Opentrons Flex User manual
Opentrons Flex
Liquid Handling Robot
Quickstart Guide
Opentrons Labworks Inc.
August 2023
OPENTRONS FLEX
Table of Contents
Product and Manufacturer Description 3
– Crate Contents
Product Elements 4
Unboxing 7
– Disassemble Crate and Remove Robot
– Final Assembly and Power On
First Run 16
– Connect to a Network or Computer
– Install Software Updates
– Attach Emergency Stop Pendant
– Name Your Robot
Additional Setup Information 18
Additional Product Information 18
– Maintenance and Cleaning
– Warranty
– Support
– Regulatory Compliance
– Product Description
– Manufacturer Description
Post-sales service & contacting Opentrons
If you have any questions about the use of the system,
abnormal phenomena, or special needs, please contact:
support@opentrons.com. Also visit www.opentrons.com.
Product and Manufacturer Description
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Opentrons Flex is a liquid-handling robot designed for high throughput
and complex workows. The Flex robot is the base of a modular
system that includes pipettes, a labware gripper, on-deck modules, and
labware — all of which you can swap out yourself. Flex is designed with
a touchscreen so you can work with it directly at the lab bench, or you
can control it from across your lab with the Opentrons App or our
open-source APIs.
MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION
Opentrons Labworks Inc
45-18 Ct Square W
Long Island City, NY 11101
OPENTRONS FLEX
Product Elements
Status Light TouchscreenCamera
Frame
Side Windows
Handle Caps
Front Door
Deck
Gantry
Side Covers
USB-A Ports
Ports
AUX-1, AUX-2, USB-B, Ethernet
IEC Power Inlet
On/Off
Switch
5
Shipping weight (crate, robot, parts): 148 kg (326 lbs)
Robot weight: 88 kg (195 lbs)
Dimensions: 87 cm W x 69 cm D x 84 cm H (about 34”x 27”x 33”)
Operating space:
Flex needs 20 cm (8”) of side and back clearance. Do not place the
sides or back ush against a wall or another surface.
CRATE CONTENTS
The Flex ships with the following items. Other instruments and modules
are packaged separately, even if you purchased them together as a
workstation.
(1) Opentrons Flex robot
(1) USB cable (1) Power cable(1) Ethernet cable
(1) Emergency Stop Pendant
Product Elements
OPENTRONS FLEX
(1) Deck slot with labware clips (4) Spare labware clips
(1) Pipette calibration probe (4) Carrying handles and caps
(16 + spares) Window screws
(M4x8 mm at head)
(10) Spare deck slot screws
(M4x10 mm socket head)
(1) Top window panel (4) Side window panels
(1) 2.5 mm hex screwdriver (1) 19 mm wrench
(12) Spare deck clip screws
(M3x6 mm socket head)
(5) L-keys
(12 mm hex, 1.5 mm hex,
2.5 mm hex, 3 mm hex, T10 Torx)
7
Unboxing
Working with a partner, unboxing and assembly takes about 30 minutes
to an hour. See the Installation and Relocation chapter in the Flex
Instruction Manual for more information.
DISASSEMBLE CRATE AND REMOVE ROBOT
Unlock the latches holding the top to the sides, and remove the
top panel.
1
Note: The Flex requires two people to lift it properly.
Also, lifting and carrying the Flex by its handles is
the best way to move the robot.
You can reuse the crate and internal shipping
components. We recommend keeping the crate
panels and the internal shipping items in case you
need to transport your Flex in the future.
OPENTRONS FLEX
Cut open the blue shipping bag, remove these items from the
padding, and set them aside:
◾User Kit
◾Power, Ethernet, and USB cables
◾Emergency Stop Pendant
2
Remove the top piece of foam padding to expose the window
panels. Remove the window panels and set them aside. You’ll
attach these later.
3
9
Unlock the remaining latches holding the side panels to each
other and the base of the crate. Remove the side panels and set
them aside.
4
Using the 19 mm wrench from the User Kit, unbolt the brackets
from the crate bottom.
5
OPENTRONS FLEX
Pull or roll the shipping bag all the way down to expose the
entire robot.
6
With help from your lab partner, grab the handholds in the
orange shipping frames on either side of the robot’s base,
lift the Flex off the crate base, and set it down on the oor.
7
11
Using the 12 mm hex L-key from the User Kit, remove the four
bolts holding the shipping frames to the Flex.
8
Remove the four aluminum handles from the User Kit. Screw the
handles into the same locations that held the 12 mm shipping
frame bolts.
9
OPENTRONS FLEX
With help from your lab partner, lift the Flex by its carrying
handles and move it to a workbench for nal assembly.
10
FINAL ASSEMBLY AND POWER ON
After moving the robot, remove the carrying handles and replace
them with the nishing caps. The caps close the handle openings
in the frame and give the robot a clean appearance. Return the
handles to the User Kit for storage.
11
13
Retrieve the top and side panels from the packing foam you set
aside after removing the crate top.
12
Fit the window panels to the Flex by following the labeling
information on the front protective lm. Then remove the
protective lm.
13
Using the beveled window screws and the 2.5 mm screwdriver
from the User Kit, attach the window panels to the Flex. Make
sure the beveled (V-shaped) holes in the window panels are
facing out (towards you). This allows the screws to t ush with
the surface of the window.
14
Warning: Incorrectly orienting the panels can lead to
damage. Excessive screw torque can crack the panels.
Hand tighten the screws until the window panels are
reasonably secure. This is not a trial of strength.
OPENTRONS FLEX
Using the 2.5 mm screwdriver from the User Kit, remove the
locking screws from the gantry. These screws prevent the gantry
from moving while in transit. The gantry locking screws are
located:
◾On the left side rail near the front of the robot.
◾Underneath the vertical gantry arm.
◾On the right side rail near the front of the robot in an orange
bracket. There are two screws here.
15
The gantry moves easily by hand after removing all the
shipping screws.
15
Cut and remove the two rubber bands that hold the trash bin in
place during shipping.
16
Attach the power cord to Flex and plug it into a wall outlet. Make
sure the deck area is free of obstructions. Flip the power switch
on the back left of the robot. Once powered on, the gantry moves
to its home location and the touchscreen displays additional
conguration instructions.
17
OPENTRONS FLEX
First Run
When you turn on Flex for the rst time, it will guide you through the
network connection procedure, update itself with the latest software,
and let you give it a name. See the Installation and Relocation chapter
in the Flex Instruction Manual for more information.
CONNECT TO A NETWORK OR COMPUTER
Follow the prompts on the touchscreen to get your robot connected so
it can check for software updates and receive protocol les. There are
three connection methods: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB.
Note: You need to have internet connectivity to set up Flex.
Wi-Fi: Use the touchscreen to connect to a Wi-Fi network that is
secured with WPA2 Personal authentication. Or use Ethernet or USB
to complete initial setup, and add your Wi-Fi network later.
Ethernet: Connect your robot to a network switch or hub with an
Ethernet cable.
USB: Connect the provided USB A-to-B cable to the robot’s USB-B port
and an open port on your computer. USB setup requires the connected
computer to have the Opentrons App installed and running.
Download the Opentrons App from https://opentrons.com/ot-app/.
The app requires at least Windows 10, macOS 10.10, or Ubuntu 12.04.
INSTALL SOFTWARE UPDATES
Now that you’ve connected to a network or computer, the robot can
check for software and rmware updates and download them if needed.
If there is an update, it may take a few minutes to install. Once the
update is complete, the robot will restart.
17
ATTACH EMERGENCY STOP PENDANT
Connect the included Emergency Stop Pendant (E-stop) to an auxiliary
port (AUX-1 or AUX-2) on the back of the robot.
Attaching and enabling the E-stop is
mandatory for attaching instruments
and running protocols on Flex.
For more information on using the
E-stop during robot operation, see the
System Description chapter in the Flex
Instruction Manual.
NAME YOUR ROBOT
Naming your robot lets you easily identify it in your lab environment.
If you have multiple Opentrons robots on your network, make sure to
give them unique names.
Congratulations! Now you’ve successfully set up your Opentrons
Flex robot!
Follow instructions on the touchscreen or in the Opentrons App to
attach and calibrate instruments.
OPENTRONS FLEX
Additional Setup Information
For more information about unboxing, assembly, software conguration,
moving/relocation, and attaching instruments and modules, see the
Installation and Relocation chapter in the Flex Instruction Manual.
Additional Product Information
MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING
You can use alcohol (70% solution), bleach (10% solution), or distilled
water to clean the robot. You can wipe off all the visible and easily
accessible surfaces of your Flex. This includes the exterior and interior
frame, touchscreen, windows, gantry, and deck. The Flex does not have
any internal parts that you need to open or disassemble for this level of
maintenance. If you can see it, you can clean it. If you can’t see it, don’t
clean it.
See the Maintenance and Service chapter in the Flex Instruction
Manual for more information.
19
WARRANTY
All hardware purchased from Opentrons is covered under a 1-year
standard warranty. Opentrons warrants to the end-user of the products
that they will be free of manufacturing defects due to part quality
issues or poor workmanship and also warrants that the products will
materially conform to Opentrons’ published specications.
See the Warranty section of the Maintenance and Service chapter of
the Flex Instruction Manual for more information.
SUPPORT
Opentrons Support can help you with questions about our products
and services. If you discover a defect, or believe your product is not
functioning to published specications, contact us at
support@opentrons.com.
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
The Opentrons Flex has been tested and complies with all applicable
requirements of the following safety and electromagnetic standards.
◾IEC/UL/CSA 61010-1, 61010-2-051
◾EN/BSI 61326-1
◾FCC 47CFR Part 15 Subpart B Class A
◾IC ICES-003
◾Canada ICES-003(A) / NMB-003(A)
◾California P65
See the Introduction of the Flex Instruction Manual for more
information.
© OPENTRONS 2023
Opentrons FlexTM (Opentrons Labworks, Inc.)
Registered names, trademarks, etc. used in this document, even when not
specically marked as such, are not to be considered unprotected by law.
For a PDF of the complete Opentrons Flex
Instruction Manual, scan this QR code:
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