Quarter-Inch Cartridge (Qic) Tape Drive Maintenance; Read/Write Head Cleaning Procedure; Capstan Cleaning Procedure; Qic Handling Tips - HP 3000 Series Handbook

For HP Internal Use Only
Quarter-inch Cartridge (QIC) Tape Drive Maintenance
See Table 3-1 for the suggested drive preventive maintenance schedule.
Table 3-1. Recommended Preventive Manintenance Schedule
Item
Interval (hours)
Head Cleaning 8 (or as required)
(2 hours with new tapes)
Capstan Cleaning 20 (or as required) with used tapes
Read/Write Head Cleaning Procedure
Head cleaning ensures that the head is free of contamination for proper tape- to-head contact
and to prevent the loss of data. The head should be cleaned after two hours of use with a new
tape. Thereafter, it should be cleaned after every eight hours of use.
It is recommended that you use the QIC Drive Cleaning Cartridge (part number 92281C) to
clean the heads. The cartridge is a mock tape cartridge with a cleaning pad and cleaning
solution. The cartridge is inserted into the drive like a normatl tape cartridge. Before
inserting the cleaning cartridge, apply a few drops of the cleaning solution to the pad.
Cleaning occurs automatically when the cartridge is inserted. After 10 to 15 seconds of
cleaning, unload the cartridge and continue with normal operation.
DO NOT USE DENATURED ALCOHOL. It breaks down the laminations in the heads.
Capstan Cleaning Procedure
The capstan should be cleaned using a cotton swab soaked with water only. Wipe the cotton
swab around the circumference of the capstan until the debris is removed. Allow the capstan
to dry completely before inserting a tape cartridge. NEVER clean the capstan with the head
cleaning solution. Severe head damage will result.
QIC Handling Tips
The drive shipping insert must be in place when the drive is shipped. The insert must also be
in place when the system is moved.
Do not touch the head assembly when handling the drive.
The head arm can be bent when you handle the mechanism. (You can do this by sticking your
fingers in the notches.) If the arm is bent, Read/Write operations might be OK, but you may
have problems changing cartridges.
The shipping insert also has a moisture absorption pack. Moisture on the head can cause the
tape to stick to the head. It can also cause head corrosion.
When a cartridge is installed, it should be inserted and released briskly to ensure good
seating. If you do not do this, you may have problems changing cartridges.
New cartridges should be run through a retention cycle or an erase cycle when they are loaded
for the first time. This stabilizes tape tension and removes dirt, thus decreasing the error rate.
3-4 Installation and Preventive Maintenance