Analysis of stain formation and wear mechanisms in a linear tape drive

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J:

2002

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The effect of the operating environment on the failure mechanism of a head±tape interface in a linear tape drive with a belt-driven cartridge was studied. A modi®ed commercial drive with magnetoresistive head and metal particle tape were used. D urability tests for the full tape length were performed at ambient and extreme environmental conditions. H ead output, coef®cient of frictio n and number of dropouts per minute were measured during the test. Optical and atomic force microscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy were used to evaluate changes at the head±tape interface at the end of the tests. M agnetic and tribological performance of head±tape interface is the best at low temperatures and low relative humidities. Increases in both temperature and relative humidity result in performance degradation, with the worst performance at the highest temperature. At ambient conditions, sporadic variations in the coef®cient of friction and the number of dropouts per minute are observed, associated with a cycle of stain formation and removal. Possible mechanisms responsible for the observed tribological behaviour of the interface at various environmental conditions are discussed.Keywords: linear tape drive, metal particle tape, magnetoresistive head, frictio n, wear, effects of temperature and relative humidity

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of operating environment on failure mechanism of a head-tape interface in a linear tape drive with a belt-driven cartridge

Goldade

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J:

2002

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“…For each test, the tape is run for 1,000 cycles. A signal is written to the tape during the first cycle and repeatedly read for all subsequent cycles Bhushan 1999, 2000;Kattner and Bhushan 2000). For all contamination tests, one cycle will consist of running the cartridge from beginning-of-tape (BOT) to end-of-tape (EOT) and back to BOT.…”

Section: Contamination Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The test matrix used for contamination studies also applies to durability (refer to Table 1). For each test, the tape is run for 50,000 cycles where one cycle is shuffling a short length of tape approximately 30 m in length back and forth across the head (Kattner and Bhushan 2000;Topoleski and Bhushan 2001;Ambekar and Bhushan 2003b). The test is commonly referred to as a ''shoeshine'' test where the focus is on tape wear.…”

Section: Durabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative analysis and associated failure mechanisms of magnetic media in advanced linear tape drives

McDonough

2006

Microsyst Technol

Flexible magnetic tape is widely used for data storage and archival, as future generation of tapes and drives will continue to increase overall storage capacities and data transfer rates. Tape portability, robust drive operation, longevity of magnetic media, and improved performance of head-tape interface under long-term use are required for magnetic tape to maintain a stronghold in the field of storage devices. Comparative studies were performed to investigate differences in performance of various cartridges in impact, tapes under long-term durability, and contamination of head-tape interface in advanced linear tape drives. A drop test was performed in which various cartridges were dropped from varying heights. Cartridge damage was recorded and indexed. Reinforced cartridge casing promotes good stability at low height impact, while casing significant plastic deformation in increased-height drops. Contamination and durability studies were performed in which debris generation, tape edge damage, tape cupping profiles, and error data was collected and analyzed for studies of head-tape interface. Most significant loose debris generation occurs as a result of wear at the tape edges, while adherent debris is related to tape binder system, and causes increases in drive error rate. Cleaning brushes have been incorporated into the design of drives to reduce the accumulation of all types of debris. A study was performed to determine the effectiveness of brushes on head surface cleaning. The use of brushes in drives was shown to be helpful in removal of both loose and adherent debris types. The effect of relative humidity at the interface was examined, and it was found that high relative humidity acts as a lubricant at the head-tape interface, helping to reduce tape wear. Low relative humidity can have differing effects on the interface performance, as it has shown to either increase or decrease debris accumulation, depending upon tape characteristics.

“…This initial drop can be easily seen on the early data graph and is possibly the result of the demagnetization of the freshly written signal (R. E. Jewett, Imation Corporation, Oakdale, Minnesota, 1999, personal communication). In some studies [11], the head output results represent data taken after the demagnetization period. As the larger asperities on the tape surface wear down, the spacing between the magnetic layer of the tape and the head decreases, which results in a stronger head output signal.…”

Section: Head Outputmentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnetic and tribological evaluation of metal particle and metal-evaporated tapes in a linear tape drive

Topoleski

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J:

2001

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Improving the performance of computer tape drives is an ongoing process that has recently involved the utilization of metal-evaporated (ME) tapes. The magnetic and tribological performance of the current metal particle (MP) tape and a new dual-magnetic-layer ME tape were evaluated in a Quantum DLT 4000 linear tape drive. Head output, drop-outs and head-tape interface friction were monitored during high-tension (1.7 N) high-speed (4 m=s) short-pass (10 m) shuttling tests without stepping the head. The severe MP test never showed signs of failure, but wear of the head's outriggers is believed to impact the stability of the head output signal. MP tape significantly outperformed ME tape; ME even performed poorly at nominal tension (0.8 N) and speed (2:5 m=s) conditions. ME tape lubricant was stripped away by corners on the DLT head, resulting in increased friction, wear and exposure of the relatively brittle diamond-like carbon layer. A high-tension high-speed MP test with head stepping was also performed to evaluate the effect of stepping; it failed far sooner than the non-step MP test. The nominal ME test and severe MP head step test are both believed to have failed because of the drive's inability to overcome high (wear-induced) static friction experienced during changes in tape direction. Modifications to the existing head or a new head design could improve the performance of ME tape in the DLT 4000 linear tape drive.