The dynamics of `micro´ sliders using laser Doppler vibrometry

The dynamics of the 70% (micro) slider were studied using laser Doppler vibrometry. Variations of air-bearing frequency in the vertical, pitch, and roll modes were investigated as a function of disk velocity using two different methods of slider excitation, i.e., excitation by flying the slider over a disk defect or, alternately, by shaking at the base of the suspension with a piezoelectric shaker. It is shown that the microslider exhibits independent pitch and roll modes. The frequencies of these oscillations are higher than those of the standard slider and shift with changes in the air-bearing stiffness due to changes in disk velocity, suspension load, and yaw angle. The slider may be excited using either the scratch method or the piezoelectric shaker method; however, the power distribution and coupling among the modes is dependent on the method of excitation