Setting up the Thermal Station (cooling pad)

About this topic

This topic describes how to install the Thermal Station (cooling pad) on a Bravo deck location.

The Thermal Station uses a fluid-filled thermal block to provide temperature control of ±0.1°C uniformly across a microplate. The Thermal Station (cooling pad) consists of the following:

•	An adapter pad (figure, 1) that attaches to the deck

•	A thermal pad (figure, 2) that installs on the adapter pad

•	A liquid chilling unit and tubing (not shown) that supplies the chilled fluid to the Thermal Station (cooling pad).

 

The Thermal Station is available with the drain ports on the short end or long side of the accessory. Typically, the drain ports are on the short end and the tubing is routed off the side of the Bravo deck. A Thermal Station that has the drain ports on the long end may be installed in the back row of the Bravo deck with the tubing routed out the rear. Use the following procedure to install either option.

 

Routing the Thermal Station tubing out the front of the Bravo deck will interfere with the Bravo Light Curtain. Operating the Bravo Platform without the Light Curtain can expose operators to moving-parts hazards. To prevent potential injury, ensure that no tubing or other accessory parts interfere with the operation of the Bravo Light Curtain.

 

 

The Thermal Station is not defined as an accessory in the Bravo profile. If you use a thermal plate insert in addition to a microplate at this location, the Bravo gripper cannot safely transfer the labware to and from this location. To prevent a potential collision in this case, make sure that you manually transfer the labware to and from this location when using a thermal plate insert.

 

Note: The installation location is configured as a standard platepad in the Bravo profile.

Setup workflow

 

Step	Procedure	See…
1	Install the Thermal Station at the Bravo deck location.	Installing the Thermal Station
2	Edit the teachpoint. Note: Earlier model thermal pads may not have a crosshairs. In this case, use the teach plate. Be sure to consider the 10‑mm thickness of the teach plate when you edit the teachpoint.	Setting the first teachpoint
3	Complete the hardware setup.	Completing the hardware setup

Installing the Thermal Station

Before you start

Make sure you have the following:

•	Thermal Station (cooling pad), including the adapter pad and socket-head screw that fastens the adapter pad to the deck

•	Hex wrenches: M1.5, M2, and M5

•	Plumber’s tape

•	Liquid chilling unit, tubing, and manufacturer user documentation

 

To prevent a potential injury, turn off the Bravo Platform before you install or remove the accessory.

 

Procedure

To install the Thermal Station:

1	Ensure that the platepad is removed from the target deck location.

To remove the platepad, uninstall the M6 screw in the center of the platepad and then lift the platepad off of the deck.

2	Prepare the aluminum adapter pad, as follows:

a	Install the elbow plug (part G5550‑24200) with plumber’s tape in the drain hole on the adapter pad.

b	Set the plug angle slightly lower than parallel to the pad to allow draining.

Figure. Adapter pad with elbow plug installed on the short end

 

3	Install the adapter pad at the target deck location:

a	Orient the adapter pad so that the elbow plug is on an outside edge of the deck and facing the direction of the tubing path.

b	Align the adapter pad dowel pins with the holes on the deck, and make sure the adapter pad sits level on the deck.

Note: If necessary, use a rubber mallet to tap the adapter pad until it sits level on the deck.

c	Insert the screw into the center of the adapter pad and tighten. See the following figure, item 1.

d	Ensure that the setscrews in the adapter pad tabs (figure, 2) are recessed. Use a M1.5 hex wrench to back out any protruding setscrews.

 

4	Inspect the thermal pad to ensure no bowing is visible along its length at the top and bottom.

 

5	Place the thermal pad on top of the adapter pad. Make sure the thermal pad is level and fully seated on the adapter pad.

6	Using an M1.5 hex wrench, tighten the setscrews on the adapter pad tabs as follows:

a	Tighten the setscrew on the end tab.

b	Tighten the setscrews in the two side tabs.

7	Install the side brackets as follows:

 

a	Position the brackets, aligning the slots in the brackets with the screw holes in the adapter pad.

b	Install the two hex screws in each bracket, and then apply downward pressure on the bracket tops while tightening the hex screws.

Ensure that both brackets are holding the thermal pad securely in place.

Completing the hardware setup

After installing the Thermal Station and adjusting the teachpoint, the following setup tasks must be completed before the accessory is ready for use.

 

Step	Procedure	See…
1	Connect one end of the marprene tubing to the cooling unit drain and place the other end in a waste container.	Liquid chilling unit manufacturer’s user documentation
2	Install the straight ends of the thermal tubing into the cooling pad, and connect the other ends into the cooling unit.	Liquid chilling unit manufacturer’s user documentation
3	Connect the power cord from cooling cube to an AC outlet.	Liquid chilling unit manufacturer’s user documentation
4	Fill the liquid chilling unit as follows: a Turn on the unit. b Watch for the Liquid Level Low message to display on the front panel. c Turn off the unit and fill it with 25% EtOH or cooling fluid recommended by manufacturer. d Repeat steps a to c. The unit should hold 600 to 700 mL.	Liquid chilling unit manufacturer’s user documentation
5	Make sure the unit is on, and set the temperature on the front display. Press ENTER and then press START/STOP to start the cooling. Verify that the cooling pad gets cold.	Liquid chilling unit manufacturer’s user documentation

Related information

 

For information about…	See…
Verifying and setting the teachpoint for the accessory	• Using the teach plate to set the teachpoint for an accessory • Setting teachpoints
Using the accessory in a protocol	VWorks Automation Control User Guide