Agilent Technologies PlateLoc Thermal Microplate Sealer User Guide
PlateLoc Thermal
Microplate Sealer
User Guide
Agilent Technologies
Notices
© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2008-2009
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
G5402-90001
October/2006
Contact Information
Agilent Technologies Inc.
Automation Solutions
5301 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95051
USA
Technical Support: 1.800.979.4811
or +1.408.345.8011
service.automation@agilent.com
Customer Service: 1.866.428.9811
or +1.408.345.8356
orders.automation@agilent.com
European Service: +44 12081443513
euroservice.automation@agilent.com
Documentation feedback:
documentation.automation@agilent.com
Web: http://www.agilent.com
Acknowledgements
Microsoft and Windows are registered
trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation in
the United States and other countries.
Warranty
The material contained in this document is provided “as is,” and is subject to being changed, without notice,
in future editions. Further, to the maximum 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 particular purpose. Agilent shall not be
liable for errors or for incidental or
consequential damages in connection
with the furnishing, use, or performance 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 separate 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 subcontract, Software is delivered and
licensed as “Commercial computer software” 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. Government will receive no greater than
Restricted Rights as defined in FAR 52.22719(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 Noticies
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
notice until the indicated conditions are
fully understood and met.
CAUTION
Letter to our Customers
Dear Customer,
The Agilent Technologies acquisition of Velocity11 resulted in the following
changes:
• Creation of Agilent Technologies Automation Solutions, formerly Velocity11
• Renaming of some Velocity11 products
• New Customer Service and Technical Support contact information
• New website address for product information
Please make a note of the following changes as they impact this user guide.
Velocity11 product name changes
Velocity11 product name Changes to …
Agilent Technologies
Access2 Automated Microplate
Loader
Element Automation System BioCel 900 System
IWorks Device Driver Programming
Interface
PlatePierce Seal Piercing Station Microplate Seal Piercer
VCode Barcode Print and Apply
Station
Velocity11 Robot 3- Axis Robot
VHooks Integration Interface VWorks Hooks Interface
VPrep Pipetting System Vertical Pipetting Station
VSpin Microplate Centrifuge Microplate Centrifuge
VStack Labware Stacker Labware Stacker
Automated Centrifuge Loader
VWorks DCL Interface
Microplate Barcode Labeler
New contact information
Documentation feedback: documentation.automation@agilent.com
Technical Support: 1.800.979.4811 or +1.408.345.8011
service.automation@agilent.com
Customer Service: 1.866.428.9811 or +1.408.345.8356
orders.automation@agilent.com
European Service: +44 12081443513
euroservice.automation@agilent.com
Web : http://www.agilent.com
Agilent Technologies, Inc., Automation Solutions, 5301 Stevens Creek Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95051 USA
PlateLoc User Guide
Contents
Preface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
Who should read this guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
What this guide covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
What’s new in this user guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Accessing Velocity11 user information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Chapter 1. PlateLoc intr oduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Description of the PlateLoc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Hardware overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Connection panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Plate requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Inserts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Seal material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Lab automation system software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
PlateLoc workflows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Safety information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Contents
i
Chapter 2. Unpacking and install ation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Installation workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Meeting Lab requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Unpacking the PlateLoc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Connecting the power source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Connecting and disconnecting the air source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Connecting and disconnecting the argon source (Gas-Purging PlateLocs only) . . . . . 34
Connecting to the controlling computer (lab automation systems only) . . . . . . . . . . 37
Installing the PlateLoc ActiveX software (lab automation systems only) . . . . . . . . . . 38
Chapter 3. Getting started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Turning on and turning off the power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Turning on and turning off the air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Turning on and turning off the argon (Gas-Purging Platelocs only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Tilting and stowing the touch screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Adjusting the touch screen contrast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Loading and unloading a roll of seal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Creating and managing profiles (lab automation systems only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Establishing communications with the PlateLoc (lab automation systems only) . . . . 62
Contents
ii
PlateLoc User Guide
Chapter 4. Sealing plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Loading an insert and a plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Setting the sealing parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Starting the seal cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Stopping a seal cycle in progress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Chapter 5. Optimizing seal quality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Reasons for running optimization tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Optimization test guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Adjusting the sealing parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Chapter 6. Routine maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Cleaning the hot plate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Cleaning the touch screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Chapter 7. Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Hardware problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Error messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Diagnostic tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Reporting problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Appendix A. Integrating the PlateLoc into th ird-party
systems
PlateLoc ActiveX control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Integrating the PlateLoc ActiveX control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Appendix B. Quick reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Touch screen menus and commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
PlateLoc Diagnostics parameters and commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Appendix C. Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Preface
Preface
PlateLoc User Guide
This preface introduces the PlateLoc User Guide. This preface contains
the following to pics:
❑ “Who should re ad this guide” on page iv
❑ “What this guide cov ers” on page v
❑ “What’s new in this user guide” on page vii
❑ “Accessing Velocity11 user information” on page viii
iii
iv
Preface
PlateLoc User Guide
Who should read this guide
Job roles This user guide is for people wit h the following job role s:
Job role Responsibilities
Installer Someone who unpacks, puts together,
and tests the PlateLoc before it is used.
Related topics
Lab manager, administrator, or
technician
Someone who is responsible for:
❑ Solving the more challenging
problems that might arise
❑ Developing training materials and
standard operating procedures for
operators
Operator Someone who performs the daily
production work using the PlateLoc
and solves routine problems.
Your organiza tio n may ch oos e to cr ea te
its own procedures for operators
including the procedures in this guide.
For more information about... See...
What this guide covers “What this guide covers” on page v
What’s new in this version “What’s new in this user guide” on
page v ii
How to access different formats of
this user guide
“Accessing Velocity11 user information”
on page viii
Preface
PlateLoc User Guide
What this guide c overs
What is covered This guide covers the installation, setup, and operation of the PlateLoc
that is used in the following ways:
❑ As a single device, controlled from the built-in touch screen
interface
❑ Integra ted with other de vices in a Velo city11 la b automat ion system ,
controlled from a computer
This guide also provides the ActiveX reference information needed to
integrate the Plat eLoc in a third-party lab automation system.
What is not covered This guide does not provide instructions for:
❑ Creating protocols and setting task parameters in the Velocity11 lab
automation software
❑ Operating other devices in Velocity11 lab automation systems
❑ Operating the PlateLoc integrated into a third-party lab automation
system
v
Firmware version This guide documents PlateLoc firmware version 3.7.2.
Software version This guide documents PlateLoc ActiveX (PlateLoc.ocx) version 7.
Relate d guides The PlateLoc User Guide should be used in conjunction with the
following user documents:
❑ Velocity11 lab automation system user guides, such as the BenchCel
User Guid e and the BioCel Us er Gui de . T hese user guides provide the
system setup requirements and user operation instructions.
❑ Velocity11 lab automation system software user guides, such as the
VWorks User Guide. These user guides explain how to create
protoc ols and set task para meters for each device in the system.
❑ Third-party lab automation system user documents. These
documents e xplain how to set up and use the third-party lab
automation system.
vi
Preface
PlateLoc User Guide
Related topics
For more information about... See...
Who should read this guide “Who should read this guide” on
page iv
What’s new in this version “What’s new in this user guide” on
page v ii
How to access different formats of
this user guide
“Accessing Velocity11 user information”
on page viii
Preface
PlateLoc User Guide
What’s new in this user guide
About this topic This topic lists the new models and features that are described in this
revision of the PlateLoc User Guide.
New features This revision of the user guide describes a new PlateLoc model, the Gas-
Purgin g PlateLoc. The Gas-Purging PlateLoc uses argon to displace air
(containing moisture and oxygen) from the plate. The effect protects the
plate contents from hydration and oxidation.
Related topics
For more information about... See...
Who should read this guide “Who should read this guide” on
page iv
What this guide covers “What this guide covers” on page v
vii
How to access different formats of
this user guide
“Accessing Velocity11 user information”
on page viii
viii
Preface
PlateLoc User Guide
Accessing Velocity11 user information
About this topic This topic describes the diff erent formats of Velocity11 user information.
Velocity11 user information is provided to you as:
❑ Online help
❑ A PDF file
❑ A printed b ook
The information in each format is the same but each format has different
benefits.
Where to find the
user information
Online help
The online help is added to your computer with the software
installation.
Ve loci ty11 we bsit e
You can download the latest version of any PDF file from our website at
www.velocity11.com.
All Velocity11 user information can be searched from the website at
www.velocity11.com.
Online help The online help is the best format to use when you are working at the
computer and when you want to perform fast or advanced searches for
information.
To open the online he lp:
1. In the Velocity11 lab automation software, press F1.
Main featu r es
The online help includes a navigation pane, content pane, and
navigation buttons.
PlateLoc User Guide
Navigation pane Content pane Navigation buttons
Preface
ix
The navi gati on pane has four tabs. The Contents, Inde x , and Search ta bs
provide different ways to locate information. The Using tab contains
information about using the help system.
The content pane displays the online help topics.
Navigation buttons in the content pane allow you to navigate through
the pages.
PDF user guide Computer requirements
To open a user guide in PDF format, you need a PDF viewer. You can
download a free PDF viewer from the internet.
Printing and searching
We provide user guides in PDF format mainly for printing additional
copies. You can use them for simple searches, although these searches
are much slower than online help searches.
More information
For more information about using PDF documents, see the user
documentation for the PDF viewer.
x
Preface
PlateLoc User Guide
Related topics
For more information about... See...
Who should read this guide “Who should read this guide” on
page iv
What this guide covers “What this guide covers” on page v
What’s new in this revision of the
user guide
“What’s new in this user guide” on
page v ii
PlateLoc introduction
This chapter contains the following topics:
❑ “Description of the PlateLoc” on page 2
❑ “Hardware overview” on page 4
❑ “Connection panel” on page 7
❑ “Plate requirements” on page 9
❑ “Inserts” on page 10
❑ “Seal material” on page 13
Chapter 1: PlateLoc introduction
PlateLoc User Guide
1
1
❑ “Lab automation system software” on pa ge 14
❑ “PlateLoc workflows” on page 16
❑ “Safety infor m ation” on page 18
2
Chapter 1: PlateLoc introduction
PlateLoc User Guide
Description of the PlateLoc
About this topic This topic describes the PlateLoc an d explains its uses.
Description The PlateLoc Thermal Plate Sealer is available in two models:
❑ PlateLoc. The PlateLoc is a device that applies seal material on top of
microplates (plates) to seal individual wells. Sealing the wells
protects the contents from evaporation, condensation, and crosscontamination duri n g transport or storage.
❑ Gas-Purging PlateLoc. In addition to the plate-sealing function of the
origina l PlateLoc, the Gas-Purging PlateLoc uses argon gas to
displace air, containing moisture and oxygen, in the plate
immediately before the sealing begins. Because argon is inert, it
does not react with the plate contents. The plate contents can be
protected from hydration and oxidation for up to 24 hours.
Typ i cal ly us e d fo r c o mpo und stor age ap p lic at ion s , the G a s -Pu rgin g
PlateLoc is best for plate contents that are sensitive to oxidation and
moisture (for example, DMSO).
Ways to use the
PlateLoc
Note: For typical polystyrene and polypropylene plates, th e gaspurging effects can last up to 24 hour s when the plates are stored
at room temperature. The effects can las t long er if th e plates are
stored at lower temperatures.
The PlateLoc can be used in the following ways:
❑ As a standalone device
❑ In a Velocity11 lab automation system
❑ In another company’s lab aut omation system
As a standalone device
You can set up the PlateLoc as a standalone device, operating the
PlateLoc from the built-in touch screen. You do not need to connect the
device to a computer.
Using the PlateLoc in the standalone mode allows you to manually load
and seal one plate at a time (a single seal cycle in one run). The
standalone device cannot automatically load and seal multiple plates in
one run.
In a Velocity 11 lab autom atio n s ystem
You can set up the PlateLoc in a Velocity1 1 lab automation system such
as the BenchCel or the BioCel. To install the PlateLoc in the system, you
must connect the device to the controlling computer. You can operate
the inte grated device using the software supplied with the lab
automation system , such as Be nch Works or VWorks. Integr ate d Pla te Loc
operation allows you to automate the loading and sealing of multiple
plates in one protocol run (multiple seal cycles in one run).
Related topics
Chapter 1: PlateLoc introduction
PlateLoc User Guide
In a third-party lab automation system
You can set up the PlateLoc in a third-p ar ty lab automation system. To
install the PlateLoc in the system, you must connect the device to the
cont rolling co mputer. You c an op e r ate the in t e gr ated Pla t eL oc using th e
third-party software. The integrated PlateLoc allows you to automate the
loading and sealing of multiple plates in one run.
Note: Communication between the third-party system and the PlateLoc
is achieved through th e use of ActiveX controls.
For more information about... See...
PlateLoc physical dimensions “Meeting Lab requirements” on page 23
Installing the PlateLoc “Unpacking and installation” on
page 21
3
How to use the PlateLoc as a
standalone device
Setting up the PlateLoc in a lab
automation system
How to use the PlateLoc in a lab
automation system
“Standalone device workflow” on
page 16
❑ “Lab automation system software”
on page 14
❑ “Integrating the PlateLoc into third-
party systems” on page 99
“Lab automation system workflow” on
page 17
4
Chapter 1: PlateLoc introduction
PlateLoc User Guide
Hardware overview
About this topic This topic provides an overview of the PlateLoc hardware features.
Front features The following diagram shows the front of the PlateLoc. The table below
describes the fe atures shown in the di agram.
Roll of seal
Hub
Seal roll supports
Touch screen
Screen release lever
Sealing chamber
Plate stage
Plate-stage support
Door (opened)
Feature Description
Roll of seal The seal material.
Hubs The structures (together with the axle, not shown) that
hold the roll of seal and allow the roll to rotate.
Seal-roll sup po rt s The structure on which you mount the hubs and a xle.
Touch screen The interface that allows you to specify sealing
parameters, start and stop the seal cycle, and monitor
the seal cycle for standalone operation.
Chapter 1: PlateLoc introduction
PlateLoc User Guide
Feature Description
Sealing chamber The area inside the device where plates are sealed.
Plate stage The removable metal platform on which plates are
loaded.
Door The movable structure that opens when the plate stage is
extended and closes when the stage enters the chamber.
5
Plate-stage
support
The structure on which you load the plate stage. The
plate-stage support extends when the door opens and
retracts when the door closes.
Rear features The following diagram shows the lower back side of the PlateLoc. The
table below it describes the features shown in the diagram.
Seal entry slot
Open-gripper button
Close-gripper button
00191
00191
PlateLoc
PlateLoc
connections
connections
Feature Description
Connection panel
Seal entry slot The narrow opening into which you insert the seal.
Open-gripper button The oval button that you push downward when
inserting the seal into the seal entry slot. Pushing the
button downward opens the grippi ng mechanism
that holds the seal in position.
Close-gripper button The silver button that you press to close the seal-
gripping mechanism.
Connection panel The area where you connect the power, air tubing,
argon tubing (Gas-Purging PlateLocs only), and
computer. The panel also contains a gauge that
allows you to verify air flow.
6
Chapter 1: PlateLoc introduction
PlateLoc User Guide
Related topics
For more information about... See...
The connection panel “Connection panel” on page 7
The PlateLoc physical dimensions “Meeting Lab requirements” on page 23
Installing the PlateLoc “Unpacking and installation” on
page 21
Installing and operating the
PlateLoc
“PlateLoc workflows” on page 16
Chapter 1: PlateLoc introduction
PlateLoc User Guide
Connection panel
About this topic This topic describes the connection pane l on the back of the Pla teLoc.
Description The following diagram shows the connection panel that is located on
the back of the PlateLoc. The table below the diagram describes each
component on th e panel.
7
Air flow gauge
Air-input fitting
Argon-input fitting
(Gas-Purging
PlateLocs only)
For Velocity11 service use only
Air on/off switch
Power switch
AC power entry
Serial port
Feature Description
Air flow gauge Indicates the presence of air flow inside the PlateLoc.
Compressed air is used to move pneumatic
components inside the PlateLoc.
Air-input fitting Connects the air tubing to the PlateLoc.
Argon-inpu t fitting
(Gas-Purging
PlateLocs only)
Connects the argon tubing to the G as-Purging PlateLoc.
Argon is used to displace air in the plate, thereby
removing oxygen and moisture.
Note: T here is no on/off switch for argon. Argon starts to
fill the sealing chamber automatically when a seal cycle
starts. For safety reasons, the argon stops filling the
sealing chamber automatically just before the seal is
applied.
Air on/off switch Turns on or off the air flow into the PlateLoc.
Power switch Turns on or off the power to the PlateLoc.
AC power entry Connects the power cord to the PlateLoc.
Serial port Connects the serial cable from the controlling computer
to the PlateLoc.
Use this port when installing the PlateLoc in a lab
automation system.
8
Chapter 1: PlateLoc introduction
PlateLoc User Guide
Related topics
For more information about... See...
Installing and operating the
PlateLoc
“PlateLoc workflows” on page 16
Chapter 1: PlateLoc introduction
PlateLoc User Guide
Plate requirements
About this topic This topic explains the requirements for the plates you can use in the
PlateLoc.
Acceptable plates The PlateLoc accepts plates made from a variety of materials. For a
complete list of the acceptab l e mate rials, see the PlateLoc Thermal Plate
Sealer Seal Selection Guide. You can locate the guide on the Velocity11
website at www.velocity11.com.
Use only plates tha t meet the standards established by the Society of
Biomolecular Sciences (SBS), including deep-well, PCR, and standard
plates in the 96-well, 384-well, and 1536-well formats. For the latest plate
standards, go to www.sbsonline.org. You can also contact the labware
manufacturer to inquire about SBS-standard plates.
Ideal seal cond itions can depend on the plate design, such as thickness
and geometry. For example, plates with raised chimneys that have flat
surfaces at the top can minimize cross-contamination, reduce
evaporation, and minimize condensation.
9
Note: Plates made from the same material but have different designs can
require different sealing parameters.
Velocity11 recommends that you run optimization tests to determine the
best sealing pa ramet e r s to use for each plate type. See “Optim iz in g sea l
quality” on page 77 for some opti mization test guidelines.
Challenging plates Because of the material or design, the f oll owing plat es might cause poor
seal results when used in the PlateLoc:
❑ Plates that have non-binding coatings
❑ Flexible plates that tend to bend during sealing
❑ Breiner Model 651182, 96-well V-bottom plates (when used with the
Velocity11 Peelable Aluminum Seal, 06643.001)
You should run some seali ng tests to d etermine w h ether optimal sealing
is possible with these plates or if you should use different plate types.
See “Optimizing seal quality” on page 77 for some optimization test
guidelines.
Related topics
For more information about... See...
Optimizing seal quality “Optimizing seal quality” on page 77
Inserts (plate supports) “Inserts” on page 10
Seal material “Seal material” on page 13
10
Chapter 1: PlateLoc introduction
PlateLoc User Guide
Inserts
About this topic This topic describes inserts and their uses in the PlateLoc.
What are inserts Inserts are pads that support the bottoms of plates f or uniform seals. You
use inserts to support plates that tend to bend during a seal cycle.
When to use inserts Causes of non-uniform seals
During the seal cycle, a heated m etal plate (hot plate) inside the sealing
chamber descends and presses the seal onto the plate. In a quality seal,
the seal material is applied to the plate uniformly. However, the
following factors can cause u neven plate sealing:
❑ Because of the material used, some plates tend to bend in the high-
temperature environment.
❑ In some plate designs, the plate skirt sits higher or lower than the
plate bottom, causing uneven sealing.
The following diagram shows the side profile of a plate. In this example,
the plate skirt extends past the bottom of the wells. Depending on the
plate ma ter ial, such pl at e desig ns can cause non-uniform sealing. When
the hot plate presses down, the wells at the center of the plate might
bend upward or downward.
Wells
Skirt
Bending movement
The following diagrams show the top view of sealed plates. Non-uniform
seals can result when the center of the plate bends upward (left) and
downward (right) during the seal cycle.
Plate center is higher Plate center is too low
00200
PlateLoc
shim too high
00200
00199
PlateLoc
shim too low
00199
Chapter 1: PlateLoc introduction
PlateLoc User Guide
Using inserts to suppo rt plates
For plates that tend to bend or do not li e flat during the seal cycle, you
can place an insert under the plate to provide equal support under
every well. The following diagram shows an insert supporting the wells
for uniform sea lin g.
Wells
Skirt
Insert
11
Inserts suppli ed with
The following table lists the inserts that are supplied with the PlateLoc.
the PlateLoc
Insert Description Thickness Height above plate
stage support
90 Metal pad with rubber
foam padding on the
plate-facing side
180 Metal pad 4.60 mm
235 Metal pad 6.00 mm
290 Metal pad 7.37 mm
8.65 mm
(0.340 in)
(0.180 in)
(0.235 in)
(0.290 in)
4 mm (0.2 in) Plates that require
0
mm (0 in)
1.4 mm (0.055 in) Plates that require
2.8 mm (0.11 in) Plates that require
Other types of inserts are available. For a complete list of available
inserts, see the PlateLoc Thermal Plate Sealer Seal Selection Guide. You
can locate the guide on the Velocity11 website at www.velocity11.com.
Use with...
flexible support
Plates that require
non-flexible support
under the wells
non-flexible support
under the wells
non-flexible support
under the wells
Insert selection The type of insert you use depends on the plate material and plate
design. Velocity11 recommends that you run optimization tests to
determine the best insert for the plate you are using. See “Optimizing
seal quality” on page 77 for some optimization test guidelines.
For insert selection guidelines and starting parameters to use, se e the
PlateLoc Thermal Plate Sealer Seal Selection Guide. You can locate the
guide on the Velocity11 website at www.velocity11.com.
12
Chapter 1: PlateLoc introduction
PlateLoc User Guide
Related topics
For more information about... See...
Optimizing seal quality “Optimizing seal quality” on page 77
Plate requirements “Plate requirements” on page 9
Seal material “Seal material” on page 13
Chapter 1: PlateLoc introduction
PlateLoc User Guide
Seal material
About this topic This topic explains the types of seal material that are available and the
factors that might affect seal quality.
13
Seal supplied with
the PlateLoc
A roll of se al is supplied with the Plate Loc. To ensure optimal seal
quality, Velocity11 recommends that you run optimization tests to
determine the best sealing parameters to use for each plate type and
application.
Selecting o ther seals !! DAMAGE HA ZARD !! Use only Velocity11 seals with the
PlateLoc. Seals from another manufacturer might not seal properly
in the PlateLoc and can damage the device.
Velocity11 offers a variety of seals with different properties, including:
❑ Clear seals. Allows you t o see the contents of the plate.
❑ Aluminum seals. Protects light-sensitiv e samples or compounds in
the plate.
❑ Pe elable seals. Allows you to peel the seal off the plate in a
downstream task.
❑ Non-pierceable seals. Protects the plate contents from accidental
piercing.
The type of seal you can use depends on a number of factors, including:
❑ Plat e material
❑ Plate design
❑ Plate properties (for example, optical and physical properties)
Related topics
❑ Plate contents (samples, reagents, and so on)
❑ Application (for example, PCR, DNA sequencing, compound
storage, and so on)
❑ Storage duration and conditions
For a complete list of seals and selection guidelines, see the PlateLo c
Thermal Plate Sealer Seal Selection Guide. You can locate the guide on
the Velocity11 website at www.velocity11.com.
Velocity11 recommends that you run optimization tests to determine the
best seals to use. See “Optimizing seal quality” on page 77 for some test
guidelines.
For more information about... See...
Plate requirements “Plate requirements” on page 9
Inserts (plate supports) “Inserts” on page 10
Optimizing seal quality “Optimizing seal quality” on page 77
14
Chapter 1: PlateLoc introduction
PlateLoc User Guide
Lab automation system software
About this topic This topic describes the software you use to set up and control the
PlateLoc in a Velocity11 lab automation sy st em. For information about
integrating the PlateLoc in a third-party lab automation system, see
“Integrating the PlateLoc into third-party systems” on page 99.
Note: You do not need to read this topic if you are using the PlateLoc as
a standalone device.
Lab automation
requirements
Lab automation
system software
In a lab automation system, you can use a plate-loading robot to
automate the sealing of multiple plates. You use the lab automation
system software to se t up the communication between the system and
the PlateLoc, set up the sealing parameters, and control the automation.
Velocity11 provides lab automation platforms, including the BenchCel
and the BioCel plate-handling systems. You can install the PlateLoc in
these systems to automate the multiple-plate sealing process.
You use the Velocity11 lab auto mation system software, such as
BenchWorks and VWorks, to control the PlateLoc in the system. The
software allows you to:
❑ Create protocols. Protocols determine the sequence of tasks you
want to automate in a run. For example, you can use a protocol to
seal 10 plates in one protocol run.
❑ Set PlateLoc task parameters. The task parameters specify the sealing
temperature and duration for a multiple-plate run.
❑ Start and stop a run. You can st art and s t op t he pr ot oc ol run from the
controlling co mputer.
PlateLoc Diagnostics PlateLoc Diagnostics is a component of the supplied PlateLoc ActiveX
software that enables integration with a lab automation system.
Accessed through the Velocity11 lab automation system software, such
as BenchWorks and VWorks, PlateLoc Diagnostics allows you to:
❑ Create profiles. Profiles allow you to set up communication with the
lab automation system software and set default sealing parameter
values.
❑ Manually set up and run the PlateLoc. This is equivalent to setting up
and running the device from the touch screen. Use the manual
adjustments and controls t o run a single plate for diagnostic use
only.
❑ Check the odometer. The odometer indicates the number of sealing
cycl es the device has performed. You can refer to this value for
preventive maintenance purposes.
Related topics
For more information about... See...
Chapter 1: PlateLoc introduction
PlateLoc User Guide
15
Operating the PlateLoc in a lab
automation system
Creating and managing Plate Loc
profiles
“Lab automation system workflow” on
page 17
“Creating and managing profiles (lab
automation systems only)” on page 59
Creating and managing protocols Velocity11 lab automation software user
guide, such as the VWorks User Guide
Setting PlateLoc task parameters Velocity11 lab automation software user
guide, such as the VWorks User Guide
Starting and stopping the protocol
run
Using ActiveX control to configure
third-party lab automation
Velocity11 lab automation software user
guide, such as the VWorks User Guide
“Integrating the PlateLoc into third-
party systems” on page 99
software to interface with the
PlateLoc
16
Chapter 1: PlateLoc introduction
PlateLoc User Guide
PlateLoc workflows
About this topic This topic presents the workflows for operating the PlateLoc as a
standalone device and in a Velocity11 lab automation system.
Standalone device
workflow
The following table presents the basic steps for operating the PlateLoc as
a standalone device. When optimizing the seal quality, repeat steps 6
through 8.
Step Procedure See...
1 Turn on the PlateLoc. “Turning on and turning off the
power” on page 42
2 Turn on the air. “Turning on and turning off the
air” on page 44
3 Gas-Purging PlateLocs only. Turn
on the argon.
4 Adjust the touchscreen.
“Turning on and turning off the
argon (Gas-Purging Platelocs
only)” on page 47
❑ “Tilting and stowing the
touch screen” on page 49
❑ “Adjusting the touch screen
contrast” on page 51
5 Load the seal. “Loading and unloading a roll of
seal” on page 53
6 Set the sealing parameter s. “Setting the sealing parameters”
on page 68
7 Load an insert and a plate. “Loading an insert and a plate”
on page 66
8 Start the seal cycle. “Starting the seal cycle” on
page 72
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