Scientifica PatchStar Micromanipulator Manual instruction

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PatchStar
Micromanipulator
Setup and Operation Manual
Revision 7.0
Revision Date: 06/08/2018
Manual Part No.: S-MAN-1011

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© Scientifica Ltd
1A Kingfisher Court, Brambleside, Bellbrook Industrial Estate,
Uckfield, TN22 1QQ, United Kingdom
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]
[e-mail]

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Contents
Note: This manual describes the features, functions and operation of
the PatchStar micromanipulator. Before use, please carefully read this
manual, directions for all accessories, all precautionary information and
specifications.
1.0 Product Introduction .....................................................................2
1.1 Handling Scientifica equipment – precautions..............................2
1.2 The Scientifica PatchStar micromanipulator.................................2
1.2.1 Product overview ..................................................................2
1.2.2 Modular design .....................................................................2
1.2.3 Product Walkthrough.............................................................3
1.2.4 Left and right handed configurations.....................................3
2.0 Packing List ...................................................................................4
2.1 Standard items.............................................................................4
2.2 Optional items..............................................................................5
3.0 Initial Setup....................................................................................8
3.1 Mechanical configuration of the PatchStar...................................8
3.1.1 Configuring the PatchStar between right and left handed......8
3.1.2 Arranging the PatchStar in ‘low-profile’ configuration ..........11
3.2 Mechanical mounting and positioning of the PatchStar..............13
3.2.1 Mounting the PatchStar using the rotary base.....................13
3.2.2 Setting the rotational stops on the rotary base ....................15
3.2.3 Setting the rotational stops on the rotary stage ...................17
3.2.4 Attaching the head stage assembly.....................................19
3.2.5 Exchanging magnetic base to thumb screw lock.................20
3.3 Electrical setup of the PatchStar................................................23
3.3.1 Control Racks .....................................................................24
4.0 Powering up the system.............................................................24
4.1 Operating the PatchStars...........................................................24
5.0 Maintenance.................................................................................24
5.1 Cleaning ....................................................................................24
6.0 Frequently Asked Questions ......................................................26
6.1 No Movement............................................................................26
6.2 Drift............................................................................................26
7.0 Specifications..............................................................................29
7.1 Environmental Conditions..........................................................29
8.0 Warranty, Technical Queries and Returns.................................30
9.0 About Scientifica .........................................................................31
10.0 Assembly Location....................................................................31

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1.0 Product Introduction
1.1 Handling Scientifica equipment – precautions
This section contains important safety information related to general use of the PatchStar
micromanipulator. The Scientifica PatchStar is a piece of scientific equipment and as such
requires care when handling.
• Before use, carefully read the instructions, including all warnings and cautions.
• Inspect the product, any cables, and connectors before each use. Do not use any
equipment that appears damaged.
• Do not apply excessive tension to any cables connected to the PatchStar
• There are no user serviceable parts inside the unit.
• Always disconnect the instrument from the power supply prior to cleaning the system or
performing maintenance work.
Other important safety information appears throughout the manual.
Other important safety information appears throughout the manual.
If the PatchStar is not handled and operated correctly according the information
included in this manual this can adversely affect the performance and operation
of your PatchStar and may invalidate your warranty. Scientifica will
not be held responsible for any damages incurred by
improper use of the equipment.
1.2 The Scientifica PatchStar micromanipulator
1.2.1 Product overview
The PatchStar is a motorised micromanipulator, with three axis of mechanical movement
and a further virtual ‘approach’ axis. The PatchStar can be applied to a wide range of life
science applications, but is typically used for the placement of electrodes during
electrophysiology research.
The PatchStar features 20 mm of high resolution (20 nm) travel and drift of less than 1
micron over two hours. This movement can be controlled via the Scientifica range of user
interfaces or the LinLab software for Windows. This software is free of charge, including all
future upgrades and can also be used to customise the PatchStar’s features and control.
1.2.2 Modular design
Shipped as a single unit, the PatchStar’s modular design means that it consists of three
identical motorised stages, configured to correspond to the three axis of motorised
movement. These are popularly known as X, Y and Z axis:
X axis: left to right movement (blue adjusters and cable)
Y axis: front to back movement (green adjusters and cable)
Z axis: vertical up and down movement (red adjusters and cable)

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1.2.3 Product Walkthrough
Figure A: PatchStar micromanipulator, with key components indicated
1.2.4 Left and right handed configurations
Due to its modular design, the PatchStar can be quickly exchanged between left and right
handed configurations. PatchStars can therefore be mounted on both sides of a sample, with
control options and software remaining intuitive and the adjusters accessible.
PatchStars are ordinarily shipped in right handed configuration. Instructions on how to re-
configure this can be found in section 3.1.1 of this manual.
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Rotary Base
2
Y Axis (green adjuster)
3
X Axis (blue adjuster)
4
Z Axis L-bracket
5
Z Axis (red adjuster)
6a
Dovetail strip (Y Axis)
6b
Dovetail strip (X Axis)
6c
Dovetail strip (Z Axis)
7
Rotary stage

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2.0 Packing List
If the outside of the shipping packaging is damaged, notify your shipping department
immediately. The shipping department may wish to notify the carrier at this point.
If the shipping carton is not damaged, carefully remove and identify all of the components as
listed below. If any of items are missing, contact Scientifica Ltd. Please retain the packaging
for storage or future transportation of the system.
2.1 Standard items
Quantity
1
Manipulator assembly
1
Head Stage assembly
Standard – may be exchanged for optional probe
holder (PS-7750)
1
Break out box
1
User interface cable (15-way D-type to RJ45)
to

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1
Breakout box lead (25-way D-type)
1
Screw kit (contents as per label inside lid)
1
Hex key set
1
Power Cable (cable provided will depend on your
country)
1
1U rack mounted controller
1 per 1U rack
Mains lead, locale specific
1 per 1U rack
USB lead (A-type to B-type)
1
Software CD
1
Setup and Operation Manual
2.2 Optional items
User Interfaces

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Control Cube
PatchPad
PatchPad Display
PatchPad Touch
Joystick

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Adaptive accessories
Steep bracket (PS-7550)
Shallow bracket (PS-7500)
Flip-up bracket (PS-7700)
Low profile bracket (PS-7800)
Head stage plate (PS-7650)
Dovetail probe holder (PH-1000)

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Fixed Sliding Probe Carriage
(PS-7750)
Universal Rod holder
(PS-7600)
Electrode Holding Bar (EHB-500)
3.0 Initial Setup
3.1 Mechanical configuration of the PatchStar
Please remember: adjustment or removal of any screws or components other
than those noted in this manual can adversely affect the performance and
operation of your micromanipulator and may invalidate your warranty.
If you are unsure of the components discussed here, please review the schematic in section
1.2.3.
3.1.1 Configuring the PatchStar between right and left handed
The PatchStar can be set up for use in either a left handed or right handed configuration.
This allows the user to mount the manipulator on either side of the experiment and maintain
the operation of the virtual approach axis, as well as providing easy access to the manual
adjusters.
Note: The factory default configuration is right handed.
In the right handed set up the dovetail headstage slide projects to the left and the manual
adjusters are conveniently positioned away from the microscope. For the left handed setup,
the X axis (blue) must be removed and rotated through 180°, to position its manual adjuster
away from the microscope.

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Figure B: The PatchStar, shown in left and right handed configurations
1. Loosen the dovetail screws on the lower part of the Z-axis L-bracket using a 3mm
allen key. Do not remove these screws completely.
Figure C: Left hand view, L-bracket dovetail screws indicated
2. Slide the upper part of the manipulator off the X axis (blue adjuster).
Figure D: Left hand view, Sliding the top section of the PatchStar
Slid e

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3. Loosen the dovetail screws on the X axis (blue)
Figure E: Rear view, indicating X axis (blue) dovetail screws
4. Remove the X axis (blue) from the Y axis (green) (1), turn the X axis through 180º
and slide it back onto the Y axis (2) so that the manual adjustment knob and cable
are positioned on the left side of the assembly when seen from the front.
Figure F: Rear view, removing, rotating and replacing the X axis (blue)
5. Retighten the X axis (blue) dovetail screws indicated in step 3
6. Position the lower half so that the green manual adjuster on the Y axis is furthest
away from you and the blue X axis adjuster is on the left hand side.
With the rotary stage facing you, slide the upper part of the PatchStar that was
removed in step 2 back onto the X axis (blue). Retighten the dovetail screws
indicated in step 1 on the lower part of the Z Axis L-bracket.
Slide
Rot ate and
Repla ce
1. 2.

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Figure G: Left hand view, replacing top half of PatchStar
7. The head stage slide can now be set to project on the right side of the manipulator.
Refer to section 3.2.3 for details.
Note: You may need to reset the magnetic stops on the rotary base and
vertical rotary stage, as described in section 3.2
To return a PatchStar from a left handed configuration back to right handed, follow
the same steps outlined above. In step 4, the X axis (blue) should be rotated through
180° to position the manual adjuster on the right hand side of the PatchStar.
3.1.2 Arranging the PatchStar in ‘low-profile’ configuration
An optional low profile bracket allows the position of Z axis (red) to be changed, lowering the
height of the PatchStar for rigs with height restrictions.
Fitting this bracket involves removing the Z axis (red), removing the standard Z axis L-
bracket, and refitting the low profile bracket in its place.
Figure H: Low profile bracket (left), and PatchStar in the low profile configuration
1. Loosen the dovetail screws on the lower part of the Z axis L-bracket using a 3mm
allen key.
Slide

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Figure I: Left hand view, L-bracket dovetail screws indicated
2. Slide the upper part of the manipulator off the X axis (blue).
Figure J: Left hand view, Sliding the top section of the PatchStar
3. Loosen the dovetail screws on the upper part of the Z axis
Bracket (1) and remove from the Z axis L-bracket (2).
Figure K: Left hand view, removing the Z axis (red) from the L-bracket
4. Slide the Z axis (red) onto the shorter surface of the low profile bracket (1) and
tighten the dovetail screws (2)
Slid e
Slide
1. 2.

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Figure L: Left hand view, fitting the Z axis (red) to the L-bracket
5. Slide the low profile bracket (1) onto the X axis (blue) and tighten the dovetail
screws on the long edge of the low profile bracket (2)
.
Figure M: Fitting the Z-axis onto the lower half of the PatchStar
3.2 Mechanical mounting and positioning of the PatchStar
3.2.1 Mounting the PatchStar using the rotary base
The PatchStar is designed to mount to either a metric or inch spaced location using M6 or
¼”-20 socket head cap screws (supplied). The rotary base is used to secure the manipulator
to the user’s table or platform.
1. Remove the manipulator assembly from the rotary base by loosening the two
dovetail locking screws on the Y axis (green) using the 3mm allen key supplied (1)
and sliding the complete assembly off the base (2)
1. 2.
Slide
1.
2.
Slide

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Figure N: PatchStar (left hand view), indicating rotary stage dovetail screws and removing
the rotary base.
2. Ensure that the 2 set screws that fix the rotary stop ring are loose by turning them
anti-clockwise, thus enabling the upper plate to rotate 360º.
Figure O: Rotary base, with set screws indicated
3. There are 4 mounting holes in the lower plate of the base that are accessed by
rotating the upper plate relative to the lower plate. Insert two M6 or ¼”-20 socket
head cap screws in two of the mounting holes. Now position the rotation plate in the
desired location and tighten the two screws.
Figure P: Lower surface, rotary base
4. Rotate the upper plate to reveal the other two mounting holes. Insert and tighten
two more screws.
1. 2.
Slide
Loosen
Tighten

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5. In the reverse of step 1, slide the PatchStar assembly back onto the rotary base
and tighten the 2 dovetail locking screws on the Y axis (green).
3.2.2 Setting the rotational stops on the rotary base
The rotary base allows the PatchStar to be rotated between two magnetic stops 100° apart.
The magnetic stops provide enough force to hold the PatchStar in place for the application
but can be easily moved by hand between stops without having to undo any locking
mechanism or use any tools. The magnetic stops are moved together to set up the
positioning of the PatchStar.
Figure Q: View from above, showing fixed degree of movement between the adjustable
magnetic stops
The following steps should be undertaken with the PatchStar fitted onto a rotary
base, which in turn has been fixed to the mounting surface. Please unplug all
cables from the breakout box before undertaking this process to prevent twisting
the cables – remember to power off the 1U rack controller before removing these
cables.
Right PatchStar
1. Ensure at least one of the grub screws in the rotary base is tight and then move the
PatchStar clockwise until it hits the stop.
2. Loosen the grub screw and move the base into the required position for the experiment.
3. Tighten the grub screw and check you can rotate the Patchstar anti-clockwise away from
the experiment to the other stop.
Left PatchStar
1. Ensure at least one of the grub screws in the rotary base is tight and then move the
PatchStar anti-clockwise until it hits the stop.
2. Loosen the grub screw and move the base into the required position for the experiment.
Fixed at
100°
Magnetic Stop at
Patching Position
Magnetic Stop at
Exchange Position

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3. Tighten the grub screw and check you can rotate the Patchstar clockwise away from the
experiment to the other stop.
Note: The magnetic stops in the base are designed to be held in place by one of the two
grub screws – for this reason, just the most accessible grub screw, usually the one
facing the front of the rig, can be set in the above steps with no effect on performance.

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3.2.3 Setting the rotational stops on the rotary stage
The rotary stage ensures that an ideal sample approach angle can be achieved. The stage
is rotated manually between two magnetic stops. The position of these stops can be
adjusted to suit the application.
1. On each edge of the rotary stage, there is a set screw for clamping and releasing
the rotary ring.
Please note: throughout this process, these set screws need only be loosened
one full turn. Take care not to remove them completely.
Figure R: Left and right hand views, rotary stage set screws indicated
2a. For a right handed setup: Ensure that the rotary stage is positioned midway
between the two stops and then loosen both of set screws using a 1.5 mm allen key.
Rotate the front plate anti-clockwise until the magnet which determines the approach
angle is engaged with the stop. You should hear a small click as this happens.
Figure S: Front view, PatchStar in right hand configuration.
Rotating the vertical stage and engaging the internal rotary ring
2b. Now rotate the stage to the required angle and re-tighten the 2 set screws to lock
the setting. Once tightened, ensure that the vertical rotary stage can be freely rotated
clockwise, away from the experiment.
“C lick”

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3a. For a left handed setup: Ensure that the rotary stage is positioned midway
between the two stops and then loosen both of set screws using a 1.5 mm allen key.
Rotate the front plate clockwise until the magnet which determines the approach
angle is engaged with the stop. You should hear a small click as this happens.
Figure T: Front view, PatchStar in left hand configuration.
Rotating the vertical stages and engaging the internal rotary ring
3b. Now rotate the stage to the required angle and re-tighten the 2 set screws to lock
the setting. Once tightened, ensure that the vertical rotary stage can be freely rotated
clockwise, away from the experiment.
Note: If the rotary stage cannot be freely rotated away from the experiment then it is
likely that the wrong magnetic stop was engaged at the start of the process. In this
case, move the rotary stage away from the current magnet, engage it with the other
magnet and proceed as above.
“C lick”