Thermo Scientific Versette User manual

Thermo Scientific
Versette™
Brief User Manual
Rev. 1.0, Cat. No. N14916

2
Copyright
© 2013 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved. InstallShield is a trademark of Flexera
Software LLC. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States
and other countries. All (other) trademarks are the property of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and its
subsidiaries.
Reproduction of the accompanying user documentation in whole or in part is prohibited.
Patents
Versette has national and international patents pending.
Disclaimer
Thermo Fisher Scientific reserves the right to change its products and services at any time to
incorporate technological developments. This manual is subject to change without prior notice as part
of continuous product development. Although this manual has been prepared with every precaution
to ensure accuracy, Thermo Fisher Scientific assumes no liability for any errors or omissions, nor for
any damages resulting from the application or use of this information. This manual supersedes all
previous editions.
No liability for consequential damages
Thermo Fisher Scientific shall not be liable for any indirect or consequential damages whatsoever
arising out of the use or inability to use this product.
Power failure
The system requires uninterrupted power supply in order to operate correctly. Thermo Fisher
Scientific has no responsibility whatsoever for system malfunctions arising from power failures.
Warranty
The Thermo Scientific Versette products are fully guaranteed against defective parts and materials, including defects
caused by poor workmanship for a period of one year from the date of delivery.
Thermo Fisher Scientific will repair or replace defective parts or materials during the term of warranty at no extra charge for
materials and labor provided that the products were used and maintained in accordance with instructions from Thermo
Fisher Scientific. The warranty is invalid if products have been misused or abused.
For the warranty to be effective, the product must have been purchased either directly from Thermo Fisher Scientific or from
an authorized Thermo Fisher Scientific distributor. The guarantee is not transferable to a third party without prior written
approval from Thermo Fisher Scientific.
This guarantee is subject to the following exclusions:
•Any defects caused by normal wear and tear.
•Defects caused by fire, lightning, flood, earthquake, explosion, sabotage, war, riot or any other occurrence of the
character listed above.
•Refurbished products that are subject to different warranty conditions.
THIS WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. The
seller is not liable for any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with the use of the product or other indirect
damages.
This translation corresponds to the document Thermo ScientificTM VersetteTM User Manual, Cat. No. D09888, Rev. 1.1.

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Contents
Introduction to the Versette Automated Liquid Handler ................................................................. 4
Intended use ...................................................................................................................................... 4
Principle of operation ......................................................................................................................... 4
Accessory options .............................................................................................................................. 4
Warnings............................................................................................................................................ 4
Installation ........................................................................................................................................... 6
Required tools/equipment .................................................................................................................. 6
Installation steps ................................................................................................................................ 6
Step 1: Position the system................................................................................................................ 6
Step 2: Install the stage unit............................................................................................................... 7
Step 3: Install the safety shield .......................................................................................................... 8
Step 4: Connect system power .......................................................................................................... 8
Step 5: Optional equipment setup...................................................................................................... 8
Operation ............................................................................................................................................. 9
Step 1: Perform an operational check................................................................................................ 9
Step 2: Install ControlMate Software.................................................................................................. 9
Computer minimum requirements:.................................................................................................. 9
ControlMate Software installation process...................................................................................... 9
Step 3: Connect the Versette to a computer running ControlMate Software ..................................... 9
Step 4: Calibrate the Versette position coordinates ......................................................................... 10
Step 5: System operation................................................................................................................. 10
Technical Specifications .................................................................................................................. 12
General specifications...................................................................................................................... 12
Safety specifications ........................................................................................................................ 12
In conformity with the requirements .............................................................................................. 12

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Introduction to the Versette Automated Liquid Handler
This Brief User Manual provides a brief introduction to the installation and startup of the Thermo
ScientificTM VersetteTM system and the Thermo ScientificTM ControlMateTM Software for Versette. The
instrument can be used through the touchscreen for simple procedures, or through ControlMate
Software for Versette.
The user manuals for the Versette system and ControlMate Software are on the Thermo ScientificTM
VersetteTM installation CD. Read the user manuals in their entirety before operating the instrument.
Intended use
The Thermo ScientificTM VersetteTM is intended for professional research use by trained personnel. The
instrument is intended for automated microplate and tube pipetting. Use for diagnostic testing is
excluded. It is recommended that Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) is followed to guarantee reliable
analyses.
Principle of operation
The Versette system is an automated microplate and tube pipetting system for fluid manipulation at
all stages and rates of production. The system features advanced 96- and 384-channel user
interchangeable pipetting heads can be used for plate stamping, plate reformatting, serial dilution,
assay setup and development, and other applications.
Figure 1. Versette system
Accessory options
For details and ordering information on accessories, including rapid-connect pipetting heads,
Disposable Tips (D.A.R.T tips), reagent reservoir, serial dilute magazines, etc,. refer to the Versette
User Manual (Cat. No. D09888).
Warnings
•This equipment is to be used only as offered, for the purposes described in this manual and
the Versette User Manual, in accordance with standard industry safety practices and common
safety usage. This equipment is not intended for any other usage other than that described.
Use of this equipment in any other application or manner, without the direct written consent of
Pipette housing
Control touchpanel
Front panel hood
6-stage positions for
microplates, tubes, and
vessels

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Thermo Scientific may constitute an unsafe practice, and will void all warranty on the part of
the manufacturer.
•Do not modify the equipment, the safety shields, the components, nor any accessory, nor use,
store, ship, or otherwise handle or cause to be handled this equipment in any manner other
than that which is expressly offered for sale. Inappropriate use of this equipment, and
unauthorized modifications of the equipment and any action of use of the equipment, storage
of the equipment, shipping, or other handling of the equipment, in a manner not expressly
authorized by Thermo Scientific will void any and all warranties and liabilities of the
manufacturer, whether expressed or implied.
•Ensure that the power plug is connected to a power receptacle that provides voltage and
current specified for the device. Use of incompatible line power can cause shock and fire
hazard.
•Never use a two-prong adapter or connect the device into a two-prong receptacle. Use of a
two-prong receptacle disables the electrical grounding and creates a severe shock hazard.
Always plug the device directly into a three-prong receptacle with a functional ground.
•Do not use a power cord that is frayed or cut. Do not kink or strain the power cord. Use of a
damaged power cord can cause shock and fire hazard.
•Never plug, unplug, or otherwise touch the power cord when your hands are wet. Contact with
the cord can cause severe shock hazard.
•If you notice smoke or unusual odor or noise coming from the instrument, turn it off
immediately, then unplug the power cord. Do not use the instrument until it has been serviced
and inspected by Thermo Fisher Scientific or an authorized service representative.
•Always turn off the power switch and unplug the power cord when servicing the device.
Contact with internal components or other components connected to the line power can cause
severe shock hazard. Perform only service procedures that are described in the manual or
authorized by Thermo Fisher Scientific service personnel.
•Do not allow tools, objects or liquids to enter the instrument through ventilation slots or other
openings. Contact with electrical or other internal components can cause a severe shock, fire
hazard, or instrument malfunction. If a hazardous condition occurs, disconnect the instrument
from the line power immediately.
•Keep hands away from moving parts (e.g., tips magazine mechanism, moving stages, and
any peristaltic pump). Personal injury may result. Warning symbols on the device indicate
areas of potential personal injury.
•Always ensure that the local supply voltage in the laboratory conforms to that specified on the
rating label on the instrument’s power-connector.
•Use protective gloves and eyewear and always wash your hands thoroughly after handling
test fluids and/or touching potentially soiled areas/components.
•Observe normal laboratory procedures for handling potentially dangerous samples.
•Wear proper protection clothing, such as protective gloves, eyewear, and laboratory coats
and/or other personal protection equipment, according to good laboratory practice and your
facility requirements.
•Ensure that the working area is properly ventilated.

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Installation
Required tools/equipment
•Precision level (bull’s eye level or similar level recommended)
•4 mm, 3 mm, 2.5 mm, and 2 mm hex
(ogonal) wrenches
•Phillips screwdrivers
Installation steps
Refer to the Versette User Manual for installation details.
Step 1: Position the system
Move the packed instrument to its site of operation. 1.
To prevent condensation, the instrument should be left in its protective wrapping until the ambient 2.
temperature has been reached.
Unpack the Versette system and accessories carefully to prevent damage. Leave at least one
3.
foam end piece in place during installation to prevent the system stages from sliding back and
forth during the installation process.
Warning! The base system (without pipetting module, pipetting heads, and stage assembly)
weighs approximately 36 kg [80 lbs.] and should be lifted with care. Remove the instrument from
the package using a two-person lift.
Position the system on a stable, vibration-free work platform, away from magnetic fields. Refer to
4.
the “Site requirements” in the Versette User Manual for details. Use a precision level to ensure
the installation work surface is level.
Remove the transport lock from the stage.
5.
Leave the foam in place to prevent sliding of the stages
during installation.
Remove transport lock

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Step 2: Install the stage unit
Manually move the stage locking pin to the rear of the base platform. 1.
Carefully place the stage assembly onto the base platform and align to the four corner pins as
2.
shown. Use a 4 mm hex wrench to secure the stage assembly onto the base platform with
M6 x 12 button head screws.
Attach the safety shield cable and the stage control cable to the system connections, as shown.
3.
The control cable is “keyed” to match the pins in the connector, and must be pushed into place.
Engage the stage into the stage locking pin:
4.
With one hand, reach over the stages and push the locking pin forwards towards yourself as you
gently push the stage assembly towards the rear of the system.
Be sure to slide the locking pin forward and hold firmly while pushing the stages to the rear. The
stage assembly should now engage the base pin and belt and slide with firm pressure, in and out.
Do not slam or rattle the stage assembly. Simply press firmly.
Stage power/control connection
Safety shield cable

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Step 3: Install the safety shield
Slide the blue safety shield assembly onto the system and attach with four supplied M5 x 10 mm 1.
shoulder screws using a 3 mm hex wrench.
Lift the hood and attach the grounding strap from the stage to hood, as shown:
2.
Inside view when properly installed Outside view when properly installed
Step 4: Connect system power
Connect supplied power cable to the system and to a correctly installed line power outlet which 1.
has a protective conductor, also called earth or ground.
Step 5: Optional equipment setup
If using a wash station and/or external fluid connections, refer to the Versette User Manual for 1.
installation details.
Warning! Ensure that the mains switch is in the
OFF (O) position. Never operate the instrument from a
power outlet that has no ground connection. Never
use a power supply cable other than the Thermo
Scientific power supply cable designed for your region.
Loosen the screw on outside, then attach
grounding strap to the inside with a screw,
lockwasher, and nut.

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Operation
Step 1: Perform an operational check
Complete the following procedure to confirm the correct functioning of the system prior to normal use.
Verify that the safety shields are in place and closed.
1.
Verify that the power cable is connected to an appropriate power supply. 2.
Switch the instrument on using the power switch. The stages will move to the home positions and 3.
the dispense mechanism lifts to the up position. Wait for the touchscreen to initialize and display
the main menu.
Step 2: Install ControlMate Software
Computer minimum requirements:
•Computer running Microsoft
™
Windows
™
XP SP3 or Windows
™
7 (32- and 64-bit)
•Screen resolution set to at least 1024 x 768
•CD-ROM, removable drive, or network drive for access to installation software
ControlMate Software installation process
ControlMate Software can be used from a CD, a flash drive, or installed from a common directory or
server.
Locate and double-click on the setup.exe file to launch the installation program.
1.
At the InstallShield
™
Wizard, click “Next.” 2.
Read the License Agreement, select “I accept the terms in the license agreement” to agree and 3.
continue to install the software, then click “Next”.
Wait for the ControlMate files to copy to your installation directory, then select “Finish” when
4.
displayed, to exit the wizard.
Refer to the ControlMate User Manual (Cat. No. 110762) for user instructions.
5.
Step 3: Connect the Versette to a computer running ControlMate Software
Refer to the Versette ControlMate 1.2.0 User Manual for details on any of the following steps.
Use Windows
®
Control Panel to set the computer to work with ControlMate: 1.
- Set Region to “English” (ControlMate uses English conventions for all numerical entries).
- Disable hibernation mode.
- Disable sleep mode.
Connect the computer to the Versette with an RS-232 cable:
2.
Do not use an RS-232 cable longer than 3 m when connecting the computer to the system.
•Serial connector details: RS-232C, 115,200 bps, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, and parity: none

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•If no RS-232 connection is available on the computer, a commercially available USB/Serial
adapter may be used.
Start ControlMate by clicking "Start" in the Windows Taskbar and selecting ControlMate from the
3.
Programs menu, or double-clicking a ControlMate desktop icon shortcut.
Using the onboard Graphical User Interface (GUI) on the Versette system, select
4.
from the main menu, then select Remote Mode.
Using the ControlMate software: 5.
a. Click on the Tools menu and select Options.
b. Click the “Test” button. Verify that the Device Connection is OK.
c. If necessary, change the Serial Port and re-test. The system defaults to Serial Port 1. If
necessary, use the arrow keys to select the Serial Port (RS-232 or RS-232 Virtual Serial
Communication port) for your computer connection, then click the “Test” button. Verify that the
Device Connection is OK.
From the Add-ins drop-down menu, select “Versette Setup”.
6.
Click the “Query Versette” button. The drop-down fields will automatically prefill with the 7.
appropriate information. When finished, click “OK”.
Step 4: Calibrate the Versette position coordinates
In ControlMate, select “Add-ins”, “Versette Calibration”, then follow the step-by-step instructions to 1.
calibrate the system coordinates. Refer to the Versette User Manual for details.
Step 5: System operation
The Versette system executes a series of commands (called a program or protocol) to aspirate fluid
from labware, and dispense this fluid into labware located on one of multiple stages in the system.
A simplified operation process is listed below:
Create a program to run a series of aspiration, movement, and dispense commands. This can be
1.
done through the onboard touchpanel or with the use of ControlMate Software for Versette.
Install the desired pipetting head.
2.
Connect a fluid source, or install fluid, as appropriate. 3.
Install labware into the system. 4.
Run the program. 5.
As the Versette is a flexible system, actual operation will vary to meet the specific needs of the end
user. Refer to the Versette User Manual for details.
Remote Mode

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A simple ControlMate protocol tree is shown below. In this example, the system would home all
positional axes, collect tips, move to a stage and aspirate fluid, move to another stage and dispense
the fluid.
A simple TouchScreen sample protocol is shown below. In this example, the system would prompt
the user to swap the dispense head and tips, then move to stage 1 and aspirate fluid from a reservoir,
then move to another stage and dispense the fluid:

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Technical Specifications
Thermo Fisher Scientific reserves the right to change any specifications without prior notice as part of
our continuous product development program.
General specifications
Table 1. General specifications
General specifications
Operating conditions
(indoor use)
+4°C to +40°C; maximum relative humidity 80% for temperatures up to
31°C decreasing linearly to 50% relative humidity at 40°C
Indoor use only
Power requirements AC 100~240 V, 50/60 Hz., 2 A draw
Safety specifications
In conformity with the requirements
Table 2. Safety specifications
The safety specifications are also met under the following environmental conditions in
addition to or in excess of those stated in the operating conditions:
Altitude Up to 2000 m
Temperature +4°C to +40°C
Humidity Maximum relative humidity 80% for temperatures up to 31°C
decreasing linearly to 50% relative humidity at 40°C
Supply voltage
fluctuations ±10% from nominal
Installation category
(
overvolta
g
e cate
g
or
y)
II according to IEC 60664-1
Pollution degree 2 according to IEC 60664-1
Note! 1) The installation category (overvoltage category) defines the level of transient overvoltage
which the instrument is designed to withstand safely. It depends on the nature of the electricity supply
and its overvoltage protection means. For example, in CAT II which is the category used for
instruments in installations supplied from a supply comparable to public mains, such as hospital and
research laboratories and most industrial laboratories, the expected transient overvoltage is 2500 V
for a 230 V supply and 1500 V for a 120 V supply.
Note! 2) The pollution degree describes the amount of conductive pollution present in the operating
environment. Pollution degree 2 assumes that normally only nonconductive pollution, such as dust,
occurs with the exception of occasional conductivity caused by condensation.