Agilent Technologies BioCel 1200 User manual

Agilent Technologies
BioCel System
User Guide

Notices
© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2009
No part of this manual may be reproduced
in any form or by any means (including
electronic storage and retrieval or
translation into a foreign language) without
prior agreement and written consent from
Agilent Technologies, Inc. as governed by
United States and international copyright
laws.
User Guide Part Number
G5500-90002
January 2009 rebranded edition
September 2006 fifth edition
Contact Information
Agilent Technologies Inc.
Automation Solutions
5301 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95051
USA
Technical Support: 1.800.979.4811
or +1.408.345.8011
[email protected]om
Customer Service: 1.866.428.9811
or +1.408.345.8356
[email protected]
European Service: [phone]
[e-mail]
Documentation feedback:
[email protected]
Web:
www.agilent.com/lifesciences/
automation
Acknowledgements
Microsoft and Windows are registered
trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation in
the United States and other countries.
Warranty
The material contained in this docu-
ment is provided “as is,” and is sub-
ject to being changed, without notice,
in future editions. Further, to the max-
imum extent permitted by applicable
law, Agilent disclaims all warranties,
either express or implied, with regard
to this manual and any information
contained herein, including but not
limited to the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a par-
ticular purpose. Agilent shall not be
liable for errors or for incidental or
consequential damages in connection
with the furnishing, use, or perfor-
mance of this document or of any
information contained herein. Should
Agilent and the user have a separate
written agreement with warranty
terms covering the material in this
document that conflict with these
terms, the warranty terms in the sep-
arate agreement shall control.
Technology Licenses
The hardware and/or software described in
this document are furnished under a
license and may be used or copied only in
accordance with the terms of such license.
Restricted Rights Legend
If software is for use in the performance of
a U.S. Government prime contract or sub-
contract, Software is delivered and
licensed as “Commercial computer soft-
ware” as defined in DFAR 252.227-7014
(June 1995), or as a “commercial item” as
defined in FAR 2.101(a) or as “Restricted
computer software” as defined in FAR
52.227-19 (June 1987) or any equivalent
agency regulation or contract clause. Use,
duplication or disclosure of Software is
subject to Agilent Technologies’ standard
commercial license terms, and non-DOD
Departments and Agencies of the U.S. Gov-
ernment will receive no greater than
Restricted Rights as defined in FAR 52.227-
19(c)(1-2) (June 1987). U.S. Government
users will receive no greater than Limited
Rights as defined in FAR 52.227-14
(June1987) or DFAR 252.227-7015 (b)(2)
(November 1995), as applicable in any
technical data.
Safety Noticies
A WARNING notice denotes a
hazard. It calls attention to an
operating procedure, practice, or the
like that, if not correctly performed or
adhered to, could result in personal
injury or death. Do not proceed
beyond a WARNING notice until the
indicated conditions are fully
understood and met.
A CAUTION notice denotes a hazard. It
calls attention to an operating procedure,
practice, or the like that, if not correctly
performed or adhered to, could result in
damage to the product or loss of important
data. Do not proceed beyond a CAUTION
notice until the indicated conditions are
fully understood and met.
,

Agilent Technologies, Inc., Automation Solutions, 5301 Stevens Creek Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95051 USA
Letter to our Customers
Dear Customer,
The Agilent Technologies acquisition of Velocity11 resulted in the following
changes:
•Creation of Agilent Technologies Automation Solutions, formerly Velocity11
•Renaming of some Velocity11 products
•New Customer Service and Technical Support contact information
•New website address for product information
Please make a note of the following changes as they impact this user guide.
Velocity11 product name changes
New contact information
Documentation feedback: [email protected]
Technical Support: 1.800.979.4811 or +1.408.345.8011
[email protected]
Customer Service: 1.866.428.9811 or +1.408.345.8356
[email protected]
European Service: [phone]
euroservice.aut[email protected]
Web: www.agilent.com/lifesciences/automation
Velocity11 product name Changes to …
Access2 Automated Microplate
Loader
Automated Centrifuge Loader
Element Automation System BioCel 900 System
IWorks Device Driver Programming
Interface
VWorks Device Driver Interface
PlatePierce Seal Piercing Station Microplate Seal Piercer
VCode Barcode Print and Apply
Station
Microplate Barcode Labeler
Velocity11 Robot 3- Axis Robot
VHooks Integration Interface VWorks Hooks Interface
VPrep Pipetting System Vertical Pipetting Station
VSpin Microplate Centrifuge Microplate Centrifuge
VStack Labware Stacker Labware Stacker
Agilent Technologies

Letter to our Customers
2Agilent Technologies Inc., Automation Solutions Division

Table of Contents
BioCel User Guide
i
Content
Chapter 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Who should read this guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
What this guide covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
What is new in this version of the user guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Accessing Velocity11 user guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Reporting problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Safety information about the BioCel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Chapter 2. BioCel overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Basic description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
BioCel specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
BioCel 1200 external features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
BioCel 1600 and 1800 external features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Utilities connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Power panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Hardware control components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Power system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Air system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Vacuum system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Computers and networking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Adjusting the keyboard shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Docking the mobile device table to the BioCel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
BioCel devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
BioCel accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Chapter 3. Preparing for a run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Workflow for preparing the BioCel for a Run. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Turning on the BioCel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Performing a BioCel ready-state check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Preparing devices and accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Placing and removing plate hotel labware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Setting up a VSpin counterweight plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Aligning and testing auxiliary bar code readers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Setting up the PlateHub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Performing pre-run checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Table of Contents
BioCel User Guide
ii
Chapter 4. Performing a run. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Pausing and stopping a run. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Comparing interlock and emergency circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Monitoring the status of a run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Cleaning up after a run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Turning Off the BioCel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Chapter 5. Diagnostics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
About Diagnostics software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Using Bio I/O Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Using Robot Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
About fine-tuning robot teachpoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Fine-tuning a robot teachpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Chapter 6. Maintenance and troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Routine maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Resolving robot errors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Overriding the safety interlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Resolving plate placing errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Resolving lid removal problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Recovering from a power outage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

1
Chapter 1: Introduction
BioCel User Guide
Introduction 1
This chapter contains the following topics:
❑“Who should read this guide” on page 2
❑“What this guide covers” on page 3
❑“What is new in this version of the user guide” on page 4
❑“Accessing Velocity11 user guides” on page 5
❑“Reporting problems” on page 7
❑“Safety information about the BioCel” on page 8

Chapter 1: Introduction
BioCel User Guide
2
Who should read this guide
Job roles This user guide is for people with the following job roles:
Related topics
Job role Responsibilities
Lab manager, administrator, or
technician
Someone who is responsible for:
❑Managing the BioCel
❑Developing the applications that
are run on it
❑Solving the more challenging
problems that might arise
❑Developing training materials and
standard operating procedures for
operators
Operator Someone who performs the daily
production work on the BioCel and
solves routine problems.
Your organization may choose to create
its own procedures for operators
including the procedures in this guide.
For information about... See...
What this guide covers “What this guide covers” on page 3
What uis new in this user guide “What is new in this version of the user
guide” on page 4
Accessing Velocity11 user guides
and online help
“Accessing Velocity11 user guides” on
page 5
Using the BioCel safely “Safety information about the BioCel”
on page 8

3
Chapter 1: Introduction
BioCel User Guide
What this guide covers
What is covered This guide covers a description of the BioCel system, the operation of
the hardware components, and the use of diagnostics.
What is not covered This guide does not cover using VWorks, setting up devices, and
networking the BioCel.
Hardware version This guide covers the hardware for the BioCel 1200, 1600, and 1800. This
includes accessories such as the Weigh Pad and plate hotel.
BioCel
customization
Because the BioCel is a custom product with many options, this guide
describes features that might not be included in your BioCel.
Related topics
For information about... See...
Using VWorks VWorks User Guide
Using diagnostics for a third-party
device
Device Driver User Guide
Operating a Velocity11 device The user guide for that device
Networking the BioCel VWorks User Guide

Chapter 1: Introduction
BioCel User Guide
4
What is new in this version of the user guide
About this topic This topic briefly describes the new features this guide covers.
New Feature
Related topics
Feature Description See...
BioCel 1200 Automation platform that is
smaller than the BioCel 1600 and
1800.
“BioCel 1200 external features”
on page 17
BioCel 1800 Automation platform that is larger
than the BioCel 1200 and 1600.
“BioCel 1600 and 1800 external
features” on page 18
Modifications to the BioCel
1600
❑Changes in the power panel
❑Changes to the air panel
❑“Power panel” on page 21
❑“Hardware control
components” on page 22
Device table Mobile table that locks into the
BioCel
“Docking the mobile device table
to the BioCel” on page 34
New accessories ❑Tra nsl ato r li n ea r ro bot
❑PlateHub
❑“Translator linear robot” on
page 38
❑“PlateHub” on page 37
For information about... See...
Hardware features “BioCel overview” on page 13
What this guide covers “What this guide covers” on page 3
Accessing the online help “Accessing Velocity11 user guides” on
page 5