Contents

Agilent Microplate Centrifuge Handler Quick Guide PDF

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Summary of Content for Agilent Microplate Centrifuge Handler Quick Guide PDF

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Microplate Centrifuge

Quick Guide Original Instructions

Notices Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2014

No part of this manual may be reproduced in any form or by any means (including electronic storage and retrieval or translation into a foreign language) without prior agreement and written consent from Agilent Technologies, Inc. as governed by United States and international copyright laws.

User Guide Part Number

G5405-90006

Edition

Revision A, January 2014

Contact Information

Agilent Technologies Inc. Automation Solutions 5301 Stevens Creek Blvd. Santa Clara, CA 95051 USA

Technical Support: 1.800.979.4811 (US only) or +1.408.345.8011 (rest of the world) service.automation@agilent.com

Customer Service: 1.866.428.9811 or +1.408.345.8356 orders.automation@agilent.com

European Service: +44 (0)8457125292 euroservice.automation@agilent.com

Documentation feedback: documentation.automation@agilent.com

Web: www.agilent.com/lifesciences/ automation

Acknowledgements

Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.

Warranty

The material contained in this docu- ment is provided as is, and is sub- ject to being changed, without notice, in future editions. Further, to the max- imum extent permitted by applicable law, Agilent disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, with regard to this manual and any information contained herein, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a par- ticular purpose. Agilent shall not be liable for errors or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, use, or perfor- mance of this document or of any information contained herein. Should Agilent and the user have a separate written agreement with warranty terms covering the material in this document that conflict with these terms, the warranty terms in the sep- arate agreement shall control.

Technology Licenses

The hardware and/or software described in this document are furnished under a license and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of such license.

Restricted Rights Legend

If software is for use in the performance of a U.S. Government prime contract or sub- contract, Software is delivered and licensed as Commercial computer soft- ware as defined in DFAR 252.227-7014 (June 1995), or as a commercial item as defined in FAR 2.101(a) or as Restricted computer software as defined in FAR 52.227-19 (June 1987) or any equivalent agency regulation or contract clause. Use, duplication or disclosure of Software is subject to Agilent Technologies standard commercial license terms, and non-DOD Departments and Agencies of the U.S. Gov- ernment will receive no greater than Restricted Rights as defined in FAR 52.227- 19(c)(1-2) (June 1987). U.S. Government users will receive no greater than Limited Rights as defined in FAR 52.227-14

(June1987) or DFAR 252.227-7015 (b)(2) (November 1995), as applicable in any technical data.

Safety Notices

A WARNING notice denotes a hazard. It calls attention to an operating procedure, practice, or the like that, if not correctly performed or adhered to, could result in personal injury or death. Do not proceed beyond a WARNING notice until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.

A CAUTION notice denotes a hazard. It calls attention to an operating procedure, practice, or the like that, if not correctly performed or adhered to, could result in damage to the product or loss of important data. Do not proceed beyond a CAUTION notice until the indicated conditions are fully understood and met.

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Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

This guide contains the following topics:

About this guide on page 2

Safety information on page 2

Hardware overview on page 4

Workflows on page 5

Starting up and shutting down on page 6

Setting the spin parameters on page 10

Loading and unloading microplates and counterweights on page 11

Spinning labware on page 13

Centrifuge Diagnostics Controls tab reference on page 16

About this guide

2 Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

About this guide

This guide summarizes the Microplate Centrifuge operator instructions.

This guide assumes the following:

The Centrifuge is installed correctly and the buckets are correctly aligned. For installation instructions, see the Microplate Centrifuge User Guide.

The device profile for the Centrifuge is already created and the bucket teachpoints are already set. For setup instructions, see the Microplate Centrifuge User Guide.

You are familiar with the VWorks Automation Control software. See the VWorks Automation Control User Guide.

If you are using another lab automation system software, see the user documentation for the software.

For user information about related products, you can search the product knowledge base or download the latest version of a PDF file from the Agilent Technologies website at:

www.agilent.com/chem/askb

Safety information

Before using the Microplate Centrifuge

Before using the Centrifuge, your organization should make sure that you are properly trained in:

General laboratory safety

The correct and safe operation of the Centrifuge

The correct and safe operation of lab automation systems or components used in combination with the Centrifuge

General safety precautions

For general safety precautions, intended product use statement, and the list of safety labels, see the Automation Solutions Products General Safety Guide. If the Centrifuge is installed in a BioCel System, see the BioCel System Safety Guide.

Moving-parts hazards

The Centrifuge will not spin unless:

The door is closed and locked.

The buckets are unlocked.

The bucket payloads are balanced.

The appropriate software command is sent.

The Centrifuge automatically closes and locks the door whenever you start a spin cycle. The Centrifuge door will not unlock or open if the rotor is moving.

00077 VSpin front

Centrifuge

3

Safety information

Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

Figure Centrifuge door

WARNING Do not attempt to manually unlock the door while the rotor is moving. Although no longer powered, the buckets might still be rotating at a dangerous speed.

WARNING Keep away from the Centrifuge while it is in motion. Not all circumstances can be foreseen and serious injury is possible. It is the responsibility of every operator to follow warnings and safety labels.

WARNING Keep away from the Centrifuge door while it is opening or closing. The Centrifuge door can cause possible pinching, piercing, or bruising if your hand is in the opening when it closes.

WARNING Do not operate the Centrifuge if any of its components or accessories are damaged or have been modified in any manner not authorized by Agilent Technologies. Do not operate the Centrifuge if objects or liquids are trapped within the chamber. Discontinue use if the Centrifuge vibrates or emits noise above normal levels.

WARNING Each Centrifuge bucket can hold a microplate or counterweight that weighs up to 250 g (8.82 oz). Placing heavier microplates or counterweights in the Centrifuge can cause the device to malfunction during operation, damaging the device and causing severe injury.

WARNING Do not operate the Centrifuge above speeds of 1500 RPM unless it is securely mounted to a structure approved by Agilent Technologies.

00077 VSpin front

Centrifuge

00077 VSpin front

Centrifuge

00108 VSpin Rotor assembly - bucket rotated

00 10

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Hardware overview

4 Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

Hardware overview

The Centrifuge door is at the front of the device. The door opens to permit you to load and unload microplates. The door closes and locks before a spin cycle starts. For more information, see the Microplate Centrifuge User Guide.

Figure Door at the front of the Centrifuge

Inside the Centrifuge are two buckets that host microplates and counterweights. The following figure shows a close-up view of the buckets.

Note: Only one bucket is visible from the doorway.

Figure Buckets inside the Centrifuge

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Workflows

Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

Workflows

About the workflows

There are two ways you can use the Centrifuge to spin microplates:

In a lab automation system, where you run a protocol containing Centrifuge tasks to spin multiple microplates in one or more spin cycles. See Workflow for running a protocol on page 5.

As a standalone device, where you use commands in Centrifuge Diagnostics to spin an individual microplate. See Workflow for using Centrifuge Diagnostics on page 6.

Workflow for running a protocol

You can start one or more spin cycles when you run a protocol containing Centrifuge tasks. During the run, the lab automation system robot will load and unload sample microplates in the Centrifuge, and the Centrifuge will spin the microplates based on the parameters specified in the Centrifuge tasks.

The workflow for starting a run is as follows:

Step For this task... See...

1 Start up the lab automation system.

Lab automation system user guide, such as the BioCel System User Guide

2 Open the form or protocol that contains the Centrifuge tasks.

VWorks Automation Control User Guide

3 Make sure the spin parameters are set correctly.

VWorks Automation Control User Guide

4 Determine whether you need to load the counterweight in bucket 2 before the run.

VWorks Automation Control User Guide

5 Load the counterweight in the Centrifuge if required.

Loading and unloading microplates and counterweights on page 11

6 Start the protocol run. VWorks Automation Control User Guide

00079 VSpin back

Starting up and shutting down

6 Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

Workflow for using Centrifuge Diagnostics

You use Centrifuge Diagnostics to spin individual microplates without running protocols. The workflow is as follows:

Starting up and shutting down

Starting up the Centrifuge

To start up the Centrifuge:

1 Verify that the air supply is turned on.

2 Turn on the computer and the monitor. The Microsoft Windows operating system starts.

3 On the back of the Centrifuge, press the power switch to the on position (I).

Figure Power switch on the back of the Centrifuge

4 Start the VWorks software.

5 Open the device file.

Step For this task... See...

1 Start up the Centrifuge. Starting up and shutting down on page 6

2 Set the spin parameters. Setting the spin parameters on page 10

3 Load the microplate and counterweight.

Loading and unloading microplates and counterweights on page 11

4 Start the spin cycle. Spinning labware on page 13

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Starting up and shutting down

Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

6 Turn off the simulation mode.

7 In the Devices area, select the Centrifuge device.

8 In the Centrifuge Properties area, make sure the correct profile is selected.

9 Click Initialize selected devices.

10 Check the status indicators in the Centrifuge Diagnostics dialog box to make sure that the Centrifuge is turned on:

a In the device file, click Device diagnostics.

Stop at bucket 2Stop at bucket 1

v8.0.1

Starting up and shutting down

8 Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

The Centrifuge Diagnostics dialog box opens.

b Click the Controls tab. In the Status area, check that the appropriate indicator lights are turned on. For a description of the indicator lights. see Status area on page 16.

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Starting up and shutting down

Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

Shutting down the Centrifuge

Shut down the Centrifuge before you perform any routine maintenance or service the device.

To shut down the Centrifuge:

1 Remove any labware or counterweight that is in the Centrifuge. For unloading instructions, see Loading and unloading microplates and counterweights on page 11.

2 Close the Centrifuge Diagnostics dialog box.

3 In the device file, select the Centrifuge you want to shut down, and then click Close selected devices.

4 Exit the VWorks software.

5 Turn off the computer and monitor.

6 On the back of the Centrifuge, press the power switch to the off position (o).

7 Turn off the air supply to the Centrifuge.

Stop at bucket 2Stop at bucket 1

v8.0.1

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Setting the spin parameters

10 Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

Setting the spin parameters

You set the spin parameters in the Centrifuge Diagnostics Controls tab. When you set the spin parameters, you are specifying the motion parameters (1) and time parameters (2).

To set the spin parameters:

1 In the Centrifuge Diagnostics Controls tab, set the motion parameters:

Motion parameter Description

Relative Centrifugal Force The rotor speed, in revolutions per minute (RPM) or as a multiple of gravity (x g).

Drag the slider left or right to set the parameter, or type the desired value in either the RPM or x g box.

Acceleration The rate of centrifugation, as a percent of the factory-set maximum acceleration.

Drag the slider left or right to set the parameter, or type the desired value in the % Accel box.

Braking The deceleration of the centrifuge, as a percent of the factory-set maximum deceleration.

Drag the slider left or right to set the parameter, or type the desired value in the % Decel box.

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Loading and unloading microplates and counterweights

Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

2 Set the time parameters:

a Select one of the following to specify how the software should count the spin time:

b In the Time to spin box, type the length of total time or time at speed, in hh:mm:ss. Alternatively, you can use the up and down arrows to specify the length of time.

Loading and unloading microplates and counterweights

Balancing the Centrifuge buckets

The Centrifuge buckets must be the same weight or within the balance tolerance to remain balanced during the spin. Unbalanced buckets can cause a spin error.

IMPORTANT Each Centrifuge is shipped with a pair of buckets that have been balanced to within 1 g of each other. To stay within the balance tolerance of the Centrifuge, use only the buckets that shipped with your Centrifuge. Do not use buckets from another Centrifuge.

IMPORTANT Before placing microplates and counterweights in the Centrifuge, make sure that the weight of the two items are within 10 g of each other to avoid a spin error.

If you want to spin one sample microplate, be sure to use a counterweight that is within 10 g of the sample microplate. The counterweight can be a microplate containing water. If you want to spin two sample microplates together, make sure they weigh within 10 g of each other.

Note: The software does not provide indications that the buckets are unbalanced when you load the microplates and counterweights. If the buckets are unbalanced, the rotor will stop during the spin, and the Balance light in Centrifuge Diagnostics will turn on.

IMPORTANT If you are using a microplate counterweight, replace it regularly (weekly with heavy use), especially if the microplate is made from polystyrene.

Time parameter Description

Total time The total spin time, including acceleration and braking.

Time at speed The length of time during which the Centrifuge is spinning at the target speed. The time does not include acceleration and braking.

WARNING Each Centrifuge bucket can hold a microplate or counterweight that weighs up to 250 g (8.82 oz). Placing heavier microplates or counterweights in the Centrifuge can cause the device to malfunction during operation, damaging the device and causing severe injury.

Stop at bucket 2Stop at bucket 1

v8.0.1

Loading and unloading microplates and counterweights

12 Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

Procedure

You use the Stop at bucket commands in the Centrifuge Diagnostics Controls tab when loading and unloading microplates and counterweights in the Centrifuge.

To load microplates or the counterweight in the Centrifuge:

1 In the Centrifuge Diagnostics Controls tab, click Stop at bucket 2. The Centrifuge closes and locks the door, moves bucket 2 to the door, and then opens the door. Bucket 2 should be visible from the doorway.

2 If you are using a counterweight, place it in bucket 2. If you are spinning two sample microplates, place one of the microplates in bucket 2.

You can place the microplate or counterweight in the bucket manually or using the lab automation system robot. For instructions on how to use the robot, see the robot user documentation.

3 Click Stop at bucket 1. The Centrifuge closes and locks the door, moves bucket 1 to the door, and then opens the door. Bucket 1 should be visible from the doorway.

4 Place the sample microplate in bucket 1.

WARNING The Centrifuge door closes and opens automatically when you click the Stop at bucket commands. Keep away from the Centrifuge door while it is opening or closing. The Centrifuge door can cause possible pinching, piercing, or bruising if your hand is in the opening when it closes.

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Spinning labware

Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

To unload a microplate or counterweight:

1 In the Centrifuge Diagnostics Controls tab, click Stop at bucket 1 or Stop at bucket 2. The Centrifuge closes and locks the door, moves the bucket to the door, and then opens the door. The labware should be visible from the doorway.

2 Remove the microplate or counterweight from the bucket.

You can pick up the microplate or counterweight from the bucket manually or using the lab automation system robot. For instructions on how to use the robot, see the robot user documentation.

3 Repeat steps 1 and 2 to remove the second microplate or the counterweight.

Spinning labware

Before you start

Make sure:

The spin parameters are set correctly. See Setting the spin parameters on page 10.

You have loaded the counterweight and sample microplate. See Loading and unloading microplates and counterweights on page 11.

Procedure

WARNING The Centrifuge automatically closes the door when you start a spin cycle and automatically opens the door when the spin cycle is finished. Keep away from the Centrifuge door while it is closing or opening. The Centrifuge door can cause possible pinching, piercing, or bruising if your hand is in the opening when it closes.

WARNING Keep away from the Centrifuge while it is in motion. Not all circumstances can be foreseen and serious injury is possible.

WARNING Do not attempt to manually unlock the door while the rotor is moving. Although no longer powered, the buckets might still be rotating at a dangerous speed.

Stop at bucket 2Stop at bucket 1

v8.0.1

Spinning labware

14 Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

You use the Start spin cycle command in the Centrifuge Diagnostics Controls tab to start spinning the microplate. You can use the Stop at bucket commands to stop the spin in progress.

To start spinning the labware:

1 In the Centrifuge Diagnostics Controls tab, click Start spin cycle. The Centrifuge closes and locks the door, and then starts spinning the labware. When it is finished, the door opens. Bucket 1 (or the bucket loaded last) should be visible in the doorway.

2 To spin another sample microplate, replace the microplate that is in the bucket, and then start another spin cycle.

Stop at bucket 2Stop at bucket 1

v8.0.1

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Spinning labware

Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

To monitor the progress of a spin cycle: Check the information in the following areas of the Controls tab:

For information about the Status indicators, see Status area on page 16.

To stop a spin cycle: In the Centrifuge Diagnostics Controls tab, click either Stop at bucket 1 or Stop at bucket 2. The Centrifuge decelerates, moves the specified bucket to the door, and then opens the door.

Name of area in the Controls tab Description

Tachometer The current spin speed.

You can select the desired spin speed unit to display: RPM (revolutions per minute), or x g (a multiple of gravity).

Total time The length of time, including acceleration and braking, of the current spin cycle.

Time at speed The length of time during which the Centrifuge has been spinning at the target speed (not including acceleration and braking).

Messages Error or status messages.

Centrifuge Diagnostics Controls tab reference

16 Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

Centrifuge Diagnostics Controls tab reference

Display area

Status area

Name of the area Description

Tachometer The current spin speed. You can select the desired spin speed unit to display: RPM (revolutions per minute), or x g (a multiple of gravity).

Home position The home position value. The home position is also the bucket-1 teachpoint.

Current position The current position of bucket 1.

Name of the area Description

Door open Indicates that the Centrifuge door is open.

Door closed Indicates that the Centrifuge door is closed.

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Centrifuge Diagnostics Controls tab reference

Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

Messages area

Displays error or status messages.

Settings area

Door locked Indicates that the door is locked.

Bucket locked Indicates that the bucket at the door is locked in position to prevent the rotor from moving.

Bucket unlocked Indicates that the front bucket is unlocked and the rotor can move.

Balanced Indicates that the buckets are out of balance during spinning, because one of the buckets has more mass than the other bucket.

In motion Indicates that the buckets are spinning.

Homing Indicates that the Centrifuge is in the homing process.

Name of the area Description

Parameter or command Description

Relative Centrifugal Force The rotor speed, in RPM (revolutions per minute) and as a multiple of gravity.

Acceleration The rate of centrifugation, as a percent of maximum acceleration.

Braking The deceleration of the centrifuge, as a percent of maximum deceleration.

Total time The total spin time, including acceleration and braking.

Time at speed The length of time during which the Centrifuge is spinning at the target speed. The time does not include acceleration and braking.

Time to spin The length of total time or time at speed, in hh:mm:ss.

Start spin cycle The command to start the spin.

Open/Close Door The command to open or close the Centrifuge door.

Lock/Unlock Door The command to lock or unlock the Centrifuge door.

Centrifuge Diagnostics Controls tab reference

18 Microplate Centrifuge Quick Guide

Lock/Unlock Bucket The command to lock or unlock the front bucket. Locking the front bucket prevents the rotor from moving. Unlocking the front bucket allows the rotor to move.

Unlock the bucket when you want to set a teachpoint. Lock the bucket after you finish setting the teachpoints.

Stop at Bucket 1 The command to:

Move bucket 1 to the door.

If a spin cycle is in progress, stop the spin cycle and present bucket 1.

Stop at Bucket 2 The command to:

Move bucket 2 to the door.

If a spin cycle is in progress, stop the spin cycle and present bucket 2.

Parameter or command Description

Agilent Technologies

Quick Guide

G5405-90006

Revision A, January 2014

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