Setting microplate properties

Parameter	Description
Robot gripper offset (mm)	Note: Applies to the 3-Axis Robot in the BioCel Systems only. The Direct Drive Robot ignores this value, and uses the gripper offset values on the Direct Drive Robot tab. The height (mm) of the gripper above any teachpoint when the robot is picking up or placing a microplate of this type. The value is typically 0–3 mm. Note: The offset could be a negative value, indicating it is below the teachpoint. This parameter is used by the VWorks software when running protocols. The gripper offset parameter in the device Diagnostics software performs the same function when picking and placing labware using commands in the Diagnostics software.
Thickness (mm)	The distance from the bottom of the microplate skirt to the top of the microplate. For a tip box, this is the distance from the bottom of the box to the top of the tips. For a filter plate that has filter nozzles that extend below the skirt, measure the distance from the bottom of the filter plate skirt to the top of the filter plate. You will use the parameters in the Miscellaneous section to account for the filter nozzles. Figure. Example of the thickness measurement for a filter plate To increase the number of contact points, measure the distance at the corner of the microplate or tip box (using calipers). This method prevents the calipers from angling inward, which can produce inaccurate measurements.
Stacking thickness (mm)	The thickness of two stacked microplates of the same type minus the thickness of one microplate. Measure the distance using calipers. Example: Thickness of two stacked microplates (x) = 23.14 mm Thickness of one microplate = 14.14 mm Stacking thickness: 23.14 mm - 14.14 mm = 9.00 mm
Lid depth (nm)	The height of the lid interior, which is measured from the bottom resting surface of the lid to the underside of the lid’s top surface.
Can be sealed?	The option to include the microplate seal.
Sealed thickness (mm)	The thickness of the microplate with a seal in place. Available only if Can be sealed? is selected.
Sealed stacking thickness (mm)	The stacking thickness of the microplate with a seal in place. Available only if Can be sealed? is selected.
Can have lid?	The option to include a microplate lid.
Lidded thickness (mm)	The thickness of the microplate with a lid in place. Available only if Can have lid? is selected.
Lidded stacking thickness (mm)	The stacking thickness of the microplate with the lid in place. Available only if Can have lid? is selected.
Lid resting height (mm)	The height (c) above the bottom of the microplate (d) at which the bottom of a microplate lid rests. IMPORTANT If you are using the Direct Drive Robot in your automation system, be aware that the Lid resting height parameter works with the gripper offset range parameters. If you select the Plates have lids option in the Plate identity area in the protocol, the software automatically subtracts the thickness of the robot gripper fingers from the lid resting height to avoid gripping the lid. If the gripper offset range does not overlap with this value, an error will occur during the run. For example, suppose the Lid resting height is 9.8 mm, and the Direct Drive Robot gripper finger thickness is 4.5 mm. Because you selected the Plates has lids option, the software will calculate the difference, which is 5.3 mm. However, the specified gripper offset range is 6–10 mm. 5.3 mm is outside of the range, so an error will occur.
Lid departure height (mm)	The height (e) above the lid resting height to which the lid is lifted. In the BenchCel Microplate Handler, the lid is lifted to this height, and then the lid is removed.
Plate Handling
Lower plate at Microplate Labeler	The option to lower the Microplate Labeler stage if the microplate has a tall skirt or a raised surface in the middle of each side. Lowering the stage allows the Microplate Labeler to place the label above the tall skirt or raised surface. Note: The two vertical plate stage positions are set mechanically. To adjust the positions, see the Microplate Barcode Labeler User Guide for instructions.
Can mount	The option to place this microplate on top of another microplate. This property is for filter plates that are placed on top of waste plates during filtration steps of a protocol. This option can also be used to mount lids onto microplates.
Can be mounted	The option to place another microplate on top of this microplate. This property is for collection microplates that collect filtrate from filter plates during the filtration steps of a protocol. Many different microplates might be able to fit under any one type of filter plate. IMPORTANT The wells of the waste plate must have a large enough diameter that the filter plate does not stick on the waste plate. The robot must be able to pick up the filter plate without the waste plate lifting up with it. This option can also be used to mount lids onto microplate.
Maximum Robot Handling Speed
Maximum robot handling speed	The maximum speed at which the robot can move this type of microplate. In addition to this microplate-specific speed, you set the general robot speed via the Tools > Options menu in the VWorks software. If these speeds are different, the robot uses the slower of the two speeds. Note: To increase throughput, you can use a higher speed when the robot is not carrying labware. For details, see the VWorks Automation Control User Guide.
Miscellaneous
Length of filter tip/pin tool (mm)	Available for labware of the Filter plate or Pin tool Base Class only. The length of the pins that protrude below the pin tool head, or the distance that the filter nozzle extends below the bottom edge of the filter plate skirt. Use a caliper to measure the length. Figure. Length of filter tip
Filter channel resting depth	Available for labware of the Filter plate Base Class only. The distance from the tip of the protruding filter nozzles to the point at which the filter plate rests on another plate. Use a caliper to measure the distance. Figure. Filter plate channel resting depth Figure. Filter channel resting depth (filter plate on microplate) The software uses this parameter to calculate the effective height (Zg-axis) of the gripper and ensure sufficient clearance when gripping and moving the filter plates.
Requires insert	The option to require an insert for use with nestable tip boxes.

Note: Applies to the 3-Axis Robot in the BioCel Systems only. The Direct Drive Robot ignores this value, and uses the gripper offset values on the Direct Drive Robot tab.

The height (mm) of the gripper above any teachpoint when the robot is picking up or placing a microplate of this type. The value is typically 0–3 mm.

Note: The offset could be a negative value, indicating it is below the teachpoint.

This parameter is used by the VWorks software when running protocols. The gripper offset parameter in the device Diagnostics software performs the same function when picking and placing labware using commands in the Diagnostics software.

Thickness (mm)

The distance from the bottom of the microplate skirt to the top of the microplate.

For a tip box, this is the distance from the bottom of the box to the top of the tips.

For a filter plate that has filter nozzles that extend below the skirt, measure the distance from the bottom of the filter plate skirt to the top of the filter plate. You will use the parameters in the Miscellaneous section to account for the filter nozzles.

Figure. Example of the thickness measurement for a filter plate

To increase the number of contact points, measure the distance at the corner of the microplate or tip box (using calipers). This method prevents the calipers from angling inward, which can produce inaccurate measurements.

Stacking thickness (mm)

The thickness of two stacked microplates of the same type minus the thickness of one microplate.

Measure the distance using calipers.

Example:

Thickness of two stacked microplates (x) = 23.14 mm

Thickness of one microplate = 14.14 mm

Stacking thickness: 23.14 mm - 14.14 mm = 9.00 mm

Lid depth (nm)

The height of the lid interior, which is measured from the bottom resting surface of the lid to the underside of the lid’s top surface.

Can be sealed?

The option to include the microplate seal.

Sealed thickness (mm)

The thickness of the microplate with a seal in place.

Available only if Can be sealed? is selected.

Sealed stacking thickness (mm)

The stacking thickness of the microplate with a seal in place.

Available only if Can be sealed? is selected.

Can have lid?

The option to include a microplate lid.

Lidded thickness (mm)

The thickness of the microplate with a lid in place.

Available only if Can have lid? is selected.

Lidded stacking thickness (mm)

The stacking thickness of the microplate with the lid in place.

Available only if Can have lid? is selected.

Lid resting height (mm)

The height (c) above the bottom of the microplate (d) at which the bottom of a microplate lid rests.

IMPORTANT If you are using the Direct Drive Robot in your automation system, be aware that the Lid resting height parameter works with the gripper offset range parameters. If you select the Plates have lids option in the Plate identity area in the protocol, the software automatically subtracts the thickness of the robot gripper fingers from the lid resting height to avoid gripping the lid. If the gripper offset range does not overlap with this value, an error will occur during the run.

For example, suppose the Lid resting height is 9.8 mm, and the Direct Drive Robot gripper finger thickness is 4.5 mm. Because you selected the Plates has lids option, the software will calculate the difference, which is 5.3 mm. However, the specified gripper offset range is 6–10 mm. 5.3 mm is outside of the range, so an error will occur.

Lid departure height (mm)

The height (e) above the lid resting height to which the lid is lifted. In the BenchCel Microplate Handler, the lid is lifted to this height, and then the lid is removed.

Plate Handling

Lower plate at Microplate Labeler

The option to lower the Microplate Labeler stage if the microplate has a tall skirt or a raised surface in the middle of each side. Lowering the stage allows the Microplate Labeler to place the label above the tall skirt or raised surface.

Note: The two vertical plate stage positions are set mechanically. To adjust the positions, see the Microplate Barcode Labeler User Guide for instructions.

Can mount

The option to place this microplate on top of another microplate.

This property is for filter plates that are placed on top of waste plates during filtration steps of a protocol.

This option can also be used to mount lids onto microplates.

Can be mounted

The option to place another microplate on top of this microplate.

This property is for collection microplates that collect filtrate from filter plates during the filtration steps of a protocol. Many different microplates might be able to fit under any one type of filter plate.

IMPORTANT The wells of the waste plate must have a large enough diameter that the filter plate does not stick on the waste plate. The robot must be able to pick up the filter plate without the waste plate lifting up with it.

This option can also be used to mount lids onto microplate.

Maximum Robot Handling Speed

Maximum robot handling speed

The maximum speed at which the robot can move this type of microplate.

In addition to this microplate-specific speed, you set the general robot speed via the Tools > Options menu in the VWorks software. If these speeds are different, the robot uses the slower of the two speeds.

Note: To increase throughput, you can use a higher speed when the robot is not carrying labware. For details, see the VWorks Automation Control User Guide.

Miscellaneous

Length of filter tip/pin tool (mm)

Available for labware of the Filter plate or Pin tool Base Class only.

The length of the pins that protrude below the pin tool head, or the distance that the filter nozzle extends below the bottom edge of the filter plate skirt. Use a caliper to measure the length.

Figure. Length of filter tip

Filter channel resting depth

Available for labware of the Filter plate Base Class only.

The distance from the tip of the protruding filter nozzles to the point at which the filter plate rests on another plate. Use a caliper to measure the distance.

Figure. Filter plate channel resting depth

Figure. Filter channel resting depth (filter plate on microplate)

The software uses this parameter to calculate the effective height (Zg-axis) of the gripper and ensure sufficient clearance when gripping and moving the filter plates.

Requires insert

The option to require an insert for use with nestable tip boxes.

For information about...	See...
Workflow for adding labware to the Labware Editor	Workflow for defining labware
Opening the Labware Editor	Opening the Labware Editor
Setting general properties for labware	Setting general properties
Setting Direct Drive Robot properties for labware	Setting Direct Drive Robot properties

For information about...

See...

Workflow for adding labware to the Labware Editor

Workflow for defining labware

Opening the Labware Editor

Setting general properties for labware

Setting general properties

Setting Direct Drive Robot properties for labware

Setting Direct Drive Robot properties