Setting Stacker properties

When to set Stacker properties

If you are using a Stacker or a BenchCel Microplate Handler in your automation system, you must set the properties in the Stacker sub-tab of the Labware Editor.

You must be logged in as an administrator or technician to perform this procedure.

Before you start

BenchCel Microplate Handler users. Make sure you have read the sections of the BenchCel Microplate Handler User Guide that describe the location and function of the stacker sensors.

Setting properties

To set stacker properties:

1	Open the Labware Editor.

2	In the Labware Entries tab, click the Stacker sub-tab.

3	Enter the values for the available properties according to the labware you are defining.

BenchCel Microplate Handler only. Set only the maximum orientation sensor threshold, sensor intensity, and notch locations. The other settings are used by the Stacker.

Figure. Properties required for the BenchCel Microplate Handler

 

The following table provides descriptions of each parameter.

 

Parameter	Description
Stacker only. Stacker gripper offset	Adjusts the height at which the microplate stage stops for the grippers to grip the microplate, with respect to the Stacker’s grip teachpoint. Change this value only if the stacker is not gripping the microplates correctly.
Stacker only. Presentation offset	You should never need to change this value. Adjusts the height of the Stacker plate stage with respect to the presentation teachpoint of a Stacker.
Stacker only. Orientation sensor offset	Adjusts the height at which the orientation checking sensors view the microplate, with respect to the sensor.
Orientation sensor threshold (max)	Specifies the highest value that an orientation sensor can register when sensing a notch. Any sensor reading above this value indicates that a solid microplate wall is present. Any sensor value below this threshold indicates that either a notch, or no microplate is present. If the stacker does not sense a notch when it should, you will get a “wrong plate type” or a “plate rotated 180 degrees” error message. Adjust the sensor threshold value. The maximum value is 255.
Stacker only. Orientation sensor threshold (min)	Indicates whether a microplate was downstacked or is present on the stage. This threshold specifies the lowest value that an orientation sensor can register and still consider a notch to be present. If the orientation sensor returns a value below this threshold, an error message appears stating that no microplate is present on the stage. If the stacker does not sense a notch when it should, a “wrong plate type” or a “plate rotated 180 degrees” error message appears. In this case, adjust the sensor threshold value.
Sensor intensity	Sets the percentage of maximum sensor intensity for all sensors. If the sensor intensity is set too low, a microplate will not be detected even though one is present. If it is set too high, the sensors might become saturated, causing failure to detect the orientation of a microplate. This parameter adjusts for the fact that clear, black, and white microplates reflect light differently. For example, white microplates generally reflect more light so the sensor intensity should be set lower.
Stacker only. Use vacuum clamp	Instructs theStacker you are using a vacuum clamp in the Stacker stage to grasp the microplate during delidding.
Notch Locations	• Check orientation. Turns on microplate-orientation checking based on the selected notch locations for your microplate. The notch locations are ignored when this check box is cleared. • Notch location check boxes. Select the corresponding notch or notches for your microplate. For BenchCel Microplate Handlers, the A1 well of the microplate is positioned in the far, left corner as you face the front of the BenchCel Microplate Handler. For BioCel Systems, the A1 well of the microplate is positioned in the far, left corner from the perspective of the robot. IMPORTANT The Stacker has only two orientation sensors for detecting notches. If the wrong microplate is loaded and an orientation sensors detect notches, the sensors will not flag an incorrect orientation for the wrong microplate. IMPORTANT If the orientation sensors detect notches in the correct location, the sensors will not flag an incorrect orientation for the wrong microplate.

Related information

 

For information about...	See...
Workflow for adding labware to the Labware Editor	Workflow for defining labware
Opening the Labware Editor	Opening the Labware Editor
Using the Labware Editor	Labware Editor overview