Downstack

Description

The Downstack task () moves labware as follows:

•	Out of the bottom of stacking devices such as the Labware Stacker or BenchCel Microplate Handler

•	Off of the top of a stack of labware at a Bravo deck location

 

For example, you can use the Downstack task to move microplates out of the Stacker and onto a platepad.

You can use a single Downstack task to move labware out of multiple stacking devices. For example, after all the microplates are moved out of one stacker, the Downstack task can continue at a second stacking device.

 

Task is available for...	Task is available in...
Bravo Platform	Main Protocol, Bravo Subprocess
BenchCel Microplate Handler	Main Protocol
Stacker	Main Protocol

Requirements

Bravo Platform

To use the Downstack task in a Bravo Subprocess, you must:

•	Specify the maximum stack height in the Bravo deck location properties area.

•	Add a Scan Stack task for each Downstack task.

BenchCel Microplate Handler

The software always determines a location for a labware before it is downstacked from the BenchCel stacker. If you add a subprocess immediately after a Downstack task, the system will downstack the labware and place it at the location where the first subprocess task will be performed.

If you want to quarantine microplates with the wrong orientation immediately after they are downstacked from a BenchCel stacker, add a Place Plate task immediately after the Downstack task. Doing so ensures that the labware will be quarantined before proceeding to downstream tasks.

For information on how to set up quarantine criteria, see Setting up automated error responses.

Task parameters

After adding the Downstack task at the desired point in the protocol, set the following parameters in the Task Parameters area:

 

 

Parameter	Description
Free empty stackers	The option to allow this stacker, when emptied, to become available for Upstack or Reorder tasks.

Device selection

You must select a device for Downstack tasks. If you have multiple devices of the same type, you can prioritize the list of devices for the task. If the first device in the list is busy, the software will automatically use the next device in the list. If all of the devices in the list are busy, the task that needs the device will wait until one becomes available.

IMPORTANT The multiple devices must have the same setup and configuration.

After adding the Downstack task at the desired point in the protocol, select the task, and then click Device Selection in the Task Parameters area.

To select a device for the task:

1	Double-click a device or deck location in the Devices available to perform task area to add it to the Devices involved in task area.

2	To prioritize its use, select the device in the Devices involved in task area, and then click User earlier or Use later. The devices that are higher in the list are favored by the software scheduler during the protocol run.

 

Example: Downstack microplates from Labware Stacker

Goal

Downstack the Destination Plate from Stacker 1 for liquid-handling tasks at the Vertical Pipetting Station. After the stack is emptied, the stack can be used for Upstack and Reorder tasks.

Implementation

Add a Downstack task before the Vertical Pipetting Station Subprocess task that contains the liquid-handling subroutine.

 

The task parameters and device selections are:

 

Related information

 

For information about...	See...
Adding devices	• Adding devices • Device user guide
Adding tasks in a protocol	Adding and deleting tasks
Scan Stack task	Scan Stack
Upstack task	Upstack
Reorder task	Reorder
Quarantining labware	• Setting plate parameters • Setting up automated error responses
Microplate-handling tasks	Setting parameters for microplate-handling tasks
Liquid-handling tasks	Setting parameters for liquid-handling tasks
Scheduling tasks	Setting parameters for scheduling tasks
I/O-handling tasks	Setting parameters for I/O-handling tasks