Disk drive having a head disk assembly enclosure including an integrated hinge

摘要

A disk drive includes an enclosure that defines an exterior surface, the enclosure including a base, a cover and a hinge mechanically coupling the base to the cover such that the hinge forms a portion of the exterior surface of the enclosure. A spindle motor is attached to the base, a disk is mounted to the spindle motor, and a head stack assembly is pivotally coupled to the base. A method of manufacturing a disk drive includes a single (injection, for example) molding step to form an enclosure including the base, the cover and a hinge that mechanically couples the base to the cover such that the hinge forms a portion of the exterior surface of the enclosure. The spindle motor may then be attached to the base, the disk or disks mounted to the spindle motor and the head stack assembly may be pivotally coupled to the base. Alternatively, the base and the cover may be separately provided and the hinge may be molded (by an insert molding process, for example) onto the base and the cover to mechanically couple the base to the cover such that the hinge again forms a portion of the exterior surface of the enclosure.