Accessories overview

About this topic

This topic describes the accessories that are available for the Vertical Pipetting Station and provides guidelines on determining the shelf locations.

Accessories overview

You can add the following accessories to the Vertical Pipetting Station to enhance functions. In addition to setting up the hardware, accessories that are controlled by the device must be configured in Vertical Pipetting Station Diagnostics.

 

Accessory	Description	See…
Autofilling shelf	Consists of the following components:	Autofilling shelf accessories
	Pump Module. Pumps fluids to and from an autofilling reservoir.	Setting up a Pump Module
	Tubing Rack. Provides mounting on the Vertical Pipetting Station for the tubing quick-disconnect fittings, which enable easy reservoir removal or tubing replacement.	Setting up a Pump Module
	Auto Filling Reservoir. Supplies reagents to the pipette head for 96‑ and 384-well plates. Use this reservoir with a Pump Module to refill and empty the reservoir automatically. You can also use this reservoir with a Weigh Shelf.	Reservoirs and wash trays for autofilling
	Tip Wash Station. Washes the pipette tips during a run to prevent carryover and reduce cross-contamination. Use this reservoir with a Pump Module. You can also use this reservoir with a Weigh Shelf.	Reservoirs and wash trays for autofilling
	Weigh Shelf. Works with a Pump Module to provide precise liquid-level control for the Auto Filling Reservoir or Tip Wash Station.	Installing and calibrating a Weigh Shelf
Argon Shelf	Available only as part of a BioCel System. Applies argon to a microplate to protect the samples from humidity and air.	Automation Solutions Technical Support
Manual Fill Reservoir	Supplies reagents to the pipette head for 96- and 384-well plates. This reservoir requires manual refilling and emptying.	Using the Manual Fill Reservoir
Microplate Alignment Shelf	Uses spring-loaded clamps to align the plate with the shelf A1 position.	Installing a Microplate Alignment Shelf
Sensor Alignment Shelf	Senses the presence of a microplate and aligns and holds the plate during pipetting tasks.	About the Sensor Alignment Shelf
Tip Chute	Directs disposable tips to the tip trash.	About the Tip Chute
Tube-Stripper Plate	Prevents septum tubes from adhering to the tips of a fixed-tip pipette head during pipetting tasks.	Setting up a Tube-Stripper Plate
Vacuum Alignment Shelf	Uses vacuum to hold PCR plates flat on the shelf to ensure reliable pipetting in every well.	About the Vacuum Alignment Shelf

Note: For information on using a Vacuum Filtration Station or an Orbital Shaking Station with a Vertical Pipetting Station, see Automation Solutions Technical Support.

Determining the shelf location for an accessory

To determine where to locate an accessory on the Vertical Pipetting Station, consider the following factors:

•	Shelves 1 and 2. The top shelves have a height limitation for labware when using a pipette head with long tips. For example, the 96LT head with 200 µL tips and the 96ST head with 70 µL tips prevent the use of tall labware on shelves 1 and 2.

•

Shelves 7 and 8. The bottom shelves may be unavailable for certain types of labware when using a pipette head with short tips. For example, 10 µL or 30 µL tips may not reach a low-volume plate on these shelves. In this case, you could use a Tip Wash Station on shelves 7 and 8, but the short tips can reach only partially into the chimneys.

•

Robot-accessibility. If part of a lab automation system, either the left or right side of the Vertical Pipetting Station is accessible by a robot. Locate accessories that are not accessed by the robot on the opposite side. For example, if the right side of the Vertical Pipetting Station is robot-accessible (shelves 2, 4, 6, and 8), locate any reservoirs or wash stations on shelves 1, 3, 5, or 7.

Related topics

 

For information about…	See…
Pipette heads	Pipette heads
Setting up liquid and labware definitions	VWorks Automation Control Setup Guide
Using an accessory in a protocol	VWorks Automation Control User Guide