RK06/07 disk drive

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RK06/RK07
Manufacturer: Digital Equipment Corporation
Year Introduced: 1976
Drive Controller(s): RK611 (UNIBUS)
Capacity: 13.8 MB (RK06)
27.6 MB (RK07)
Transfer Rate: 4.3 M/sec (un-buffered)
Average Access Time: 49 msec
Revolutions per Minute: 2400
1/2 Revolution Time: 12.5 msec
One Track Seek Time: 8 msec (RK06)
6.5 msec (RK07)
Average Seek Time: 38 msec (RK06)
36.5 msec (RK07)
Maximum Seek Time: 75 msec (RK06)
71 msec (RK07)
Media: dual platter removable disk cartridge
Total Surfaces: 4 (3 data, 1 servo)
Tracks per Surface: 411 (RK06)
815 (RK07)
Sectors per Track: 20 (18-bit words)
22 (16-bit words)
Words per Sector: 256
Tracks per Inch: 192.3 (RK06)
384.6 (RK07)
Density: 4040 bpi (maximum)
Recording Method: MFM
Weight: 325 pounds


RK07 drive

The RK06 and RK07 were dual-platter removable cartridge disk drives manufactured by DEC. The UNIBUS device controller was the RK611; a maximum of 8 drives were supported per controller.

Both supported both 15-bit and 18-bit words; user data is protected by a 32-bit ECC per sector. RK06/07 drives could be dual ported. They both used 2-platter packs (RK06K and RK07K respectively); of the 4 surfaces, one was read-only, pre-recorded by the manufacturer with servo information

Cabling

2 RK07 packs

The RK06/7 uses a round cable with latching connectors at each end to go between drives; the part number of the original cable is 70-12192-xx (where xx is the length, one of -08, 12, 25, or 40).

To get from the controller to the first drive of the string, a BC06R-06 flat cable goes from the controller to a transition adapter (part number 70-12415-0-0) in a mounting bracket attached to the rack; a standard cable goes from there to the first drive.

The drive string must be ended with a terminator on the 'out' port of the last drive, part number 70-12293-0-0 (although the terminators generally have no markings on them). Terminators in both plain black plastic, and with silvery metallic coating, have been observed.

The terminators and transition adapters for the RL01/02 disk drives and RK06/07 drives are the same, and interchangeable. The cables are semi-compatible; RK06/7 cables may be used with the RL0x, but not the other way around - those for the RK06/07 have additional wires which are not present in the RL01/02 cables.