Douglas Oryx 4 User manual

DouglasInstrumentsLtd.
HardwareManual
Description andConfiguration
Revision5.3,August2006
CompiledbyPatrick ShawStewart,PeterBaldock and JamesSmith
Copyright1991-2006,Douglas InstrumentsLtd.
Douglas InstrumentsLimited
Douglas House ¨East Garston ¨Hungerford ¨Berkshire,RG177HD ¨UK
http://www.douglasinstruments.com

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Warnings
Always turnofftheMCC and disconnect
thepowercordfromthemainssupply
beforedisassembling anypartsofthe
machineorunplugging theleadsforthe
ChassisorPlateloader
For indooruseonly withinthetemperature
rangeof4-30ºC0-75%RH(Non-condensing)
Oryx ProteinCrystallization machinesare
designedforusewith non-hazardous
matterialsonly.Shouldthe userchooseto
process hazardousmaterialsitwouldbe the
user’sresponsibilitytoobserveanyspecial
handlingprocedures.
The
Red stopbutton
onthe MCCwill
terminateanymovementof theplateloader,
armsandsyringes. Thepurposebeingto
avoidspillageorotherloss ofoil,proteinor
reagents.The machinecomplieswithall
EssentialHealthandSafetyRequirementsof
the EUMachineryDirectiveforCE Marking
Specifications
Power: 100-240 VacUniversalInput; 5A: 50Hz~60Hz
Continuoussound pressurelevelinnormaloperationatthe
operator’sworkstation:below70dB(A) –earprotection neednot
be worn.
Manufacturedby:DouglasInstrumentsLtd.
DouglasHouse,RG177HD,UK
http://www.douglas.co.uk
Type:ORYXCRYSTALLIZATIONMACHINE

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CONTENTS
SETTINGUPTHESYSTEM 4
SoftwareInstallation.................................................................................................................. 4
Layout ofthe Hardware.............................................................................................................4
Recordingthe Positionsof Motors............................................................................................ 5
Unpacking.................................................................................................................................5
ElectricalConnection ................................................................................................................ 5
Installing theZandVArms....................................................................................................... 5
RezeroingMotorizedSyringeDrivers.......................................................................................6
Mounting 100 mlGas-Tight SyringesonMotorizedSyringeDrivers,and
Fillingthem withWater.............................................................................................................. 6
Installing 2.5 mlsyringe.............................................................................................................8
Testing the Performanceof the Plateloader.............................................................................. 9
RealigningthePlateloader........................................................................................................9
Rezeroing all Motorsofthe Plate Loader.................................................................................. 10
FRONTPANELMENU ITEMS 11
USEANDMAINTENANCEOFTHEHARDWARE 15
Installing Microtips.....................................................................................................................15
Use ofLiquidHandling SystemIncluding ValvePositions........................................................15
Refilling100mlGas-TightSyringeswith Water....................................................................... 15
Debubbling ............................................................................................................................. 15
FlushingTubing betweenValves............................................................................................ 16
FillingMicrotipwith Solution................................................................................................... 16
Dispensing Experiments.........................................................................................................16
Attachthe EvaporationshieldforVaporDiffusion Experiments................................................ 17
FlushingMicrotipafterUse....................................................................................................... 18
Alwayswearprotective goggleswhenhandling causticmaterials............................................18
Protein Coatingsof Microtip...................................................................................................... 18
Blockages.................................................................................................................................. 18
ChemicalInertness................................................................................................................... 18
TubingConnections.................................................................................................................. 18
Lubrication of SyringeDrivers andPlateLoader....................................................................... 20
Lubrication of Shafts............................................................................................................... 20
Lead-screws........................................................................................................................... 20
Spillages.................................................................................................................................20
XYZVPlate Loader................................................................................................................... 20
Adjustmentof XYZVPlate Loader.......................................................................................... 20
HARDWARECONFIGURATIONAND CONTROL 21
UsingDifferent Syringeswith the System................................................................................. 21
ChangingPlates........................................................................................................................21
WASPandASPRUN.............................................................................................................. 21
PickAndMix........................................................................................................................... 21
XSTEP– ChangingPlates..................................................................................................... 21
AddingFurtherPlatesto PLATES.DAT.................................................................................... 21
HardwareConfiguration Files.................................................................................................... 22
HARDWARE.CFG.................................................................................................................. 22
HARDWARE.FTH .................................................................................................................. 22
Specifications............................................................................................................................ 24
INDEXOFMANUAL 25

SETTING UP THE SYSTEM
SoftwareInstallation
Followthe instructions inthedocumentontheCD calledInstallation Instructions (Long).rtf
entitled“InstallationofDouglasInstrumentsCrystallizationSoftware”toinstall the
crystallizationsoftware.
Layout oftheHardware
The layoutof Oryx4and Oryx8isshowninthefigurebelow.The systemisdrivenbyaPC,which
isconnectedtotheMCC(MotionControlCenter).The motorizedsyringes andthe XYZV
Plateloaderareinturndrivenbythe MCC using stepper motors. The MCC isacomputerthat
generates thestepsfor thesteppermotors,logs theirpositionsetc. It drivesthemotorsusing 3
DB6steppermotor driver cards.
OryxHardwarelayout

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RecordingthePositionsofMotors
When thesystemisfirst set up, themotorsmustberezeroed usingthe FrontPanel program,as
describedbelow.
Afterthis, the softwarewill automaticallylogthe positions ofallofthe motorsinthe systemand it
will savethesepositions todisk at the endofeachrun. Thismeansthat it isnotnecessaryto
rezerothe motorseach timethecomputerisswitched on. Onlyrezeroifyou havesomereason
tobelievethat thesystemmaybe incorrectlypositioned.However, youmustnot switch off the
computerwithoutquitting allcrystallizationsoftware.If you do this, youwillbeforcedtorezero
the nexttimethat youusethe system.
Unpacking
Take the Chassis, MCC Motion ControlCenter,and theXYZVPlateloader outoftheir packaging.
UnwraptheZ- andV-arms. Take the motorized syringes andground-glass syringesoutoftheir
packaging.
ElectricalConnection
1.Allcablesareindividuallylabeled. Usethe long9-wayD-typecable toconnecttheport
labeled“serialport”ontheMCC totheserialport(COM1)ofthe computer.
2.Followthe labelingtoconnectMCC tothe ChassisandPlateLoaderusingthe three 37-
wayD-type cables
The MCC also possessesoutputsforascreenand keyboard.Thesecan be usedtodiagnose
malfunctions.
InstallingtheZandVArms
NowinstalltheZ-armas follows:
1.UnwraptheZ-arm.
2.Removethe cardboardorplasticprotectivesleeving fromaround theZlead-screw.
3.Lowerthe Z-armintoposition and allowtheleadscrewtosettleonthecentreof the motor
insidetheZV-box.Thearmwillautomaticallybe pulled intothecorrect position onthe
firstrezeroofthetable.
4.Repeatsteps1–3toinstallthe V-arm.