Effects of varying operating tension and speed on lateral tape motion in MP and AME tapes using magnetic signal and optical probe methods

The drive for increased storage capacity in today's magnetic tape cartridges has created a continuing need to improve the understanding of the tribological performance of magnetic tape. One important area of ongoing tribological research is lateral tape motion (LTM). The importance of studying LTM will only continue to grow, as the demands for more storage capacity move forward. One particular area of interest with regard to LTM is to determine the effects of the operating tension and speed on LTM generation. As such, this study focuses on LTM in six different tape samples when the operating tension and speed are varied. The tapes studied include metal particulate (MP), Thin MP, and four advanced metal evaporated (AME) tapes. A new technique based on the readback of a written magnetic signal was used in making LTM measurements. The results from the new method are compared to the results from the optical probe method used frequently in the past. Mechanisms responsible for the observed trends are discussed.