access arm
McGraw-Hill Science & Technology Dictionary:
Top
access arm
(′ak′ses ′ärm)
(computer science) The mechanical device which positions the read/write head on a magnetic storage unit.
Computer Desktop Encyclopedia:
Top
access arm
The mechanical arm that moves the read/write head across the surface of a disk similar to a tone arm on a phonograph. The access arm is directed by instructions in the operating system to move the read/write head to a specific track on the disk. The rotation of the disk positions the read/write head over the required sector. The access arm is also called an "actuator arm," because the actuator is the motor and mechanism that moves the arm. See read/write head.
 |
Download Computer Desktop Encyclopedia to your PC, iPhone or Android.
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
McGraw-Hill Science & Technology Dictionary
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. Copyright © 2003, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1978, 1976, 1974 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
Read more
Mentioned in
actuator arm
(technology)
servo
(technology)
stepper motor
(technology)
fixed head disk
(technology)
actuator
(technology)
» More