3: Install the MicroFill’s Components
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3: Install the MicroFill’s Components
Important!
Refer to
Figure 1
on page 14 when installing the microplate carrier, microplate adaptor, and dispense manifold.
Microplate Carrier
• Hold the microplate carrier over the rail so that its priming trough is closest to the rear of the dispenser.
Note: The priming trough is used if a short prime is programmed as a part of a dispense program, catching any drips from the manifold that may fall when the syringe pump is homed. It also serves as an alternate priming location when the MicroFill™ is integrated into a robotic system.
• Line up the pin on the underside of the carrier with the slot on the carrier transport.
• Snap the two carrier clips onto the carrier transport rail. The pin should sit in the slot.
Microplate Adaptor
• Insert the microplate adaptor into the carrier. Ensure that the adaptor is fully seated in the carrier.
Note: The microplate adaptor must be in place when using standard height microplates and when priming the dispenser. For dispensing into deep-well plates, the microplate adaptor must be removed.
Priming Plate
The supplied priming plate is used when running Prime and Maintenance programs (see “Prime Programs” in Chapter 3). The priming plate sits inside the microplate adaptor, and it has a partition that divides the plate into two compartments. See
Figure 9
in Chapter 3.
• When
priming
the instrument, the priming plate should be oriented with the
large
compartment under the manifold.
• When running a
maintenance
program, the priming plate should be oriented with the
small
compartment under the manifold.
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| Chapter 2: Installation
Manifold
Priming
Trough
Leveling
Screws
• Orient the manifold so that the tubes are pointed down, and the fitting is pointed toward the rear of the dispenser.
• Slide the manifold gently down over the two support pins closest to the front of the dispenser.
• Insert the thumbscrews (2). Do not over-tighten.
Microplate
Adaptor
Thumbscrews (2)
REAR
Manifold
Keypad
Microplate
Carrier
Glide Strip
(Do not remove)
Rail
Carrier
Transport
FRONT
Figure 1: Installing the MicroFill’s components
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3: Install the MicroFill’s Components
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Syringe Head
For autoclavable versions of the instrument, model AF1000A, only.
To install the syringe head onto the syringe drive at the rear of the instrument:
1.
2.
With the flat side of the shaft facing up, slide the
syringe piston shaft
into the
piston holder
until it stops.
Use the 3/32” (2.38 mm) hex wrench to tighten the
setscrew
down onto the flat side of the shaft.
3.
4.
Push the
syringe head
onto the alignment pins and use the hex wrench to attach the two
mounting screws
.
A small
magnet
is provided for mounting the hex wrench to the base of the
Dispenser for storage. Choose a convenient location for the magnet and attach the wrench to it.
Setscrew
Syringe piston shaft,
flat side up
Piston holder
(Syringe drive component)
Syringe head
Mounting screws (2)
Figure 2: Dispenser rear panel, syringe head installation (autoclavable version)
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| Chapter 2: Installation
Check Valves, Tubes, and Bottles
Important!
Review
Figure 3
through
Figure 5
on the following pages, as well as the diagram on the back of the dispenser. Identify the various tubes and bottles that came with your dispenser.
The supply bottles have Luer fittings.
Finger-tighten only!
Check Valves
Two check valves are supplied; note the flow direction arrows. Connect the check valves to the syringe pump’s top and bottom ports. Compare the flow direction arrows with those shown below.
Power cord connector
Serial port connector
Syringe pump bottom port, supply inlet
Syringe pump top port, supply outlet
Lower check valve; note direction of flow
Figure 3: Dispenser rear panel, check valve installation
Upper check valve; note direction of flow
Note: If the check valves are replaced, it may be necessary to recalibrate the syringe backlash to achieve optimum accuracy performance. See “Calibrating the Backlash” in Chapter 4 for more information.
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Note: It is difficult to see the flow direction arrows on the autoclavable check valves. The valves are made of a translucent plastic and the flow direction can be determined by looking through the wall of the outer shell of the check valve. One end of the check valve has two red/orange o-rings; the other end has one red/orange o-ring and a gray spring. The direction of flow is from the end having one o-ring to the end having two o-rings. See below.
Direction of flow on check valves
One o-ring on this side, red/orange in color
Two o-rings on this side, red/orange in color
Figure 4: Autoclavable check valve, detail
Supply Tubes
Connect the check valves as shown in
Figure 3
. The upper check valve attaches to the dispense manifold (shorter tube); the lower check valve attaches to the fluid supply bottle (longer tube). See
Figure 5
.
Bottles
• Rinse all bottles with deionized or distilled water before using. This rinsing eliminates particles that may have entered during packing or unpacking.
• Place the supply bottles on the same horizontal plane as the dispenser. This ensures optimum pump performance.
Final Check
• Verify that the tubing was not crimped during installation.
• If the mounted manifold tilts forward or backward, make sure that the tubing to the manifold is not being pulled tight or off to the side.
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| Chapter 2: Installation
Microplate
Carrier
Short Supply Tube
Long Supply Tube
Figure 5: Tubing connections
Luer Fitting
Supply Bottle
On/Off Switch
Note: The dispenser’s top shroud is removed from this figure for clarity only. While it is acceptable to remove the mist shield (see page
20), do not attempt to remove the top shroud which protects the dispenser’s internal components.
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Prime Trough Drain Kit
Refer to the figure below when installing the prime trough drain kit.
Priming Trough
Drain Plug
Threaded
Fitting
Clamp
Tubing
Priming Trough Drain Instructions
1 . Remove drain plug and install the threaded fitting.
2. Move carrier all the way forward and install tubing onto
the barbed fitting on the back of the priming trough.
3. Route tubing as shown with a little spare tubing
in the back. Apply the clamp approximately as
shown. Then place the tubing into the clamp.
Figure 6: Priming Trough Drain Kit, installation instructions
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Mist Shield
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Pins (2)
Mist shield
Insert the two thumbscrews into the slots on the dispenser’s left side. Do not tighten completely.
Hold the mist shield parallel to the dispenser’s left side, with the door toward the front of the dispenser.
Slide the mist shield down so that the two slots fit over the thumbscrew shafts.
Fit the two pins into the slots on the dispenser’s top left side.
Tighten the thumbscrews.
Top shroud
(do not remove)
Thumbscrews (2)
Figure 7: Attaching the mist shield
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Power Supply and Cords
The MicroFill™ uses an external 24-volt power supply that is compatible with 100-250
V~; 50-60 Hz. Connect the power cord to the power supply, then connect the power supply’s output plug to the 24-VDC connector on the rear of the instrument. Plug the
3-prong end of the power cord into an appropriate power receptacle.
Warning! Power Rating.
The MicroFill™ must be connected to a power receptacle that provides voltage and current within the specified rating for the system.
Use of an incompatible power receptacle may produce electrical shock and fire hazards
Data Communication
Serial Port Communications with Other Devices
The MicroFill™ has a 25-pin serial (RS-232) port located on the rear panel of the instrument (see
Figure 3
). The serial port allows the dispenser to communicate with the BioStack™ Microplate Stacker, to receive data from a computer for purposes of factory or dealer service, and/or to be operated using an ActiveX
® interface (contact your BioTek representative for more information on obtaining a programmer’s package).
Operating the MicroFill™ with the BioStack
Alignment hardware and serial cable connections need to be installed to operate the
MicroFill with the BioStack™ Microplate Stacker. Refer to your
BioStack Operator’s
Manual
for installation instructions.
MicroFill Operator's Manual
