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Alignment Report
(Pro/AutoPro)
An alignment report is generated after completing a drive alignment analysis.
The report indicates what tests were performed, which cylinder and head the
they were performed on, what data was obtained, and whether or not the
drive passed or failed a particular test. Note, the pass/fail results are
determined by the parameters that can be found under the
Alignment Limits.
Results from the alignment test can vary slightly from test to test
depending on temperature and humidity. If the results during
any one setting indicate the drive as failing and during another
setting as passing, the drive should be serviced since the alignment is
marginal at best.
The alignment report focuses on four criteria:
- Eccentricity measures how far off from the center a disk is when it is
clamped down on the drive spindle and rotated. This test is performed only
on Side 0 (Head 0) and the measurement is expressed in micro inches (uI).
If the drive fails this test it's an indication that the clamping mechanism
and/or spindle is damaged. We recommend replacing the drive if it fails this
test.
- Radial tests measure the position of the read/write heads relative
to the disk for both heads. The test results indicate the alignment of the
read/write head on Track 0 (the beginning of the disk), Track 40 (the
middle of the disk) and Track 79 (the end of the disk). The radial alignment
test is the most critical factor in determining whether a drive is
misaligned, and can often be adjusted by your dealer.
- Azimuth head alignment figures indicate the amount of twist or rotation
the read/write heads have from the vertical axis. The measurement is
expressed in minutes (1 minute = 1/60 of a degree), with a + (plus) or -
(minus) indicating either clockwise or counterclockwise rotation from 0
minutes. If a drive exhibits an azimuth head alignment problem, it can
either be adjusted with the proper equipment or the heads can be replaced.
- Index to data time indicates the position of either the drive's optical
index sensor or magnetic index sensor. Results are shown for both heads
on Track 0 (the outside portion of the disk) and Track 79 (the inner
portion of the disk) and are expressed in microseconds (uS). The index to
data time like the radial head alignment can be easily adjusted by a skilled
technician.
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