MAGNETIC HEAD TERMINOLOGY

Credit Cards
These plastic cards are widely used and contain information on 3 separate tracks.

• Track 1 is normally used by the International Association of Travel Agents (IATA) to store data at 210 bits per inch, with a capacity of 79 alpha numeric characters.
  
• Track 2 information is used by the American Banking Association (ABA) to store data at 75 bits per inch, with a capacity of 40 numeric characters.
  
• Track 3 is normally used by the financial services industry, and conforms to an International Standards Organisation (ISO) format, with data stored at 210 bits per inch and a capacity of 107 numeric characters.
  

Savings Books
Other standards are available on how data should be recorded onto savings books. This ’passbook’ standard is widely used by Building Societies, the P.T.T. companies (Post and Telecommunication) and other similar organisations where money is invested. The format uses a single track recorded to 210 bits per inch and can accommodate up to 108 - 5 bit characters. The relevant standard is ISO standard 8484, Magnetic Stripes on Savings Books.

Automated Ticket/Boarding Pass
A third standard (ATB) is now coming into use, initially with airlines and state run railways, where it is required to record and process passenger information automatically. In this case 4 tracks of information are recorded onto a magnetic stripe, which is adhered to the airline boarding pass or railway ticket. Data is recorded at 210 bits per inch and up to 640 alpha numeric characters can be stored.

Other Cards
A new standard is currently being prepared by the European Standards Committee (CEN) to cover low cost tickets and coupons made of card (board). These are widely used for car parking, pre-payment meters and other applications where interchangeability between different equipment manufacturers is not required. Generally only one track is recorded (track 2 if in the ISO format) at a lower density of 75 bits per inch. The track location and card size can conform to one of several different formats. (For more data on the CEN standard contact the CEN Secretariat at Rue De Stassart 36, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium).

Ferrite Cores
In card applications, ferrites are at a disadvantage compared with metals because of their weak grain bond structure.

Metal Cores
Metals have no grain bond problem, so are the preferred choice for card head applications. Metal core heads can write to higher coercivity cards than ferrite cores.

Surface Coatings
Hard coatings can be applied to the head surface. These are applied close to the magnetic gap, to provide good support for the softer core material, but not covering it. This technique can extend the life of the head significantly.


CARD HEADS

How to choose the correct Head.

Materials:-

Ferrite Cores:- for CARD applications , these materials are at a disadvantage compared to metal cores due to their weak grain bond structure.

Metal Cores:- their are no grain bond problems with these materials and hence are the preferred choice for CARD applications.Metal cores are also capable of writing High Coercivity Cards ( HiCo) than ferrite cores

Long Life Heads :- Head life can be increased significantly by either fitting Ceramic wear bars which are located close to the head magnetic gap or by applying either Ceramic or Metal Alloy coatings to the head surface.

The PDF below is intended to indicate the head most likely to meet your needs, but we recommend you discuss your need with our Sales team who will be pleaed to help in your choice .

Download PDF Card Heads Available