Sutter Instrument BV-10 User manual

One Digital Drive
Novato, CA 94949
Voice: 415-883-0128 Web: www.sutter.com
Fax: [phone] Email: [e-mail]
BV-10
Micropipette Beveler
Operation Manual
Rev. 3.00 ( 20180423)

BV-10 OPERATION MANUAL – REV. 3.00 (20180423)
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Copyright © 2018 Sutter Instrument Company. All Rights Reserved.

BV-10 OPERATION MANUAL – REV. 3.00 (20180423)
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DISCLAIMER
The Model BV-10 Micropipette Beveler is designed for the specific use of creating
micropipettes and no other use is recommended.
This instrument creates items that should only be used in a laboratory environment for
use on animal tissues. It is not intended, nor should be used in human experimentation
or applied to humans in any way. This is not a medical device.
Do not open or attempt to repair the instrument without expressed and explicit
instructions from Sutter Instrument Company. High voltages are present and could cause
i n j u r y.
Do not allow unauthorized and or untrained operatives to use this device.
Any misuse will be the sole responsibility of the user/owner and Sutter Instruments
assumes no implied or inferred liability for direct or consequential damages from this
instrument if it is operated or used in any way other than for which it is designed.
SAFETY WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Electrical
Operate the BV-10 using 110-120 V AC, 60 Hz, or 220-240 V AC., 50 Hz line voltage. This
instrument is designed for connection to a standard laboratory power outlet (Overvoltage
Category II).
Fuse Replacement: Replace only with the same type and rating: Miniature Fuse, 5 x
20 mm, IEC 60127-2, 250VAC, Time-Lag T, Low Breaking Capacity (Glass Tube):
At 110 - 120 VAC:
Rating: 0.2A (200mA)
Examples: Schurter 0034.3110
At 220 - 240 VAC:
Rating: 0.1A (100mA)
Examples: Schurter 0034.3107
A spare fuse is located in the power input module. Please refer to the fuse-replacement
appendix for more details on fuse ratings and for instructions on how to change the fuse.
Avoiding Electrical Shock and Fire-related Injury
Always use the grounded power supply cord set provided to connect the system to a
grounded outlet (3-prong). This is required to protect you from injury in the event that
an electrical hazard occurs.
Do not disassemble the system. Refer servicing to qualified personnel.
To prevent fire or shock hazard do not expose the unit to rain or moisture.

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Operational
Failure to comply with any of the following precautions may damage this device.
Operate this unit using the indicated line voltage.
This unit is designed for operation in a laboratory environment (Pollution Degree I).
This unit is designed for connection to a standard laboratory power outlet (overvoltage
Category II) with main supply voltage fluctuations not to exceed ± 10% of the normal
voltage.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
DISCLAIMER .......................................................................................................................................3
SAFETY WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS....................................................................................3
Electrical ..................................................................................................................................................3
Avoiding Electrical Shock and Fire-related Injury..............................................................................3
Operational ..............................................................................................................................................4
1. GENERAL.........................................................................................................................................7
1.1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................................7
1.2 Features .............................................................................................................................................8
1.3 Models ................................................................................................................................................8
1.4 Technical Support.............................................................................................................................8
1.5 Description and Function of Components ..................................................................................... 8
1.5.1 Motorbase....................................................................................................................................8
1.5.2 Manipulator ................................................................................................................................9
1.5.3 Pedestal/Grinding Assembly...................................................................................................10
1.5.4 BVM-CE Electrode Impedance Meter (Optional).................................................................11
1.5.5 Optical Attachment (Optional)...............................................................................................12
2. INSTALLATION ............................................................................................................................13
2.1 Description of Package Contents ..................................................................................................13
2.2 Set-Up and Assembly Instructions ...............................................................................................14
3. OPERATION ..................................................................................................................................17
3.1 Grinding Procedure ........................................................................................................................17
3.1.1 General Information ................................................................................................................17
3.1.2 Control of Beveling by Measuring Electrical Resistance.....................................................18
3.1.3 Control of Beveling by Monitoring Bubble Size....................................................................18
3.2 Using the Resistance Meter...........................................................................................................19
3.2.1 Operation ..................................................................................................................................20
3.2.2 Ohms Law – Theory of Operation..........................................................................................20
3.2.3 Accuracy ....................................................................................................................................20
4. MAINTENANCE............................................................................................................................23
4.1 Cleaning the Grinding Place..........................................................................................................23
5. TROUBLESHOOTING..................................................................................................................25
5.1 Grinding Plate Won't Turn............................................................................................................25
5.2 Jerky Plate.......................................................................................................................................25
5.3 Beveling Takes a Long Time .........................................................................................................25
5.4 No Beveling Occurs.........................................................................................................................25
5.5 Meter Does Not Work.....................................................................................................................25
5.6 Pipettes Break During Beveling....................................................................................................25
APPENDIX A. LIMITED WARRANTY............................................................................................27
APPENDIX B. ACCESSORIES .........................................................................................................29
Accessories .............................................................................................................................................29
Replacement Parts................................................................................................................................29

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APPENDIX C. Fuse Replacement .....................................................................................................31
APPENDIX D. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ...........................................................................33
INDEX .................................................................................................................................................35
TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 1-1. Manipulator............................................................................................................................. 9
Figure 1-2. Pedestal/Grinding Assembly................................................................................................ 10
Figure 1-3. BVM-CE Electrode Resistance Meter................................................................................. 11
Figure 2-1. BV-10 beveler component layout. ....................................................................................... 13
Figure 2-2. Pedestal/grinding plate assembly........................................................................................ 15
Figure 2-3. Components of optical attachment..................................................................................... 16
Figure 3-1. Top view of grinding plate. .................................................................................................. 17
Figure C-1. Power entry module............................................................................................................. 31
Figure C-2. Fuse holder............................................................................................................................ 31

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1. GENERAL
1.1 Introduction
The difficulty of penetrating a cell membrane or any other
type of tissue with a micropipette increases with tip size.
Beveling is a technique that significantly reduces the
resistance to pipette penetration by forming an almost
straight cutting edge on the end of a pipette. For
intracellular recording, beveling facilitates penetrating and
holding very small or difficult cells. Microinjection needles
also benefit from beveling by promoting entry into cells
with minimal damage and at the same time enhancing flow
of material through the needle.
The BV-10 beveler design provides a flat, wobble-free
abrasive surface for beveling intracellular electrodes, microinjection needles, etc. The BV-10
is suitable for beveling micropipettes with tip diameters between 0.1 and 50.0 microns (µ) or
micrometers (µm), depending on the grinding plate installed. The grinding plate rotates on a
stationary, optically flat pedestal by virtue of a magnetic coupling with a rotating drive ring.
Rotational speed is approximately 60 rpm. Pipette positioning relative to the grinding plate is
controlled with the micromanipulator, which provides both course and fine position control
and an adjustment for bevel angle.
For applications that involve micropipettes filled with an electrolyte, measuring the
resistance of the pipette during beveling is a useful technique for monitoring the progress of
beveling. The BV-10M resistance meter is designed for this purpose.
The relation between electrode resistance and tip
diameter for a series of beveled electrodes is shown for
measured tip diameters of 0.06 to 0.54 microns in the
graph to the right. The form of this function is of
interest because many applications require that either
tip diameter or electrode resistance be minimized. The
graph shows that when either tip diameter or
electrode resistance has been reduced to a given low
value, further decreases can be obtained only at the
expense of a very marked and undesirable increase in
the other variable.

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1.2 Features
Beveling surface is vibration-free and magnetically coupled.
Abrasive surface is optically flat to a half wave (250nm).
Rotation rate stabilized by a synchronous clock motor.
A heavy baseplate (7 lbs (3.2 kg)) provides additional dampening.
Integrated LED lamp.
Bevel angle and advancement is controlled by robust micromanipulator.
Now equipped with a 40X stereo microscope (Models BV-10-D and BV-10-E) for improved
location and adjustment of field of view around microelectrode tips while maintaining
good magnification.
1.3 Models
The BV-10 Microelectrode Beveler is available in the following models:
BV-10-B
Micropipette beveler basic system1
BV-10-C
BV-10-B with BVM-CE Electrode Impedance Meter.
BV-10-D
BV-10-B with BV-10S 40X2Stereo Microscope.
BV-10-E
BV-10-B with BVM-CE Electrode Impedance Meter and BV-10S 40X
Stereo Microscope.
1.4 Technical Support
Unlimited technical support is provided by Sutter Instrument Company at no charge to our customers.
Our technical support staff is available between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM (Pacific Standard
Time) at [phone]. You may also E-mail your queries to [e-mail].
1.5 Description and Function of Components
1.5.1 Motorbase
The motor base assembly consists of the base plate, DC drive motor and drive belt, motor
housing, halogen lamp, meter receptacle and power cord.
1Includes micromanipulator, reference wick, reference wick holder, pedestal oil, degreaser, manual, and two abrasive plates of your choice.
2Previous versions of the BV-10-D and BV-10-E were equipped with an 80X stereomicroscope. The replacement 40X magnification provides
improved location and adjustment for the field of view around micropipette tips while maintaining good magnification. If an 80X is preferred
over the 40X, please contact Sutter Instrument for information.