The Probert Encyclopaedia of Science & Technology

ACCESS ARM

In computing, an access arm or actuator arm, is a mechanical arm that moves the read/write head across the surface of a disk in a manner similar to a tone arm on a record player. The access arm is directed by instructions provided by 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.
Research Access Arm