Quantum Audio Tape Drives A-Series - Manual (Page 81)

Cleaning the Tape Mechanism
Quantum A-Series Tape Drives User’s Guide 65
Cleaning the Tape Mechanism
This section discusses the tape drive cleaning tape, maintenance
considerations, and important compatibility issues.
Occasional Cleaning of
Tape Head
2
A-Series Tape Drives occasionally require preventive cleaning. The
amount of ambient pollution and particulates in the environment, to a
large degree, dictates the cleaning frequency.
Clean your tape drive only when cleaning is necessary. The alert LED
located on the front bezel of the tape drive will notify you when to clean
the tape drive. The location of this LED (and other front bezel LEDs) is
shown in Front Panel LEDs and Tape Eject .
Clean the SDLT 600A tape drive with the SDLT cleaning tape and the
LTO-3A tape drive with the LTO cleaning tape.
SDLT 600A 2
The SDLT 600A tape drive uses a built-in tape cleaning algorithm in
conjunction with a cleaning tape. The SDLT CleaningTape is packaged in
a plastic case, and is light gray in color.
A yellow LED located on the front bezel of the SDLT 600A tape drive
indicates when cleaning is needed; Front Panel LEDs and Tape Eject
shows the location of this LED (and other front bezel LEDs).
Life Expectancy of the
Cleaning Tape
2
Each SDLT Cleaning Tape is good for 20 uses. Use one of the labels that is
supplied with the tape to track the number of uses. If the cleaning LED
stays lit after you clean the drive, the tape life has expired. Acquire a new
cleaning tape and repeat the cleaning process.
Note: When the Cleaning Required LED is lit (see Front Panel LEDs
and Tape Eject ), use the appropriate cleaning tape (SDLT or
LTO) to clean the unit. Do not clean the tape drive unless the
tape drive specifically indicates cleaning is necessary.
Caution: Use only the SDLT or LTO Cleaning Tape. Other cleaning
tapes are incompatible with the A-Series tape drive heads.