v Never ship a cartridge in a commercial shipping envelope. Always place it in a box or package.
v If you ship the cartridge in a cardboard box or a box of a sturdy material, ensure that you
– Place the cartridge in polyethylene plastic wrap or bags to protect it from dust, moisture, and other
contaminants.
– Pack the cartridge snugly; do not allow it to move around.
– Double-box the cartridge (place it inside a box, then place that box inside the shipping box) and add
padding between the two boxes (see Figure 16).
Proper acclimation and environmental conditions
v Before you use a tape cartridge, acclimate it to the operating environment for 24 hours or the time
necessary to prevent condensation in the drive. The time varies, depending on the environmental
extremes to which the cartridge was exposed.
v Ensure that all surfaces of a cartridge are dry before it is inserted.
v Do not expose the cartridge to moisture or direct sunlight.
Figure 15. Tape cartridges in a Turtlecase
Figure 16. Double-boxing tape cartridges for shipping
Ultrium media 45