A read/write head for storing and retrieving information on the large (66 cm diameter) memory platters used on the CDC 6600 computer at CRNL. A retiree, who worked on the CDC 6600, remembers the storage memory operation as follows:
“The disc platters were mounted on two spindles, each spindle had two groups of 16 platters and, during operation, would be rotating at 1800 rpm. The read/write heads floated between the platters, such that one read/write head was able to read the surface above it, and below it.”
The double-sided readers, with an overall length of 27 cm and a width of 5.5 cm, have a thickness of only 1.5 cm. The disc-contacting heads, which could access six tracks on the platter at a time, were mounted on pivots to allow for imperfections in the disc surfaces. Input/output of data was via a separate, 16-pin, connector for each surface.
