System and method for manufacturing a tape storage data cartridge

A method of manufacturing magnetic tape storage data cartridges, the method comprising:

• cutting a master tape having a first width into a plurality of tape sections that each have a smaller width than the first width;
• cleaning at least a subset of the plurality of tape sections to remove debris caused by the cutting using at least one gauze cleaning head connected to an actuator for moving the gauze cleaning head in (a) a first direction toward and away from one or more of the subset of the plurality of tape sections and/or (b) in a second direction parallel to the one or more of the subset of the plurality of tape sections;
• writing a servo track on each tape section of at least the subset of the plurality of tape sections after each tape section is cleaned;
• and
• spooling each tape section into a respective tape cartridge after writing the servo track on the tape section.

A method of manufacturing magnetic tape cartridges, the method comprising:

• cutting a master tape having a first width into multiple tape sections that each have a smaller width than the first width;
• cleaning the tape sections to remove debris caused by the cutting using at least one gauze cleaning head connected to an actuator for moving the gauze cleaning head in (a) a first direction toward and away from one or more of the subset of the plurality of tape sections and/or (b) in a second direction parallel to the one or more of the subset of the plurality of tape sections;
• and
• spooling the tape sections into tape cartridges that are usable with a tape drive;
• wherein each tape section is cleaned prior to being spooled into a respective one of the tape cartridges.