Manually moving the head or gripper

About this topic

This topic describes how to disable the axis servo motors, so that you can move the head manually. For example, you might want to move the head position when changing liquid-handling heads or cleaning the Bravo Platform.

 

Moving the Bravo head or gripper in any of its axes without first disabling the servo motors can damage the device.

 

Manually moving the head in the x-axis and y-axis

To move the head manually in the x-axis and y-axis:

1	Disable the motors in one of the following ways:

•	Press the emergency-stop button on the pendant.

•	In Bravo Diagnostics, click Disable all motors on the Jog/Teach tab.

2	Use your hands to gently move the head along the x‑axis and y‑axis.

 

The z‑axis brake engages when the z‑axis is disabled, preventing you from moving the head manually in the z‑axis.

 

3	After you complete the manual moves, re-enable the motors in one of the following ways:

•	If the emergency-stop is engaged, release the red button on the pendant by turning it clockwise.

•	If the motors are disabled, click Enable all motors in the Jog/Teach tab of Bravo Diagnostics.

Manually opening the gripper

If you perform an emergency stop while the gripper is holding labware, you can use the following procedure to open the gripper manually.

 

The Zg‑brake engages when the Zg‑axis is disabled, preventing you from moving the gripper assembly manually in the Zg‑axis.

 

To open the gripper manually:

1	Disable the G‑axis motor in one of the following ways:

•	Press the emergency-stop button on the pendant.

•	In Bravo Diagnostics, click the Gripper tab. In the G-Axis area, click Enable motor to disable the motor. Ensure that the Motor enable light is off.

2	On the rear-facing surface of the gripper assembly, locate the access hole for the G‑axis lead screw.

 

The lower gripper must be extended in the Zg‑axis to expose the access hole.

 

3	While ensuring that one hand is free to support the labware held by the gripper, use a 2.5-mm flat-blade screwdriver to turn the G‑axis lead screw counterclockwise to open the gripper and release the labware.

 

4	To re-enable the motors, do one of the following:

•	If the emergency-stop is engaged, release the red button on the pendant by turning it clockwise.

•	In Bravo Diagnostics, click the Gripper tab. In the G-Axis area, click Enable motor to re-enable the motor. Ensure that the green Motor enable light is on.

Related information

 

For information about...	See...
Opening Diagnostics	Opening Bravo Diagnostics
Setting up the Bravo Platform	Workflow for setting up the Bravo Platform
Moving the Bravo head using Diagnostics	• Homing the liquid-handling head • Jogging the liquid-handling head • Using the Move and Approach commands