as recited in claim 6, wherein the coating includes a bulk material and one or more sections of a second material at predetermined positions relative to the bulk material.

13. A method, comprising:

measuring an initial coating thickness on a tape bearing surface of a module in a carrier;

running a tape across the tape bearing surface; and

at intervals, measuring a residual thickness of the coating.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the module is part of a completed head assembly, the head assembly being received in the carrier.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the module is an operative module for a tape head.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the module is nonfunctional.

17. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the measuring is performed using an ellipsometer.

18. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising taking stylus profile measurements.

19. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising using areas of the tape bearing surface not contacted by the tape as reference gauges for the measuring.

20. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the coating has a similar coefficient of friction as a module of interest.