Thermo Scientific ID Scribe User manual

Thermo Scientific
ID Scribe
Labware Identifier
User Manual

Thermo Scientific ID Scribe User Manual

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. provides this document to its customers with a product purchase to use in
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Release history:
Rev. 1.0, December, 2010 - Initial Draft for Review
Rec. 1.1, January 2011—Final Draft for Release
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
© 2011 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved.

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Notice on Lifting and Handling of
Thermo Scientific Instruments
For your safety, and in compliance with international regulations, the physical handling of this Thermo Fisher
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requires a team effort to lift and/or move the instrument. This instrument is too heavy
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Notice on the Proper Use of
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Notice on the Susceptibility
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Thermo Scientific ID Scribe User Manual vii
Contents About this User Manual
Intended users
How to use this user’s manual
Related Documentation
Contacting Us
Safety and Special Notices
Safety symbols and markings
ID Scribe and Software Installation........................................1-1
Initial Setup........................................................................................ 1-1
Installing the Software.......................................................................1-2
Installing USB Drivers....................................................................1-3
Installing the ID Scribe Software....................................................1-3
Microsoft Excel...............................................................................1-4
Labware Files..................................................................................1-4
Completing the Installation.............................................................1-4
Printing Labware......................................................................2-1
How to Load Labware .......................................................................2-1
Load Labware into Rack..............................................................2-1
Load a SideWriting Rack onto a Spacer...................................... 2-2
Load rack into ID Scribe machine...............................................2-2
Load Rack into ID Scribe Machine .............................................2-2
Creating a Spreadsheet....................................................................2-4
Print the Labware............................................................................... 2-4
Loading and Removing a Pen.................................................3-1
Choice of Pens ...................................................................................3-1
Pen Stop Assembly............................................................................3-1
Loading a Pen ....................................................................................3-1
Removing a Pen.................................................................................3-2
Loading a Rack of Labware ....................................................4-1
Loading a Rack for TopWriting.........................................................4-1
Loading a SideWriting Rack..............................................................4-2
Creating and Editing Spreadsheets .......................................5-1
Spreadsheet Syntax.........................................................................5-1
Column A Tube Number Position..................................................5-1
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5

viii ID Scribe User Manual Thermo Scientific
Columns B, C and D Text Columns ...............................................5-2
Start with Row 1 and move consecutively...................................5-2
Limitations of Printing.................................................................5-4
Storing Spreadsheets....................................................................5-4
Uppercase Text for Better Printing.................................................5-4
Text to columns in Excel ................................................................5-4
Loading Spreadsheets............................................................6-1
Loading a Spreadsheet.......................................................................6-1
Number of Tubes ............................................................................6-1
Number of Racks ............................................................................6-1
First and Last Label ........................................................................6-2
Loading Large Spreadsheets........................................................... 6-2
Changing Settings: Font Sizes...............................................7-1
Changing the Font Size...................................................................... 7-1
Creating and Editing Labware Files.......................................8-1
What are Labware Files? ...................................................................8-1
Labware Files Location......................................................................8-1
Labware File Syntax..........................................................................8-1
ID Scribe Coordinate System..........................................................8-2
X Starting Position..........................................................................8-4
Y Starting Position..........................................................................8-5
X Spacing........................................................................................8-5
Y Spacing........................................................................................8-5
Clearance Height.............................................................................8-6
Touching Height .............................................................................8-6
Line Limit .......................................................................................8-6
SideWriting.....................................................................................8-6
Font Size .........................................................................................8-6
Number of Rows.............................................................................8-6
Number of Columns........................................................................8-6
Justification.....................................................................................8-6
Interline Spacing.............................................................................8-7
First Tube Repeat............................................................................8-7
First Letter Repeat...........................................................................8-7
Editing a Labware File.......................................................................8-7
Loading a Labware File.....................................................................8-7
Adding New Labware Files...............................................................8-8
Adjusting New Labware Files ...........................................................8-9
Troubleshooting and Tips ......................................................9-1
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9

Thermo Scientific ID Scribe User Manual ix
Startup and Power Problems...........................................................9-1
Startup Mechanical Movement.......................................................9-1
Software Solutions..........................................................................9-2
Cannot find an ID Scribe ................................................................9-2
Printed Lines Look Connected.....................................................9-2
No Printed Letters........................................................................ 9-2
Excel in Edit Mode ......................................................................9-2
Software Migration.........................................................................9-3
FAQs.......................................................................................10-1
Chapter 10

Thermo Scientific ID Scribe User Manual x
Figures
Figure 1-1: Power Jack
Figure 1-2: Keyspan Adapter
Figure 1-3: No ID Scribe Found
Figure 1-4: ID Scribe Found
Figure 2-1: 36 1.4mL tubes in rack 3301
Figure 2-2: 24 HPLC vials in rack 3313
Figure 2-3: Rack and Spacer
Figure 2-4: Placing rack and spacer onto pins
Figure 2-5: Top view of racks onto pins
Figure 2-6: Sample 1-tube spreadsheet
Figure 3-1: Pen and Stop
Figure 3-2: Tighten by rotating clockwise
Figure 4-1: 1.5mL microcentrifuge tube in a 3303 TopWriting Rack
Figure 4-2: SideWriting Rack and Spacer
Table 5-1: Three tube spreadsheet
Figure 5-1: Column A is tube number
Figure 5-2: First row is second tube
Figure 5-3: Skipping tubes
Figure 5-4: Text to columns
Figure 5-5: Text to columns
Figure 5-6: Text to columns
Figure 5-7: Text to columns
Figure 6-1: Eight Tubes
Figure 6-2: Number of Racks
Figure 6-3: Large Spreadsheet
Figure 8-1: Top View
Figure 8-2: Front View
Figure 8-3: Too far left
Figure 8-4: Too far right
Figure 8-5: Possibly optimal
Figure 8-6: X and Y Spacing
Figure 8-7: Pull-down layout of Labware
Figure 8-8: Folder Layout of Labware

Thermo Scientific ID Scribe User Manual xi
About this User Manual
The Thermo Scientific ID Scribe is a labware identifier that simply and efficiently
write legible sample information onto tubes, vials and other labware.
Intended users
This user manual is written for the end user, for example, research scientist or
laboratory technician, and provides information on the Thermo Scientific ID Scribe,
including installation and operating instructions. The ID Scribe is intended for use
by persons who have been trained on standard laboratory equipment safety and use.
Read the manual in its entirety before operating this instrument.
How to use this user’s manual
This user manual is designed to give you the information to:
Review safety precautions
Set up the ID Scribe
Install and use the ID Scribe software
Perform writing on labware
Perform basic cleaning and maintenance
Troubleshoot the instrument
The user manual also describes all the features and specifications of the ID Scribe
instrument.

xii ID Scribe User Manual Thermo Scientific
Related Documentation
In addition to this guide, Thermo Fisher Scientific provides the following documents
for the ID Scribe:
Service Manual
ID Scribe HT Manual
Contacting Us
There are several ways to contact Thermo Fisher Scientific for the information you
need:
To contact Technical Support
North America:
Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Europe:
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: m[email protected]
Asia Pacific: contact your local Thermo Fisher Scientific representative or
authorized distributor
To contact Customer Service for ordering information
North America:
Phone: [phone] x 1100, Option 1
E-mail: [email protected]
Europe:
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Asia Pacific: contact your local Thermo Fisher Scientific representative or
authorized distributor
To copy manuals from the Internet
Go to www.thermoscientific.com/IDScribe

Thermo Scientific ID Scribe User Manual xiii
Safety and Special Notices
Make sure you follow precautionary statements presented in this guide. The safety
and other special notices appear in boxes.
Safety and special notices include the following:

Thermo Scientific ID Scribe User Manual 1-1
Chapter 1
ID Scribe and Software
Installation
This chapter shows you how to set-up the ID Scribe and the necessary
software.
If an ID Scribe representative delivered your machine, your ID Scribe
unit and software should have already been set up. At the end of this
chapter, the ID Scribe should respond to the software.
Open the box and place the ID Scribe on your benchtop. Any open
space 45cm x 45cm x 45cm (18” x 18” x 18”) in size and close to a
computer and a power outlet will be suitable for the ID Scribe.
Make sure your ID Scribe package has the following accessories (see
Fig. 1-1):
the ID Scribe software CD
the USB software CD
a USB cable
a power supply with cable
pens for ID Scribe
metal stops for pens
user manual
rack lifter/base
Connect the appropriate plug for your region into the power supply.
Plug the power supply cable into your wall outlet. Insert the jack end of
the power supply into the power adapter on the back of the ID Scribe
(see Fig. 1-1). Turn on the power switch. You will see a green LED
light up the front panel of the ID Scribe. The ID Scribe should
immediately “home” itself.
Initial Setup

ID Scribe and Software Installation
Installing the Software
1-2 ID Scribe User Manual Thermo Scientific
Figure 1–1. Power Jack
If the carriage does not move, please check whether the power supply is
receiving power. The power supply has a green led on the “brick”
which indicates whether it is receiving power. Also check the green led
on the lower-right corner upper-right corner of the unit. If the green
light is not lit, try re-inserting the power supply cable into the power
supply or check that your wall outlet is receiving power. Further
troubleshooting tips on startup may be found at Chapter 9.
Note Do not connect the USB cable from the ID Scribe to your
computer at this time.

Two disks have been provided with your ID Scribe:
• Keyspan USB Serial Adapter Software
• ID Scribe Software Installation Disk
Note If you are installing the software on a computer that requires a
username and password, you will need to have “local administrative
privileges” to install the ID Scribe USB drivers and Software.

Installing the
Software

ID Scribe and Software Installation
Installing the Software
Thermo Scientific ID Scribe User Manual 1-3
The ID Scribe communicates with your computer via USB. These USB
drivers are located on the CD labeled “KeySpan USB Serial Adapter
Software”.
• Insert the Keyspan or ID Scribe CD into your CD-ROM drive on
your computer.
Figure 1–2. USB Driver Screen Shot
 The screen above should automatically appear, but if it does not, run
the Launch.exe file on the CD or double-click on “Keyspan-
USA19HS-driver-3.7S-WIN2000.xp.vista”. Click “Install
Software” on the top right portion of the window.
 When the above screen appears click on “Install Keyspan USB
Serial Adapter software”
 Click “Yes” to proceed
 Click “Next” to install the driver in the default location
 Registration is optional. For fastest installation click “Cancel”
 Click “Exit Registration" to proceed”
 Click “Finish" to complete USB driver installation
The ID Scribe software is single executable file named ID Scribe.exe
and does not require a formal “installation”. The files can merely be
“dragged-and-dropped” onto your computer. There is no restriction on
Installing USB
Drivers
Installing the ID
Scribe Software

ID Scribe and Software Installation
Installing the Software
1-4 ID Scribe User Manual Thermo Scientific
which folder the ID Scribe application must be located. The Labware
Files must be located in the same folder as ID Scribe.exe in a folder
named “labwaretypes”. By following the instructions below, you do not
need to create and files or folders.
Insert the CD labeled “ID Scribe Software Installation Disk” into
your CD-Rom drive.
Open “My Computer” and open the CD-Rom drive titled “ID Scribe
Installation Software”
Copy the entire folder “ID Scribe Software” to your desktop.
(Administrators can copy the folder to the “All Users” desktop folder
if they would like the application to appear for all users).
Open the “ID Scribe Software” folder that you copied to your
desktop. You should see the files pictured below.
To run the ID Scribe software, double-click on the “ID Scribe.exe”
executable file. On some Windows configurations, you might not
see the “.exe” extension on the ID Scribe file. You may want to
create a shortcut and place it on your desktop for quicker access. To
create a shortcut simply right-click on the ID Scribe.exe icon and
choose “create shortcut”. Drag this shortcut to your desktop.
The ID Scribe application was written so that you would not need to
learn new software to enter the text for your tubes. The ID Scribe
software allows you to use Excel on your computer to enter data and
transfer the data from Excel to print onto your tubes. You will need to
make sure you have a recent version of Excel (98 or later) on your
computer.
Your lab may require printing on only one type of tube, vial, or other
type of labware. (We call the tube, vial, etc. “labware”) Usually,
however, you will use multiple labware types. Because of the various
sizes and arrangements of labware, each type of rack has a different
spacing and location. The settings for each type of rack are located in a
simple text file we call a Labware File. While the ID Scribe.exe
software can be located in any folder on your computer, the “labware”
folder containing Labware Files must be located in the same folder as ID
Scribe.exe.
Labware Files are text files that read almost like English. You can copy
and modify Labware Files just like any text document.
Connect the USB cable to the back of the ID Scribe and your computer.
A small message box will appear in the bottom right part of the
computer screen with the message “Found New Hardware - Keyspan
USB”.
Microsoft Excel
Labware Files
Completing the
Installation

ID Scribe and Software Installation
Installing the Software
Thermo Scientific ID Scribe User Manual 1-5
Turn on the ID Scribe by using the power switch on the front right.
Wait for the carriage to reset the X, Y and Z axes and cease motion in
the upper left corner.
Open the ID Scribe folder on your desktop and click the ID Scribe.exe
icon to launch the ID Scribe software. Wait for the software to say
“Found the ID Scribe”.
Figure 1–3. No ID Scribe Found

ID Scribe and Software Installation
Installing the Software
1-6 ID Scribe User Manual Thermo Scientific
Figure 1–4. ID Scribe Found