Lapping control in the manufacture of magnetic transducers.

摘要

Each of a row of thin film magnetic transducers (12) formed on a substrate, comprises a magnetoresistive (MR) element, and the row is supported on a holder (18) which has an elongate H-shaped slot near one edge to form a beam member upon which the row is mounted. The beam member is capable of being deflected in a substantially quadratic curvature when subjected to pressure from a pressure transducer (22) at the middle of the beam member. The resistance of each of the MR elements is measured (by 28, 30) during lapping, and control signals are generated (by controller 32) to control the pressure transducers to control lapping with proper BALANCE and BOW and to terminate lapping when the desired MR element height is reached.