Agilent Technologies BenchCel Microplate Handler User manual

Original Instructions

This guide contains the following topics:

•“About this guide” on page 2

•“Safety guidelines” on page 3

•“Emergency stops” on page 4

•“Hardware components and axes of motion” on page 7

•“Labware considerations” on page 11

•“Starting up and shutting down” on page 12

•“Handling labware racks safely” on page 14

•“Filling and emptying the labware racks” on page 14

•“Installing and uninstalling labware racks” on page 17

•“Using BenchCel Diagnostics” on page 20

•“Cleaning up after use” on page 29

G5580A BenchCel Microplate Handler

Quick Guide

About this guide

2G5580A BenchCel Microplate Handler Quick Guide

About this guide

This guide summarizes the operator instructions in the BenchCel Microplate Handler

User Guide.

This guide assumes the following:

•The BenchCel Microplate Handler is installed correctly. For details, see the

BenchCel Microplate Handler User Guide.

•The device profile for the specific BenchCel Microplate Handler configuration is

already created and the teachpoints are already set. For setup instructions, see the

BenchCel Microplate Handler User Guide.

•You are familiar with the VWorks Automation Control software. See the VWorks

Automation Control Quick Start. For detailed instructions, see the VWorks

Automation Control User Guide.

Where to find the user documentation

To access the user guides for Agilent Automation Solutions products, do one of the

following:

•From within VWorks software, select Help > Knowledge Base or press F1.

•From the Windows desktop, select Start > Agilent Technologies >

VWorks Knowledge Base.

•Go to the online VWorks Knowledge Base at www.agilent.com/chem/askb.

Contacting Agilent Technologies

Web: https://www.agilent.com

Contact page: https://www.agilent.com/en/contact-us/page

Documentation feedback: [email protected]

Safety guidelines

G5580A BenchCel Microplate Handler Quick Guide

Safety guidelines

WARNING

Using controls, making adjustments, or performing procedures other than those

specified in the user documentation can expose you to moving-parts hazards and

hazardous voltage. Before using the BenchCel Microplate Handler, make sure you

are aware of the potential hazards and understand how to avoid being exposed to

them.

Ensure that you are trained in the safe operation of the device and that you have read

the Agilent Automation Solutions Products General Safety Guide and the safety section

of the BenchCel Microplate Handler User Guide.

Figure Safety label location on BenchCel Microplate Handler (front and side view)

For a description of the moving parts, see “Hardware components and axes of motion”

on page 7.

For the emergency-stop procedure, see “Emergency stops” on page 4.

WARNING

If you touch any of the moving parts or attempt to move labware while the BenchCel

Microplate Handler is in operation, the device could pinch, pierce, or bruise you. Keep

your fingers, hair, clothing, and jewelry away from the device while it is in motion.

Emergency stops

4G5580A BenchCel Microplate Handler Quick Guide

Emergency stops

The BenchCel Microplate Handler is equipped with an interlock circuit and emergency-

stop pendant. When the BenchCel Microplate Handler is integrated with other devices

in a third-party system, Agilent Technologies recommends that you install a main

emergency-stop button to safely stop the robot and all devices simultaneously.

CAUTION

You might not be able to resume a protocol after an emergency stop. Do not use an

emergency stop to pause a run. To pause and continue a run, use the appropriate

commands in the automation software.

Stopping in an emergency

WARNING

After pressing the emergency-stop button, the robot arm might have momentum and

continue to move until it comes to the end of its travel in the x-axis, z-axis, or theta-

axis or until it bumps into an obstacle. Stay clear of the robot until it stops moving.

To perform an emergency stop:

Press the red button on the pendant. The safety interlock circuit is interrupted, disabling

the robot motors. The BenchCel Microplate Handler operation stops.

Recovering from an emergency stop

After you press the button on the emergency-stop pendant, the robot stops. One of the

following occurs:

•If you stopped a protocol run, a dialog box opens in the VWorks software.

•If you stopped the robot while diagnosing problems in BenchCel Diagnostics, a

motor-disable message opens.

Use the following procedure to recover in either case.

Emergency stops

G5580A BenchCel Microplate Handler Quick Guide

To recover the BenchCel device after an emergency stop:

1If the robot dropped labware before or during the emergency stop, remove the

labware that was dropped. Also remove labware at teachpoints or other locations.

2If the BenchCel robot attempted to place labware at a location that was not free, a

collision might have occurred resulting in misalignment of the robot gripper. Check

the robot gripper alignment:

aMove the robot arms so that they are perpendicular to the x-axis.

bMake sure the bottom of the robot gripper pads are perpendicular to the robot

arms. If they are not, contact Agilent Technical Support.

Figure Gripper alignment: (A) Correct, (B) Incorrect

3At the emergency-stop pendant, turn the button clockwise to restore power to the

motors.

4If you stopped a protocol run in an emergency, select one of the following in the

VWorks message dialog box:

Selection Description

Diagnostics Opens the BenchCel Diagnostics dialog box. See step 5.

Note: This selection is available only when you are in the

middle of a protocol run and not while you are in

BenchCel Diagnostics.

Retry Attempts to restart the current command or task in the

run.

Ignore and continue Ignores the current command or task and continues to

the next command or task in the protocol sequence.

Abort Aborts the current command or task in the run. Select

Abort if you have determined that the protocol run is not

recoverable.

Emergency stops

6G5580A BenchCel Microplate Handler Quick Guide

For a full description of the selections, see the VWorks Automation Control User

Guide.

5Optional. In BenchCel Diagnostics, use the available commands to manually move

the robot or other components, including:

•Release the microplate that the robot is currently holding.

•Upstack the microplate that the robot is currently holding.

•Replace the lid on the microplate.

•Home the robot.

•Verify teachpoints.

If a physical crash occurred, always start BenchCel Diagnostics to home the robot and

verify teachpoints.

Hardware components and axes of motion

G5580A BenchCel Microplate Handler Quick Guide

Hardware components and axes of motion

Front view

The following figure and table describe the primary hardware components and axes of

motion.

Figure BenchCel Microplate Handler components (front view)

Item Feature Description

1Labware

rack (with

labware)

The accessory that stores labware to be processed in a run.

2Stacker

head

The structure at which:

•A labware rack is loaded. Two sensors inside of each stacker head detect the

presence of the racks.

•A microplate is checked for type and orientation using a plate-presence sensor and

four plate-orientation sensors.

•A microplate is lowered into the stacker grippers to begin a run.

Hardware components and axes of motion

8G5580A BenchCel Microplate Handler Quick Guide

3Air pressure

regulator

The knob that adjusts the air pressure inside the device. Compressed air is used to

move the components inside the stacker heads. Each regulator controls the air

pressure to the two adjacent stacker heads. For details, see the BenchCel Microplate

Handler User Guide.

4Safety

shield

The clear panel that is installed on the front of the BenchCel device to prevent access

while it is in operation.

5Pendant The component that is part of the safety interlock circuit, which must be closed for the

BenchCel device to operate. Pressing the raised button on the pendant interrupts the

interlock circuit and stops the robot motors. Use this method of stopping the robot for

emergencies only.

6Rack

release

button

The button that unlocks the rack for removal. The rack-release button (1) at the top of

each stacker head displays different colors to indicate the state of the stacker head.

•Green. The labware rack is installed correctly on the BenchCel device and the

microplates are unloaded. The stack of microplates are ready for processing or you

can unlock and remove the labware rack.

•Flashing green. The labware rack is unlocked and can be removed.

•Blue. The stack of microplates is loaded. You cannot unlock and remove the

labware rack.

•Red. The clamps are open without a rack installed. Do not install a rack until the

clamps are closed.

7Robot head The component that moves (1) horizontally along the x-axis and (2) vertically along the

z-axis.

Item Feature Description

Hardware components and axes of motion

G5580A BenchCel Microplate Handler Quick Guide

8Robot arms The two parallel structures that are attached to and rotate about the robot head along

the theta-axis.

9Robot

grippers

The structures inside the robot arms that close and open to hold and release a

microplate. Using the provided software, you can adjust the distance between the

grippers (1) to hold a microplate loosely or tightly.

Item Feature Description

Hardware components and axes of motion

10 G5580A BenchCel Microplate Handler Quick Guide

Back view

Figure BenchCel connection panel (Back view)

Item Part Description

1Air-input fitting Connects the air tubing to the BenchCel device.

Compressed air is used to actuate components inside the

stacker head.

2Power switch Turns on or off the power to the BenchCel device.

3AC power entry Connects the power cord to the BenchCel device.

4Ethernet port Connects the Ethernet cable from the controlling

computer to the BenchCel device to allow communication

between the computer and the device. Use this port as an

alternative to the serial connection.

5Serial port Connects the serial cable from the controlling computer to

the BenchCel device to allow communication between the

computer and the device. Use this port as an alternative to

the Ethernet connection.

6Pendant port Connects the pendant to the safety interlock circuit.

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