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User Manual, SecureHead USB and UART Interface
Appendix K Installation and Use Guide for Magnetic Heads
This section defines the design specifications ID TECH customers require to install magnetic readers
and heads to the correct dimensions and other specific requirements that ensure maximum life and
reading reliability. ID TECH has spent years testing magnetic heads with our electronics to determine
the best dimensions and characteristics. These factors, combined with the specified reference surface,
provide for ID TECH’s industry-leading reading reliability. It is extremely important to follow these
instructions to achieve the best performance for ID TECH magnetic reading components that are
designed into your product(s).
Track Locations
ISO 7810 and ISO 7811 standards define the specification for all “standard” magnetic stripe cards. The
location of each magnetic head’s track’s centerline is shown below in
Figure 1
. ID TECH’s heads are
installed in spring mounts that have mounting holes located on the centerline of Track 2; refer to
Figure 2
for the 3-track standard magnetic head and (wing) spring mount. The pivot pins must be
precisely located to the dimensions shown below in
Figure 1
for the Track 2 centerline, ensuring the
read head will be to the proper dimensions for all tracks.
Figure 1: Location of Magnetic Track Centerlines
1
Note: Magnetic heads can contain one, two, or three tracks, but a three-track head is the most common.