Agilent Technologies BioCel 1200, Руководство пользователя

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51 Chapter 3: Preparing for a run
BioCel User Guide
Setting up a VSpin counterweight plate
About this topic
This topic describes how to set up a counterweight for the VSpin.
A counterweight plate is always required when centrifuging a single
plate in a VSpin device on a BioCel.
A counterweight plate is the same as a sample plate except that it is
empty, or contains water to provide a more accurate balance. If a
counterweight is not used, a load imbalance error will result. The load
imbalance tolerance is 10 grams.
Using a counterweight plate and centrifuging one sample plate at a time
does not typically increase the length of a protocol run, compared to
spinning two sample plates at a time. This is because the centrifuge task
is not typically the time-limiting step of a protocol.
If your spin time is short, about 0–45 seconds, the protocol will probably
run faster if you load the counterweight by hand. If your spin time is 45
seconds or longer, the protocol will probably run fastest if you load two
protocol plates and don’t use a counterweight.
Options for loading
plates A counterweight should be the same weight as the sample plate.
You can load counterweights into a VSpin by any of the following
methods:
❑
By hand, using VSpin Diagnostics software to open and close the
centrifuge door and move the rotor.
❑
With the robot, using a combination of Robot Diagnostics and VSpin
Diagnostics.
❑
Automatically, using the robot during a normal run.
Setting up robotically loaded counterweights is done when creating
a protocol.
Some setup is required by administrators before you can load
counterweights robotically.
Manually loading
counterweights
To load a counterweight by hand:
1. Open VSpin Diagnostics software.
The VSpin Control dialog box opens.
2. Follow the directions in the VSpin User Guide to open the VSpin
door and load the counterweight.
!! DAMAGE HAZARD !! To avoid a robot crash, always
place the counter weight into bucket 2 and leave the door
open with bucket 1 at the front. The sample plate will always
be moved to bucket 1 by the robot.