Summary Specifications - IMATION SLR24 (SLR6-24.0GB) Data Cartridge
Rev C (July ‘99)
General Information
The IMATION SLR24 Data Cartridge, is a 900 Oersted (72,000 A/m) class, 1,130 foot (366 meter) servo written
magnetic tape cartridge capable of storing up to 12.0 gigabytes (12,000 megabytes) of formatted information with the
following recording format:
FTPI (FTPMM)
Format
Mbytes
QIC-5010-DC
12,000*
50,800 (2,000)
See QIC-139 for servo specifications.
BPI (BPMM)
67,733 (2,667)
Encoding
1,7 RLL
Tracks
144
(*Uncompressed)
The cartridge tape hubs, rollers and guides are mounted on a rigid aluminum baseplate and enclosed within a high
strength, see-through plastic cover. A third guide replaces the center wrap pin, providing improved tracking ability for
higher densities. The complete cartridge mechanical assembly provides protection for the magnetic tape, protection for
the internal cartridge components and ease of handling for the operator. Protection from normal operator handling
activities, as well as from airborne contaminants, is essential at high track and/or bit densities.
A spring loaded door over the tape/head area is automatically opened when the cartridge is inserted into the drive and
closes when the cartridge is removed. The tape is driven by an elastomeric belt coupled to a drive roller. The drive roller,
in turn, is driven by a drive motor puck in the cartridge drive subsystem. Thus, the only external contact with the magnetic
tape is the write/read head assembly in the cartridge drive subsystem.
The Imation SLR24 Data Cartridge provides a gray colored File Protect Switch to visually differentiate it from both the 300
and 550 Oersted data cartridge products, which have a black switch. It also provides a modified cover design, with the
File Protect Switch moved laterally from the corner location, to physically write protect the cartridge if placed in a 300
Oersted, 550 Oersted or 900 Oersted QIC-136 type drive.
Related Model: Short length, IMATION SLR24 SL 155 feet (47.2 meters) Octal 66 hole pattern.
Notes:
Warning ! Do not bulk erase. These cartridges contain a factory applied servo track. Bulk erasure will cause
the cartridge to become unusable.
Ref.: All specifications are at the Testing Environment unless otherwise noted. For a definition of the terms used herein and the test methods and procedures followed to
establish the requirements contained in this summary specification, please refer to "QIC-139 UNFORMATTED SERVO-WRITTEN MAGNETIC TAPE CARTRIDGE FOR
INFORMATION INTERCHANGE".
Safety: The components of the tape and cartridge assembly do not constitute any safety or health hazard when used in the intended manner or through any foreseeable misuse
in an information processing system. The materials in the cartridge cover have a flammability rating of at least 94V-2 as described in Underwriters Laboratory UL94.
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(Imation SLR24)
Tape Physical Characteristics
Substrate .................................................................... Polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Width……………………………………………………. 0.2470 ± 0.0005 in (6.274 ± 0.013 mm).
Usable Length, LP to EW ........................................... 1130 + 25 - 0 ft (344 + 8.0, - 0.0 m).
Thickness:
Oxide Coating……………………………………… 60 ± 20 µin (1.5 ± 0.5 µm) maximum.
Film Substrate...................................................... 260 ± 20 µin (6.6 ± 0.5 µm).
Overall.................................................................. 410 µin (10.4 µm) maximum.
Leaders and Splices ................................................... None.
Tensile Yield Force, 3% elongation ............................ 1.2 lbf (5.3 N) minimum.
Electrical Resistance:
Oxide Coating ...................................................... Less than 5 x 1012 ohms/ square but greater than
5 x 109 ohms/ square.
Backside .............................................................. Less than 2 x 106 ohms/ square.
Layer-to-Layer Adhesion ............................................ None allowed.
Tape Coercivity:
M-H Meter ............................................................ 940 ± 50 Oersted (75,200 ± 4,000 A/m).
VSM ..................................................................... 860 ± 50 Oersted (68,800 ± 4,000 A/m).
Change With Temperature .................................. Tape coercivity changes are inversely related to temperature
changes and have the following rates of change at 5, 25 and
52 °C as measured by VSM:
5°C: - 4.2 Oersted per °C
25°C: - 3.6 Oersted per °C
52°C: - 3.0 Oersted per °C
Cupping ...................................................................... 0.020 in (0.51 mm) maximum.
Tape Light Transmission……………………………… Less than 1%.
Cartridge Mechanical Characteristics
Size, Overall Cartridge................................................ L x W x H: 6.0 in x 4.0 in x 0.675 in (152.40 mm x 101.60 mm x
17.15 mm).
Weight ........................................................................ 8 ounces (227 g) nominal.
Cartridge Datum ......................................................... The front edge of the baseplate (a line defined by two fixed
locators) is the A datum of the cartridge. The top surface (a plane
defined by three fixed locators) is the B datum of the cartridge.
Baseplate.................................................................... Stippled aluminum 0.100 + 0.003, - 0.005 in (2.54 + 0.08, - 0.13
mm).
Pins: Hub, Roller, Guide ............................................. Hardened, precision ground steel.
Tape Guides ............................................................... One piece, precision machined stainless steel.
Tape Hubs .................................................................. Two piece bonded plastic 'No End Play' (NEP) design with
integrally molded spring.
Belt Guide Rollers....................................................... One piece molded plastic, crowned, self-centering desi gn.
Drive Roller................................................................. Dura-Stat™, two part molded plastic, anti-static.
Drive Belt .................................................................... Surface textured, anti-static, elastomeric endles s loop.
File Protect Switch...................................................... Rotatable switch: one piece molded plastic (color gray ).
Cartridge-in-Position Sense........................................ Area 0.250 x 0.500 in (6.35 x 12.70 mm) on front of cover
adjacent to file protect switch. Alternate areas are along each
side of the cartridge, refer to QIC-139.
Cover & Head Access Door........................................ High durability polycarbonate plastic.
Tape Position Mirror Assembly………………………. Molded plastic with a 45° reflective surface.
Tape Markers:
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(Imation SLR24)
0.187± 0.004 in.
EOT4
EOT3
EOT2
.046 ± .002 DIA
(1.17 ± 0.05 mm)
EOT1 typical 20 places
BOT1
BOT2 BOT3 BOT4
.2470 ± .0005 in.
(6.27 ± 0.013 mm)
(4.75 ± 0.10 mm)
.059 ± .004 in.
(1.50 ± 0.10 mm)
90 in.
18 ± 2 in. 18 ± 2 in. 18 ± 2 in.
(2286 mm) (457 ± 50 mm)
Minimum
60 ± 2 in.
(457 ± 50 mm) (457 ± 50 mm) (1,524 ± 50 mm)
Physical
End of
Tape (EOT)
1130 ft.
(344 m)
Minimum
EARLY
WARNING
60 ± 2 in.
(1,524 ± 50 mm)
LOAD
POINT
2.0 ± 0.3 in.
(50.8 ± 7.6 mm)
6 places
18 ± 1 in. 18 ± 1 in.18 ± 1 in. 90 in.
(457 ± 25 mm) (457 ± 25 mm)(457 ± 25 mm)
CARTRIDGE I.D.
HOLE
Octal 65
(2286 mm)
Minimum
Physical
Beginning
Of Tape (BOT)
“FORWARD” DIRECTION OF TAPE TRAVEL
Cartridge Performance:
Track Density.............................................................. Up to 144 data tracks for QIC-5010-DC.
Recording Density ...................................................... Up to 50,800 ftpi (2,000 ftpmm).
Defect Density (maximum)……………………………. 70 maximum Defects Per Square Inch (DPSI) (0.109
defects/mm) including permanent and transient errors for
Effective Defect Diameter (EDD) = 0.00056 in (0.014 mm).
Average Signal Amplitude .......................................... Within ± 25% of the standard reference amplitude at 50,800 ftpi
(2000 ftpmm).
Signal Decay............................................................... 12% or less after 55 tape cycles referenced to the signal level of
the 5th forward tape pass; tested at 50,800 ftpi (2000 ftpmm).
Tape Speed ................................................................ 45 to 120 in/s (1.14 to 3.05 m/s).
Drive Force ................................................................. 45 in/s (1.14 m/s): 1.5 ozf (0.42 N) to 4.5 ozf (1.25 N).
90 in/s (2.29 m/s): 1.7 ozf (0.47 N) to 5.0 ozf (1.39 N).
120 in/s (3.05 m/s): 2.0 ozf (0.56 N) to 5.5 ozf (1.53 N).
Exclusive of motor puck effects.
External side load: 20 ± 2 ozf (5.57 ± 0.56N).
Total Inertial Mass ...................................................... 0.0022 ozf-s2/in (25 g) or less.
Dynamic Response .................................................... 60 Hz minimum, natural resonant frequency.
Tape Tension, LP to EW:
Instantaneous ...................................................... Testing Environment:
45in/s (1.52 m/s): 1.0 ozf (0.28 N) to 3.2 ozf (0.89 N).
90 in/s (2.29 m/s): 1.2 ozf (0.33 N) to 3.5 ozf (0.97 N).
120 in/s (3.05 m/s): 1.6 ozf (0.45 N) to 3.7 ozf (1.03 N).
Dynamic (maximum)............................................ 0.5 ozf (0.14 N) peak-to-peak.
Transverse Variation............................................ 1° or less from the horizontal (test rod method).
Drive Ratio.................................................................. 0.76 ± 0.01 (tape velocity/drive roller surface velocity).
Electrical Resistance, Drive Roller ............................. 1 megohm or less.
Instantaneous Speed Variation (ISV):
Low Frequency (O to 1 kHz) ................................ No zero-to-peak events greater than 4%.
High Frequency
Streaming Mode (7 kHz nominal).................. No zero-to-peak events greater than 3%.
Shuffle & Start-Stop Modes
(1 kHz to 50 kHz) .................................... No zero-to-peak events greater than 10%.
Acceleration/Deceleration........................................... Up to 1000 in/s2 (25.4 m/s2). See Note.
Dynamic Tape Skew................................................... 3 minutes of arc or less (tape centerline to B Datum).
Shock, Drop Test...............................................….. The cartridge shall be able to withstand the shock incurred
from falling 30 in. (0.76 m) onto a concrete floor covered with
asphalt tile. The cartridge shall be dropped once on one
corner and once on the base. After the drops, the cartridge
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(Imation SLR24)
must undergo a conditioning pass. The cartridge shall then
meet all the requirements of this standard.
Head Penetration........................................................ Increase in tape path length between 0.015 in (0.38 mm) and
0.059 in (1.50 mm).
Tracking Repeatability ................................................ After cartridge conditioning: (see Conditioning, below).
± 0.0005 in (± 0.013 mm) in the direction of the
write pass.
± 0.001 in (± 0.025 mm) in the opposite direction.
Tape Slope ................................................................. 0.002 in/in relative to B Datum of the cartridge.
Note: For maximum reliability it is recommended that maximum shuffle mode acceleration/deceleration be no
more than 500 in/s2 (12.7 m/s2) and that the minimum shuffle distances be no less than 6 ft (1.8 m) in the
forward direction and no less than 1 ft (0.3 m) in the reverse direction.
Durability (Product Lifetime):
Streaming Mode:
Test/Room Environment ...................................... 15,000 end-to-end passes minimum.
Operating Environment ........................................ 5,000 end-to-end passes minimum.
Note: A tape pass is one traverse of the tape from BOT to EOT or from EOT to BOT.
Short Length Shuffle Mode: (directory mode)
Test/Room Environment ...................................... 40,000 tape passes minimum.
Operating Environment ........................................ 20,000 tape passes minimum.
Note: Test method consists of repeated 50 short length shuffles over a twenty foot length of tape followed
by a cartridge conditioning pass.
Definitions:
Streaming mode:
Start-Stop mode:
Shuffle mode:
A continuous tape motion from BOT to EOT or EOT to BOT.
A discontinuous tape motion, without reversals, from BOT to EOT or EOT to BOT.
A discontinuous tape motion, with reversals. A shuffle mode may advance the tape from
BOT to EOT or EOT to BOT.
Environments Defined:
Testing/Room Environment:
Temperature ........................................................ 68° ± 7°F (20° ± 4°C).
Relative Humidity (RH)........................................ 50% ± 10%.
Condition Before Testing ..................................... 24 hours.
Maximum Wet Bulb Temperature........................ 64°F (18°C).
Operating Environment:
Temperature………………………………………. 41°F ambient to 140°F baseplate.
(5°C ambient to 60°C baseplate).
Note: Baseplate surface temperature to be measured
within 0.5 in (12.7 mm) of the drive roller pin.
Relative Humidity (RH)......................................... 20% to 80% non-condensing.
Maximum Dew Point Temperature ...................... 84°F (29°C).
Transportation Environment:
Temperature ........................................................ -40°F to 126°F (-40°C to 52°C).
Relative Humidity (RH)......................................... 10% to 80% non-condensing.
Maximum Wet Bulb Temperature........................ 79°F (26°C).
Storage Environments:
Temperature ........................................................ 23°F to 113°F (-5°C to 45°C).
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Relative Humidity (RH)......................................... 20% to 80% non-condensing.
Maximum Wet Bulb Temperature........................ 79°F (26°C).
Note: Whenever possible, it is recommended that the
cartridge be stored in room environment conditions of
68°± 9° F (20°± 5°C), 45% ± 15% RH.
Recommendations:
1. The best practice for storing cartridges which have data on them would be to wind the tape to a storage position
near the beginning or end of the tape.
2. The cartridge should be stored in its polypropylene protective case.
3. The environmental conditions should be office type; nominally 68°F (20°C) and 50% RH.
4. Testing has indicated that periodic rewinding is not required and we do not recommend it.
A conditioning pass should be done just prior to use.
5. The recommended temperature rate of change in the testing environments should be no greater than 10°C
(16°F) for every two hour increments.
Conditioning:
Before use, the cartridge shall be conditioned by exposure to the operating environment for a time at least equal to the
period it has been out of the operating environment (up to a maximum of 8 hours).
The cartridge shall also be conditioned by running the tape one complete end-to-end pass in any of the following
cases:
1. Each time that it is inserted into a drive for test purposes.
2. After prolonged operation over a limited tape length (> 50 passes over any tape length less than the full tape
length).
3. At the point when the cartridge has been exposed to a decrease in temperature of 30°F (16°C).
4. At the point when the cartridge has been exposed to a drop.
5. After 2 hours of start-stop or shuffle operation.
Archival Life:
The Imation 1/4" data cartridge has been in use since 1973 and has proven itself to be one of the most durable and
reliable means of storing valuable digital data.
In addition to actual field experience, Imation has been gathering data both at its St. Paul laboratories and at an
independent outside laboratory to ascertain the retrievability of archived data stored on a data cartridge. Two types of
tests were conducted; actual life and accelerated life. In actual life tests, all data was successfully retrieved from data
cartridges that were written to over 10 years ago. In accelerated life tests, it was found that tape handling reliability was
projected to be the life determining factor. Based on this factor, a life greater than 20 years has been projected (report
available on request.)
From these results, one can expect to reliably retrieve the data stored on a Imation 1/4" data cartridge for a period in
excess of 10 years, when stored in a normal office environment.
The ability of a system to retrieve data is of course limited by the capabilities of the system used and is a function of the
implementation of various means of maintaining system data integrity - these would include, but are not limited to; means
such as error detection, error mapping and error correction schemes.
Revision Record:
Rev. A (7/98)
1) Original release. (Preliminary Status).
Rev. B (2/99)
Remove Preliminary Status.
Added #5 to Recommendations.
Rev. C (7/99)
Name Change From: SLR6-24.0 GB To: SLR24
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(Imation SLR24)
Warranty Statement and Limitations of Remedies
LIFETIME WARRANTY AND LIMITATIONS OF REMEDIES: Imation warrants that this product is free from defects in
material and manufacture at the time of purchase. If any such defect appears during the life of the product, Imation’s entire
liability is, at Imation’s option, either (a) repair, or (b) replacement of the product, or (c) refund of the purchase price of the
product, which must be returned to Imation with proof of purchase. This warranty does NOT apply to product failure
resulting from misuse, abuse, accident, neglect or mishandling, improperly adjusted or maintained drives, incorrect
environments or wear from ordinary use. IMATION SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL,
INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL LOSS OR DAMAGE (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DAMAGES FOR LOSS
OF PROFITS, SAVINGS OR DATA) IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE PRODUCT. This does not exclude claims for
personal injury. Some states or countries do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages,
so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also
have other rights which vary from state to state or country to country.
For Warranty Service:
Within the U.S.A., call 1-800/328-9438 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. CST, to receive a Return Material Authorization
number (RMA). Return the defective product with proof of purchase and RMA number to: Imation Data Storage Products,
Customer Service, 300 Lewis Road, Camarillo, CA. 93012.
Within Canada, call 1-800/565-6858 between 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. EST, to receive a Return Material Authorization
number (RMA). Return the defective product and RMA number to: Imation Customer Support Center, 80 Enterprise Drive
South, London, Ontario, N6N 1C2.
Outside the U.S.A. and Canada, contact the seller or your local Imation Data Storage Products sales representative.
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