Teaching shelves 7 and 8 for tipboxes

About this topic

The tips-on and tips-off operations for disposable-tip pipette heads require a tipbox on shelf 7 or 8 to attach the fresh tips and receive the used tips. This topic describes how to set the teachpoint for a tipbox shelf.

 

CAUTION This topic is appropriate for lab managers, administrators, or technicians (advanced users). Setting a teachpoint incorrectly can damage the Vertical Pipetting Station.

Before you begin

 

CAUTION The Vertical Pipetting Station requires a pipette profile for each combination of base, pipette head, and accessories. Teachpoint values created for one combination can be inaccurate for another.

Before you perform the following procedure:

•	Ensure the correct pipette head is installed, no tips are installed on the pipette head, and the corresponding profile is initialized.

•	Retract the pipette head stripper pins to help ensure that the tipbox will not move. See Retracting and releasing stripper pins.

•	Remove all labware removed from the shelves.

•	Make sure you have the correct tipbox for the teaching tip, and verify that a labware definition exists for the tipbox.

To set the teachpoints for a tipbox shelf, you must use a tipbox.

If you are using small transfer (ST) tips that are 30 µL or less, you must use a tipbox to set the teachpoints on shelves 7 and 8 even if one of the shelves is used for other labware. In this case, the ST tips cannot reach the index point on shelves 7 and 8. Therefore, the software uses a combination of the shelf teachpoint and the tipbox labware definition to position the pipette head correctly.

Tip position in the pipette head barrels

Tipbox operations can be performed from Vertical Pipetting Station shelves 7 and 8. To ensure proper tipbox operations, the pipette head barrels must be in a specific position relative to the tipbox during a tips-on or tips-off process. The correct position for the head barrels varies depending on the type of pipette head:

•	96- or 384-channel pipette heads. The pipette head barrels should be halfway into the tip collars.

•	Serial-dilution pipette heads (SDH). The pipette head barrels should be all the way down into the tip collars.

Figure. Tip position in the pipette head barrels

 

Procedure

To teach shelves 7 and 8 for tipboxes:

1	Verify that no tips are on the pipette head.

2	In Vertical Pipetting Station Diagnostics, click the Jog/Teach tab.

 

3	To ensure that the pipette head is out of the path of the shelves, click the Home Z button. Make sure the shelves are in the out position.

4	In the Teachpoints area, select Shelf 7. The Teachpoints area changes to include tipbox controls.

5	In the Select tipbox list, select the tipbox for the specified Teaching tip type.

 

6	In the Approach height box, type a safe stopping distance (mm) above the saved teachpoint, for example, 20 mm. Click Approach tipbox.

The pipette head moves to the approach height above the existing tipbox teachpoint.

7	Verify that shelf 7 has clearance to move into position under the pipette head, and then click Toggle shelf.

8	At the Vertical Pipetting Station, place the tipbox containing a full set of tips on shelf 7.

9	In the Jog Axes area, set the z‑axis increment to 1.0 mm.

 

10	Click the Down +Z button repeatedly to jog the head down until the pipette barrels are in position within the tip collars. If necessary, jog in the x‑axis and y‑axis to center the barrels within the tip collars.

11	Click Teach using tipbox, and then click Yes when the confirmation dialog box appears.

12	Repeat step 1 to step 11 to teach shelf 8.

13	On the Profiles tab, click Update this profile to save the teachpoints.

 

Related topics

 

For more information about…	See…
Opening Vertical Pipetting Station Diagnostics	Opening Vertical Pipetting Station Diagnostics
Setting the shelf teachpoints	Setting shelf teachpoints
Initializing a profile	Initializing the Vertical Pipetting Station
Defining labware and liquid classes	VWorks Automation Control Setup Guide
Creating protocols	VWorks Automation Control User Guide
Performing tips-on and tips-off tasks	Running a process using Diagnostics software
Preparing to run a protocol	Preparing to run a protocol