Hardware overview

About this topic

This topic describes the hardware features and axes of motion.

Front view

The Vertical Pipetting Station front view contains the following features.

 

 

Item	Feature	Description
1	Head mount	Fixture to which the pipette head mounts.
2	Pipette head	Interchangeable fixed-tip or disposable-tip head that aspirates and dispenses fluid.
3	Shelves 1, 3, 5 (left)	Actuated shelves used to hold microplates, reservoirs, wash stations, and other liquid containers.
4	Shelves 2, 4, 6 (right)	Actuated shelves used to hold microplates, reservoirs, wash stations, and other liquid containers.
5	Shelves 7 (left) and 8 (right)	Actuated shelves that have access to the tipbox press. These shelves have a higher vertical clearance for tall labware or accessories.
6	Tipbox press	Actuated press for mounting tips onto the barrels of a disposable-tip pipette head during tips-on operations.

In a lab automation system, the shelves on one side of the Vertical Pipetting Station are accessible by a robot.

Back view

The back panel of the Vertical Pipetting Station contains an air panel and a controls and connector panel.

 

Air panel

The Vertical Pipetting Station air panel has the following features.

 

 

Item	Feature	Description
1	Pressure gauge	Indicates the air pressure.
2	Air input port	Connects to a compressed air source, which is used to actuate the shelves and the tipbox press.
3	Vacuum port	Connects to a vacuum source for use with vacuum shelves.

Controls and connector panel

The Vertical Pipetting Station controls and connector panel contains the following features.

 

WARNING The Vertical Pipetting Station should be fitted with a robot-disable pendant positioned at the front of the device for easy access. You can acquire a robot-disable pendant from Agilent Technologies. The pendant connects to the robot-disable circuit loop on the rear panel of the Vertical Pipetting Station.

 

 

Item	Feature	Description
1	Air switch	Turns on (up) or off (down) the air supply.
2	Drainage port	Provides an exit path for waste or overflow liquids.
3	Robot-disable circuit loop	Enables connection of a pendant to the Vertical Pipetting Station robot-disable circuit.
4	Pump I/O port	Connects the serial cable from a Pump Module to the Vertical Pipetting Station to enable communication. This is not an Ethernet port and should only be used to connect Automation Solutions accessories to the Vertical Pipetting Station.
5	Ethernet port	Unsupported.
6	Serial port	Connects the serial cable from the controlling computer to the Vertical Pipetting Station to enable communication.
7	Fuse enclosure	Houses the main fuse. See Compressed air requirements.
8	Power switch	Turns on (–) or off (o) the power.
9	AC power connector	Connects the power cable.

Accessories

Vertical Pipetting Station accessories are optional components that can be added to enhance existing functions and facilitate operation. For details, see Vertical Pipetting Station accessories.

Pipette head axes of motion

The pipette head has the following axes of motion:

•	x‑axis. Horizontal, left and right

•	y‑axis. Horizontal, forward and backward

•	z‑axis. Vertical up and down

•	w‑axis. Vertical displacement of the pipettor inside the pipette head during aspirate and dispense tasks

 

Each shelf moves horizontally to the center position under the pipette head during pipetting tasks, and then moves back to the outer position.

Related topics

 

For more information about…	See…
Pipette heads	Pipette heads
Connecting the Vertical Pipetting Station	Installing Vertical Pipetting Station
Accessories	Vertical Pipetting Station accessories
Laboratory requirements	Laboratory requirements