Method and apparatus for forming grooved journals

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus for forming grooves on hydrodynamic bearings used with a disc drive. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method and apparatus to align an electrode having a hydrodynamic groove pattern thereon within a journal bearing. The invention provides a floating electrode having groove patterns thereon. The floating electrode is inserted within a hydrodynamic bearing and fluidly aligned to maintain a uniform gap there between.

1 . A method for aligning an electrode having one or more journal bearing groove patterns thereon within a hydrodynamic bearing, comprising; 
 positioning the electrode within the hydrodynamic bearing; and    providing a fluid pressurable medium within a gap formed between the electrode and the journal bearing to align the electrode and the hydrodynamic bearing, and pressurizing the medium.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the medium is a fluid.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises air at pressure to align the electrode.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing a medium comprises directing a fluid flow from the electrode against at least some portion of an inner surface of the journal bearing, wherein the fluid provides a centering force against the inner surface.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the electrode comprises fluid jets for directing the fluid flow against at least some portion of an inner wall of the journal bearing.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein directing the fluid flow provides a force having a magnitude to form a gap between the electrode and inner wall.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning comprises providing air flow within a gap formed between at least a portion of the electrode and an inner surface of an fluidstatic bearing.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein providing air flow comprises adjusting the air flow to align the electrode relative an inner bore defined by the fluidstatic bearing.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for forming grooves within a journal bearing, comprising: 
 an fluidstatic bearing configured to support at least a portion of an electrode having at least one surface carrying a groove pattern to electrochemically etch on an inner surface of the journal bearing;    a fluid input configured to couple fluid flow within a gap between at least some of the electrode and an inner surface of the journal bearing to adjust the width of the gap; and    a source of electrolyte to be pumped within the gap.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a power source to energize the electrode, the electrolyte, and journal bearing.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid input is configured to direct fluid flow from the electrode against at least some of the inner surface of the journal bearing.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the electrode comprises fluid jets configured to direct a fluid flow against at least some of the inner surface of the journal bearing.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid jets are spaced radially about the electrode at an angle configured to provide the fluid flow in a direction to align the electrode with the inner surface of the journal bearing.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the angle is selected to provide an angle between the fluid jets so that the fluid jets are about equally spaced apart.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid flow is about 45 degrees relative the inner surface.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for electrochemically forming grooves on a journal bearing, comprising: 
 means for fluidly supporting an electrode having a groove pattern thereon; and    means for fluidly aligning the electrode within a journal bearing.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein means for fluidly supporting the electrode comprises an fluidstatic bearing coupled to the electrode configured to support the electrode within the journal bearing.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein means for fluidly supporting the electrode comprises an fluidstatic bearing having an air input configured to direct air flow against at least some of the electrode of a magnitude to form a gap between the electrode and fluidstatic bearing.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein means for fluidly aligning the electrode comprises fluid jets disposed within the electrode and configured to direct a stream of fluid against an inner wall of the journal bearing.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein means for fluidly aligning the electrode comprises a fluid delivery bore axially disposed within the electrode, the fluid delivery bore includes fluid jets extending though the electrode and configured to direct a stream of fluid against an inner wall of the journal bearing.