Beckman Coulter BiomekFX User manual

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Beckman Coulter, Inc
250 S. Kraemer Boulevard, Brea, CA 92821
Copyright © 2009 Beckman Coulter, Inc.
Biomek®FX and FXP
Laboratory Automation
Workstations
Quick-Start Guide
Beckman Coulter PN 987838
Revision AE
December 2009
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ii
Beckman Coulter, Inc.
Except as provided in writing signed by an officer to Beckman Coulter, Inc., this system and any related
documentation are provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, including that the system is
“error free.” This information is presented in good faith, but Beckman Coulter, Inc. does not warrant, guarantee, or
make any representations regarding the use or the results of the use of this system and related documentation in terms
of correctness, accuracy, reliability, currentness, omissions, or otherwise. The entire risk as to the use, results, and
performance of this system and related documentation is assumed by the user.
Except as expressly provided herein, Beckman Coulter, Inc. makes no other warranty, whether oral or written,
expressed or implied, as to any matter whatsoever, including but not limited to those concerning merchantability and
fitness for a particular purpose, nor is freedom from any patent owned by Beckman Coulter, Inc. or by others to be
inferred.
LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY
Beckman Coulter, Inc. shall not be liable, to any extent whatsoever, for any damages resulting from or arising out of
the use or performance of this system and related documentation or the procedures specified in this manual,
regardless of foreseeability or the form of action, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of warranty,
strict liability or otherwise, and including but not limited to damages resulting from loss of data, loss of anticipated
profits, or any special, indirect, incidental or consequential damages. In no event shall Beckman Coulter, Inc.’s
liability to the user exceed the amount paid by the user to Beckman Coulter, Inc. hereunder. The user assumes full
responsibility for the results obtained from the use of this system and related documentation and for application of
such results.
Beckman Coulter, SAGIAN Operations
Indianapolis, Indiana
www.beckmancoulter.com
Biomek, Beckman Coulter, and the Beckman Coulter logo are registered trademarks of Beckman Coulter, Inc.
Microsoft and MS-DOS are registered trademarks and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other
trademarks appearing in this manual are owned by their respective companies.
Copyright 2009 by Beckman Coulter, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of Beckman Coulter, Inc.
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iii
Biomek® FX and FX-P Laboratory Automation Workstations Quick-Start Guide
Warranty and Returned Goods Requirements
All standard Beckman Coulter, Inc. policies governing returned goods apply to this
product. Subject to the exceptions and upon the conditions stated below, the Company
warrants that the products sold under this sales agreement shall be free from defects in
workmanship and materials for one year after delivery of the products to the original
Purchaser by the Company, and if any such product should prove to be defective
within such one year period, the Company agrees, at its option, either (1) to correct by
repair or at the Company’s election by replacement, any such defective product
provided that investigation and factory inspection discloses that such defect
developed under normal and proper use, or (2) to refund the purchase price. The
exceptions and conditions mentioned above are as follows:
a. Components or accessories manufactured by the Company which by their
nature are not intended to and will not function for one year are warranted
only to reasonable service for a reasonable time. What constitutes a
reasonable time and a reasonable service shall be determined solely by the
Company. A complete list of such components and accessories is maintained
at the factory.
b. The Company makes no warranty with respect to components or accessories
not manufactured by it. In the event of defect in any such component or
accessory, the Company will give reasonable assistance to Purchaser in
obtaining from the manufacturer’s own warranty.
c. Any product claimed to be defective must, if required by the Company, be
returned to the factory, transportation charges prepaid, and will be returned
to Purchaser with transportation charges collect unless the product is found
to be defective, in which case the product must be properly decontaminated
of any chemical, biological, or radioactive hazardous material.
d. The Company shall be released from all obligations under all warranties,
either expressed or implied, if any product covered hereby is repaired or
modified by persons other than its own authorized service personnel, unless
such repair by others is made with the written consent of the Company.
e. If the product is a reagent or the like, it is warranted only to conform to the
quantity and content and for the period (but not in excess of one year) stated
on the label at the time of delivery.
It is expressly agreed that the above warranty shall be in lieu of all warranties of
fitness and of the warranty of merchantability, and that the company shall have no
liability for special or consequential damages of any kind or from any cause
whatsoever arising out of the manufacture, use, sale, handling, repair, maintenance, or
replacement of any of the products sold under the sales agreement.
Representatives and warranties made by any person, including dealers and
representatives of the Company, which are consistent or in conflict with the terms of
this warranty, shall not be binding upon the Company unless reduced in writing and
approved by an expressly authorized officer of the Company.
Parts replaced during the warranty period are warranted to the end of the instrument
warranty.
Note: Performance characteristics and specifications are only warranted when
Beckman Coulter replacement parts are used.
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v
Biomek® FX and FX-P Laboratory Automation Workstations Quick-Start Guide
Table of Contents
Warranty and Returned Goods Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
1 Introducing the Biomek® FX Laboratory Automation Workstation
1.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
1.1.1 How to Use This Quick-Start Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
1.2 Biomek® FX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
1.2.1 Pods and Heads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
1.2.2 Automated Labware Positioners (ALPs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
1.2.3 Light Curtain and Other Protective Barriers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
1.3 Biomek Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
1.4 Starting the Biomek® FX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
1.4.1 Turning On the Biomek FX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
1.4.2 Launching the Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
1.4.3 Homing All Axes of the Biomek FX Pod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
2 Learning to Create Methods for the Biomek® FX
2.1 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
2.2 Creating a New Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
2.3 Configuring the Instrument Setup Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
2.4 Configuring a Transfer Step for Multichannel Pod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
2.4.1 Inserting a Transfer Step. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
2.4.2 Configuring Tip Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
2.4.3 Configuring Source Labware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
2.4.4 Configuring Destination Labware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
2.5 Configuring a Combine Step for Span-8 Pod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
2.5.1 Inserting a Combine Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
2.5.2 Configuring Tip Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
2.5.3 Configuring Source Labware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
2.5.4 Configuring Destination Labware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
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vi Table of Contents
Beckman Coulter, Inc.
2.6 Configuring a Move Labware Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
2.7 Using the Finish Step. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
2.7.1 Handling Configuration Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
2.8 Saving a Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
2.9 Running a Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23
3 Using the Editors While Creating Methods
3.1 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
3.2 General Description of Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
3.2.1 Project Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
3.2.2 Instrument Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
3.3 Creating New Labware in the Labware Type Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
3.4 Creating a New Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
3.5 Creating a New Deck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
3.6 Manually Controlling the Pod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
3.7 Quick-Start Guide Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
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1-1
Biomek® FX and FX-P Laboratory Automation Workstations Quick-Start Guide
1Introducing the Biomek®FX
Laboratory Automation
Workstation
1.1 Introduction
Note: Unless otherwise noted, all information in this quick-start guide refers to both
the Biomek® FX and FXP instruments.
Welcome to the Biomek®FX Laboratory Automation Workstation.
This quick-start guide is designed to help you learn to use Biomek Software with your
Biomek FX. This quick-start guide includes:
•Introducing the Biomek®FX Laboratory Automation Workstation (this
chapter) — a general hardware overview on the Biomek FX Laboratory
Automation Workstation and introduction to the Biomek Software.
•Learning to Create Methods for the Biomek®FX (Chapter 2) — an
overview on how to create methods using the Biomek Software.
•Using the Editors While Creating Methods (Chapter 3) — an overview on
how to use the editors in Biomek Software to accommodate unique method
requirements.
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1-2 Introducing the Biomek® FX Laboratory Automation Workstation
Beckman Coulter, Inc.
1.1.1 How to Use This Quick-Start Guide
This quick-start guide is intended to help you start using the Biomek FX instrument
and Biomek Software immediately. Read through this first chapter to acquaint
yourself with the system, proceed to Chapter 2 and complete the tutorial steps for
building a small method, then use Chapter 3 to complete the tutorial steps for using
the editors for customizing a method.
To understand the depth of operating opportunities designed into this system, as well
as to familiarize yourself with the suite of comprehensive user’s manuals made
available at installation, links are provided throughout this guide to specific sections
in the Biomek® FX and FX-P Laboratory Automation Workstations User’s Manual,
the Biomek Software User’s Manual, and the ALPs User’s Manual.
In addition to the explanations, graphics, and links to other sources, you will see other
useful information in the following forms:
Definition
These boxes contain
brief definitions of
material that may be
specific to the Biomek
FX, or generally
unfamiliar.
These boxes emphasize
important concepts
relevant to the Biomek
FX instrument and the
Biomek Software. Refer
to the links in this quick-
start guide or the
Biomek® FX and FX-P
Laboratory Automation
Workstations User’s
Manual or the Biomek
Software User’s Manual
for more information on
these important concepts.
Important Concept
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Introducing the Biomek® FX Laboratory Automation Workstation 1-3
Biomek® FX and FX-P Laboratory Automation Workstations Quick-Start Guide
1.2 Biomek®FX
The Biomek FX (Figure 1-1) is a multiaxis liquid-handling instrument used in the
laboratory. Its open-architecture design, along with the extensible operating software,
provides a foundation for integrating current and future specific-use components.
The Biomek FX may have one or two pods and a variety of operating components,
such as heads, ALPs, and third party devices. Regardless of pod configuration or
operating components, your Biomek FX is controlled through Biomek Software.
A light curtain and other protective barriers are standard with your Biomek FX (refer
to Section 1.2.3, Light Curtain and Other Protective Barriers).
Figure 1-1. Biomek FX main components
Protective side
safety shield
Canopy
Front light curtain
Side light curtain
Deck
The deck is the work surface
of the Biomek FX instrument
and positions ALPs to be
accessed by the pod(s).
Multichannel
Pod Span-8 Pod
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1-4 Introducing the Biomek® FX Laboratory Automation Workstation
Beckman Coulter, Inc.
1.2.1 Pods and Heads
There are two types of pods available for the Biomek FX:
• Multichannel Pod — holds various removable
and interchangeable heads, such as the 96-
Channel 200 μL Head, that perform liquid-
handling operations, and a gripper for labware
movement operations.
Note: Refer to the Biomek® FX and FX-P
Laboratory Automation Workstations User’s
Manual, Chapter 2, Multichannel Pod, for
detailed information on the Multichannel Pod
and interchangeable heads.
• Span-8 Pod — holds a series of eight probes
that perform liquid-handling operations
independent of each other.
Note: Refer to the Biomek® FX and FX-P
Laboratory Automation Workstations User’s
Manual, Chapter 3, Span-8 Pod, for detailed
information on the Span-8 Pod.
1.2.2 Automated Labware
Positioners (ALPs)
Automated Labware Positioners (ALPs) are removable and interchangeable platform
structures that are installed on the Biomek FX deck to allow automated assays to be
performed.
ALPs are either active or passive:
•Passive ALPs hold labware in place on the deck or act as receptacles for
by-products from methods, such as system fluid and disposed tips, tip boxes,
and labware.
•Active ALPs contain mechanisms that may use power and/or air sources for
mechanical operation, such as tip loading, tip washing, mixing/stirring,
shaking, and precisely positioning labware.
Note: Refer to the ALPs User’s Manual for detailed information on the ALPs on
your system.
Heads
Interchangeable heads
aspirate and dispense
liquid using disposable
tips. The tip
compatibility and the
maximum volume that
may be aspirated and
dispensed with those tips
varies for each head.
Probes
Probes move and pipette
independently in the D-
and Z- axes and hold the
interface for fixed or
disposable tips, both
Liquid Level Sensing
(LLS) capable and non-
LLS capable, used to
perform liquid-handling
operations.
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Introducing the Biomek® FX Laboratory Automation Workstation 1-5
Biomek® FX and FX-P Laboratory Automation Workstations Quick-Start Guide
1.2.3 Light Curtain and Other Protective Barriers
WARNING: To reduce the risk of personal injury, safety shields and light
curtain must be in place before operating. The safety shields and light
curtain prevent entry into the work area during machine movement.
WARNING: Dark non-reflective material affects the sensitivity of the light
curtain and adversely impact its effectiveness. Typical lab dress, such
as lab coats and latex gloves, do not degrade light curtain operation;
however, it is advisable to test the impact of all lab attire on light curtain
sensitivity before operating the Biomek FX.
The Biomek FX is equipped with protective barriers:
• Front light curtain
• Side protective shields
OR
Side light curtains
• Overhead canopy
When an object larger than approximately 1" in diameter penetrates this protective
zone, the instrument shuts down immediately, stopping all pod and head operations.
Some ALP operations, such as shaking or stirring, continue (refer to the ALPs User’s
Manual). When the instrument is sitting idle or in the paused mode, no violations are
registered when the protective zone is penetrated.
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1-6 Introducing the Biomek® FX Laboratory Automation Workstation
Beckman Coulter, Inc.
1.3 Biomek Software
Biomek Software is designed to:
• Do a substantial amount of the method-building
work for you.
• Allow you to take as much direct and precise
control over the method-building process as you
want.
The main editor that appears when the software is launched (Figure 1-2) is used to
build and configure methods:
• Each step is dragged and dropped from a Step
Palette into the Method View (refer to Chapter
2, Learning to Create Methods for the Biomek®
FX).
• When a step in the Method View is highlighted,
the corresponding configuration options appear
in the Step Configuration Area (refer to Chapter
2, Learning to Create Methods for the Biomek®
FX).
• The method is customized to the desired level of
precise control via the editors accessed from the
Project and Instrument menus (refer to
Chapter 3, Using the Editors While Creating
Methods).
Method
A method is a series of
steps controlling the
operations of your
Biomek.
Step Palettes
Step Palettes are panes
in the Biomek main
editor showing steps
available for insertion in
a method. They are
located on the left of the
main editor. Use the
Step Palette Builderto
add other step palettes.
Refer to the Biomek
SoftwareUser’s Manual,
Chapter 30.5, Using the
Step Palette Builder for
more information.
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Introducing the Biomek® FX Laboratory Automation Workstation 1-7
Biomek® FX and FX-P Laboratory Automation Workstations Quick-Start Guide
1.4 Starting the Biomek®FX
To start the Biomek FX, you will follow the instructions in this chapter to turn on the
instrument, launch the Biomek Software, and home all axes.
1.4.1 Turning On the Biomek FX
To turn on the Biomek FX instrument:
1. Locate the power switch on the right side of the instrument (Figure 1-2).
2. Flip the switch to the On position. The indicator light comes on in solid green.
1.4.2 Launching the Software
To launch the Biomek Software:
1. Choose Start>All Programs>Beckman Coulter>Biomek Software.
2. If Accounts & Permissions is enabled (see sidebar), a dialogue box appears
requesting you to log in using the user name and password assigned to you by
your system administrator. Enter the required information. Your account must
have Develop Methods,Develop Projects, and Setup Instrument
permissions to complete all parts of this quick-start guide. The Biomek Software
main editor appears (Figure 1-2).
Note: If you are logging into Biomek Software for the first time, you must enter
a new password. Remember your new password; you will need to enter it each
time you access Biomek Software.
Figure 1-2. Biomek Software main editor
Accounts &
Permissions
When enabled, Accounts
& Permissions is an
integrated set of features
built into the software to
assist users in complying
with electronic signature
requirements for closed
systems. The
functionality for
Accounts & Permissions
is included in the Biomek
Software installation and
provides control over
who can create and run
methods, and who may
only run validated
methods. Refer to the
Biomek Software User’s
Manual, Chapter 2,
Using Accounts &
Permissions.
Method View
The method is built
step by step in this
area.
Basic Step Palette
Displays the steps
available for insertion
into a method.
Additional steps are
available through other
step palettes.
Step Configuration Area
When a step is highlighted in the
Method View, the corresponding
configuration appears in this area.
Other editors are available from the
Project and Instrument menus.
Current Deck Display
Displays the status of the deck upon
completion of the previous step.
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1-8 Introducing the Biomek® FX Laboratory Automation Workstation
Beckman Coulter, Inc.
1.4.3 Homing All Axes of the Biomek FX Pod
Every time the Biomek FX is turned on, you’ll have to Home All Axes. This
automatic process initiates the pod and defines the home position from which all
subsequent moves are determined.
To home all axes:
1. From the Instrument menu, choose Home All Axes. A Warning appears.
2. Make sure that all warnings are addressed and choose OK. The pod is homed and
the instrument is now ready for use.
Proceed through this quick-start guide while using the links to the user’s manuals to
learn more about the Biomek FX liquid-handling system.
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2-1
Biomek® FX and FX-P Laboratory Automation Workstations Quick-Start Guide
2Learning to Create Methods for
the Biomek®FX
2.1 Overview
In this chapter you will be given information and instructions for building a small
method using Biomek Software. A method is a series of steps that control the
operation of your Biomek FX.
The method you complete in this chapter represents basic operations and is intended
simply to familiarize you with the Biomek FX, and to create a basic understanding of
method-building opportunities.
Read the information in this chapter and complete the tutorial steps provided. After
you have completed the instructions, or if you need additional information along the
way, use the links provided to access the suite of user’s manuals provided during
installation. These manuals include Biomek Software User’s Manual, Biomek® FX
and FX-P Laboratory Automation Workstations User’s Manual, and ALPs User’s
Manual. Each manual contains comprehensive information about the possibilities
designed into the Biomek FX.
In this chapter, you’ll learn:
•Creating a New Method (Section 2.2)
•Configuring the Instrument Setup Step (Section 2.3)
•Configuring a Transfer Step for Multichannel Pod (Section 2.4)
•Configuring a Combine Step for Span-8 Pod (Section 2.5)
•Configuring a Move Labware Step (Section 2.6)
•Using the Finish Step (Section 2.7)
•Saving a Method (Section 2.8)
•Running a Method (Section 2.9)
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2-2 Learning to Create Methods for the Biomek® FX
Beckman Coulter, Inc.
2.2 Creating a New Method
In this chapter, you will build a simple method that
transfers liquid between labware. In building this
method, you will:
• Populate the deck with labware using the
Instrument Setup step.
• Transfer liquid with a Multichannel Pod using a
Transfer step.
Note: Using the Multichannel Pod requires
that a Tip Loader ALP is installed on the deck.
• Transfer liquid with a Span-8 Pod using a Combine step.
Note: Using the Span-8 Pod requires that a Span-8 Tip Wash ALP is
installed on the deck. A Span-8 Disposal ALP—called TipTrash in the
Deck Editor—is required if using disposable tips.
• Move labware with the gripper on the Multichannel Pod using a Move
Labware step.
You launched Biomek Software in Chapter 1. You are now going to create a small
method:
Drag and drop an Instrument Setup into the Method View. A new method is
created and assigned the default name Method1 [New] (Figure 2-1).
Figure 2-1. Biomek Software main editor for dual-pod Biomek FX instrument
If using Accounts &
Permissions . . .
You must have Develop
Methods permission to
create methods. Refer to
the Biomek Software
User’s Manual, Chapter 2,
Using Accounts &
Permissions, for more
information.
Tip Loader
The Tip Loader ALP
loads disposable tips
onto a 96-well head or a
384-well head mounted
on a Multichannel Pod.
Refer to the ALPs User’s
Manual, Chapter 23, Tip
Loader ALP, for more
information.
Method View
The method is built
step by step in this
area.
Step Configuration Area
When a step is highlighted in the
Method View, the corresponding
configuration appears in this area.
Basic Step
Palette
Displays the steps
available for
insertion into a
method. Additional
steps are available
through other step
palettes.
Current Deck Display
Displays the status of the
deck upon completion of
the previous step.
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Learning to Create Methods for the Biomek® FX 2-3
Biomek® FX and FX-P Laboratory Automation Workstations Quick-Start Guide
As you can see, two steps automatically appear in every method created and executed
by the Biomek Software:
•Start — the first step in a method; allows
creation of global variables that are applicable
to the entire method. Refer to the Biomek
Software User’s Manual, Chapter 13.2.1,
Configuring the Start Step, for information on
creating variables in the Start step.
•Finish — the final step in a method; provides
options to clear the Biomek FX deck, clear the
devices on the deck, unload tips from the pod,
and clear all global variables. Refer to the
Biomek Software User’s Manual, Chapter
13.2.2, Configuring the Finish Step, for
information on configuring other options for the Finish step.
Proceed to Section 2.3, Configuring the Instrument Setup Step to learn how to
configure the Instrument Setup step you just inserted into the method view.
Variables
A variable is a value that
has been assigned a
name. that may be
referenced repeatedly
during a method. Refer
to the Biomek Software
User’s Manual, Chapter
14, Using Variables and
Expressions in a Method
for more information.
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2-4 Learning to Create Methods for the Biomek® FX
Beckman Coulter, Inc.
2.3 Configuring the Instrument Setup Step
CAUTION: An inaccurate Instrument Setup may result in pod and
labware collisions, or in inappropriate pipetting.
When creating Biomek methods, it is important for obstacle avoidance (see sidebar)
to use the Instrument Setup step, along with the Deck Editor, to tell the software
what labware and ALPs are on the deck. You’ll learn more about the Deck Editor in
the next chapter (refer to Section 3.5, Creating a New Deck).
Figure 2-2. Instrument Setup step in the Method View
When building a method,
you must ALWAYS use
the Deck Editor and
Instrument Setup step
to tell the software what
labware and ALPs are on
the deck and the position
each occupies. If this is
not done, the pod could
collide into these objects
as it moves around the
deck during a method.
Obstacle
Avoidance
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Learning to Create Methods for the Biomek® FX 2-5
Biomek® FX and FX-P Laboratory Automation Workstations Quick-Start Guide
To configure the Instrument Setup step for your new method:
CAUTION: Do not place labware other than a tip box on a tip loader
position (TL#).
1. In Deck, make sure the default deck layout (Deck1) is selected. The Instrument
Setup step uses a deck layout as a map for the placement of labware, ALPs, and
external hardware devices, such as stacker carousels.
2. Drag and drop the following labware on the Deck Layout Display:
•anAP96_200uL to TL1
•aReservoir to P4
•aBCFlat96 to P5
•anAP96_200uL_LLS to P16; the LLS
means these are conductive tips that enable
liquid level sensing on a Span-8 Pod.
•aCostar384FlatSquare to P12. Your
screen should look like Figure 2-3.
Note: To remove unwanted labware from the Deck
Layout Display during setup, drag and drop the
labware to the Clear (trash) icon.
Figure 2-3. Instrument Setup step with labware added
If you want to use a
labware type that does
not appear in the
available labware list, use
the Labware Type
Editor to create a new
labware type. In Section
3.3, Creating New
Labware in the Labware
Type Editor, you will
create a new labware type
in the Labware Type
Editor.
Creating Labware
Liquid Level Sensing
Liquid Level Sensing
(LLS) is used to
determine the liquid
level within a piece of
labware using specially
designed LLS tips. Refer
to the Biomek® FX and
FX-P Laboratory
Automation
Workstations User’s
Manual, Chapter 3.3.1,
Drag the desired
labware graphic to
the desired position
on the Deck Layout
Display.
Deck Layout
Display
From the Deck Layout
Display, double-click
the labware graphic to
display Labware
Properties.
AP96_200uL
on TL1 BCFlat96
on P5
Reservoir
on P4
AP96_20uL_LLS on P16
CostarFlat384
on P12
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