StakMax Plate Handling System. User Guide

Transcription

1 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Rev B May 2010

2 This document is provided to customers who have purchased Molecular Devices, Inc. ( Molecular Devices ) equipment, software, reagents, and consumables to use in the operation of such Molecular Devices equipment, software, reagents, and consumables. This document is copyright protected and any reproduction of this document, in whole or any part, is strictly prohibited, except as Molecular Devices may authorize in writing. Equipment, software, reagents, and consumables that may be described in this document are protected under one or more patents filed in the United States, Canada, and other countries. Additional patents are pending. Software that may be described in this document is furnished under a license agreement. It is against the law to copy, modify, or distribute the software on any medium, except as specifically allowed in the license agreement. Furthermore, the license agreement may prohibit the software from being disassembled, reverse engineered, or decompiled for any purpose. Portions of this document may make reference to other manufacturers and/or their products, which may contain parts whose names are registered as trademarks and/or function as trademarks of their respective owners. Any such usage is intended only to designate those manufacturers' products as supplied by Molecular Devices for incorporation into its equipment and does not imply any right and/or license to use or permit others to use such manufacturers' and/or their product names as trademarks. Molecular Devices makes no warranties or representations as to the fitness of this equipment for any particular purpose and assumes no responsibility or contingent liability, including indirect or consequential damages, for any use to which the purchaser may put the equipment described herein, or for any adverse circumstances arising therefrom. For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. The trademarks mentioned herein are the property of Molecular Devices, Inc. or their respective owners. Equipment built by Molecular Devices, Inc Orleans Drive, Sunnyvale, California, United States of America Molecular Devices, Inc. is ISO 9001 registered Molecular Devices, Inc. All rights reserved.

3 Contents Safety Safety Guidelines Labeling Emergency Interrupt Preface About this Manual Conventions Additional Resources SoftMax Pro User Guide Training Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Installation and Setup of StakMax system Unpacking the System Components Installing the StakMax Instrument Connecting the Baseplate Connecting the Cables Installing the StakMax Driver Starting the Software Calibration Performing a Functional Check Required Equipment Getting Started Opening the Software Closing the Software Starting a Read Process Stopping the StakMax Instrument in an Emergency Setting Preferences Save Data After Read (AutoSave) Naming Conventions for AutoSave Files AutoSave File Formats Installing or Replacing a Barcode Reader Required Equipment Chapter 3 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument Rev B 3

4 Contents Unpacking the System Components Installing the StakMax Instrument Connecting the Baseplate Connecting the Cables Installing the StakMax Driver Starting the Software Performing a Functional Check Getting Started Opening the Software Closing the Software Starting a Read Stopping the StakMax Instrument in an Emergency Setting Preferences Save Data After Read (AutoSave) Naming Conventions for AutoSave Files AutoSave File Formats Chapter 4 Installation and Setup of the AquaMax Microplate Washer Unpacking the System Unpacking the StakMax Instrument Components Installing the StakMax Instrument Chapter 5 Operation Starting the StakMax System Turning the StakMax Instrument On and Off Opening the StakMax Software Window Loading the StakMax Instrument Continual Feed Magazine Loading and Unloading Tool Single Plate Loading Tool The StakMax Software Interface Start Read Stop Read Emergency Stop Load Plate Return Plate Rev B

5 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Restack Demo Scripting (optional) Reset Stacker Settings Barcoding Allow Edit Prompting Append Date/Time Calibration Status Window Help Chapter 6 Scripting Script Editor Command Definitions StakMax Commands SoftMax Pro Commands Advanced Commands Misc Commands Creating a New Script from a Template Adding Commands Removing Commands Changing the Order of Commands Checking the Syntax Saving Scripts Printing Scripts Using Repeats Chapter 7 Maintenance System Maintenance Weekly Maintenance As-Needed Maintenance Technical Support Chapter 8 Troubleshooting Appendix A System Diagrams and Specifications Performance Specifications Compatibility Rev B 5

6 Contents General Specifications Diagrams Rev B

7 Safety This chapter provides important safety information for the use of the StakMax instrument. All users should read and understand the safety guidelines before operating the StakMax instrument. The following information is described in this chapter: Safety Guidelines on page 7 Labeling on page 7 Emergency Interrupt on page 9 Safety Guidelines Read and understand all of the safety guidelines before using the StakMax instrument. Labeling The following warning labels are attached to the StakMax instrument. Do not remove these labels Rev B 7

8 Safety Table S-1 StakMax instrument labels Instrument Label Nameplate Instrument nameplate +24V 3A StakMax Identification, voltage, and serial number (back of instrument) 1311 Orleans Drive, Sunnyvale CA INPUT STACK OUTPUT STACK StakMax input and output stack labels Laser-based barcode reader safety label (internal) + 24 VDC USB RS-232 Power I/O label (right side of instrument) CE mark for European and TUV Rheinland Rev B

9 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Emergency Interrupt The StakMax instrument Power/Reset button is located on the left side of the front panel. The Power/Reset button operates as a Power On button and it functions as a Reset button that can be used in case of emergency (for example, the instrument is about to crash). When pressed while the instrument is in use, it functions as an Emergency Interrupt button to immediately stop any StakMax movement and to reset the entire system Rev B 9

10 Safety Rev B

11 Preface About this Manual The StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide provides instructions for the proper setup, installation and use of the StakMax microplate handler and software. The StakMax instrument is a plate handling system that can be attached to several different types of instruments. This manual includes the information and procedures required to integrate each of the following instruments with a StakMax system: SpectraMax microplate readers (including M2, M2e, M3, M4, M5, M5e, 340PC 384, 190, Plus 384, Gemini XPS, and Gemini EM readers) SpectraMax L microplate reader VersaMax TM microplate reader AquaMax 4000 and AquaMax 2000 microplate washers This manual contains the following sections: Introduction on page 13 Installation and Setup of StakMax system on page 15 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument on page 49 Installation and Setup of the AquaMax Microplate Washer on page 81 Operation on page 89 Scripting on page 117 Maintenance on page 137 Troubleshooting on page 139 Before you use the instrument for the first time, we recommend that you read the entire manual to familiarize yourself with the basic operating procedures. Make sure that you read the relevant content, particularly in the Installation and Setup chapter, that applies to the specific instrument you are using with the StakMax system. This manual is intended for laboratory personnel who have been trained in basic laboratory safety practices. Using the instrument without proper training can result in damage to the instrument or sub-optimal results Rev B 11

12 Preface Conventions Within the scope of this manual, the following typographical conventions are used. Note: Provides background information or further explanation of instructions, or shortcuts or alternative steps to perform the procedure. WARNING! Indicates an operation that can cause personal injury if precautions are not followed. CAUTION! Indicates an operation that can cause damage to the instrument, device, or data, if the precautions are not followed. Additional Resources The StakMax software is integrated into the SoftMax Pro 5.1 (or later) software application. Some functions overlap between the SoftMax Pro and StakMax software applications; in these cases, this manual refers to the SoftMax Pro User Guide. SoftMax Pro User Guide If you do not have the SoftMax Pro User Guide, contact your Molecular Devices sales representative. Training Molecular Devices offers training on the StakMax system. Contact your Molecular Devices sales representative for further details Rev B

13 Introduction 1 When integrated with a SpectraMax microplate reader, the StakMax software runs with the SoftMax Pro software that controls the SpectraMax microplate reader. This manual focuses on the StakMax software application only and refers to the SoftMax Pro User Guide for specific details on overlapping functions. The SoftMax Pro software provides extensive data calculation and analysis capabilities for customers using Molecular Devices single and multi-mode readers in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, academic, and government research laboratories. A GxP edition of this software exists for labs needing GLP/ GMP compliance with FDA 21 CFR part 11. StakMax software is available for Windows compatible computers using Windows 2000, XP, and Vista. When integrated with an AquaMax microplate washer, the StakMax plate handling system is controlled directly by the on-board AquaMax software Rev B 13

14 Introduction Rev B

15 Installation and Setup of StakMax system 2 This chapter describes how to install and set up the StakMax system for the following microplate readers: VersaMax TM microplate reader SpectraMax 340PC 384 microplate reader SpectraMax 190 microplate reader SpectraMax Plus 384 microplate reader SpectraMax Gemini XPS microplate reader SpectraMax Gemini EM microplate reader SpectraMax M2 microplate reader SpectraMax M2e microplate reader SpectraMax M3 microplate reader SpectraMax M4 microplate reader SpectraMax M5 microplate reader SpectraMax M5e microplate reader For information and procedures on how to install and set up the StakMax system for the SpectraMax L instrument, see Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument on page 49. For information and procedures on how to install and set up the StakMax system for the AquaMax 4000 and 2000 instruments, see Installation and Setup of the AquaMax Microplate Washer on page 81. This section contains the following topics: Unpacking the System on page 16. Installing the StakMax Instrument on page 18. Performing a Functional Check on page 38. Getting Started on page 38. Setting Preferences on page 40. Installing or Replacing a Barcode Reader on page Rev B 15

16 Installation and Setup of StakMax system Unpacking the System The StakMax instrument is packed in a specially-designed carton. It consists of an inner box, which contains the StakMax instrument and all of the included parts, and an outer box for protection. The inner box is suspended under compression between a pair of trampoline-like lids (top and bottom) to protect the StakMax system from damage. Retain the original carton and the packing materials. If the unit needs to be returned for any reason, including repairs, it must be sent in the original carton with the original packing materials. Note: Before you unpack the system, examine the external packaging for any signs of damage. If the shipping carton has been damaged in transit, it is particularly important that you retain the carton for inspection by the carrier, in case there has also been damage to the instrument. To unpack the StakMax instrument WARNING! The StakMax instrument weighs approximately 26 pounds (11.8 kg) and should be lifted with care. Take proper precautions to avoid injury. 1. After examining the carton, place it on the floor in an upright position. 2. Open the top of the box and remove the top lid. 3. Remove the inner instrument box from the shipping box and place it on the lab bench. 4. Open the top of the box. Carefully remove the 20-plate magazines (if ordered) and remove them from the packaging. If other magazine sizes were ordered, they are shipped in a second box. 5. Remove the accessory kit and check to make sure that all of the components are present. For a complete list of the included components, see Components on page Carefully remove the StakMax instrument from the box and place it on a flat surface. 7. Gently pull up the foam block at a slight angle and remove it from the input stack. See Figure Rev B

17 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Figure 2-1 Removing the foam from the input stack. 8. Gently pull the foam block down and to the left and remove it from the stacker arm. See Figure 2-2. Figure 2-2 Removing the foam from the stacker arm Rev B 17

18 Installation and Setup of StakMax system Components The StakMax instrument package contains the following components. Accessory kit StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide USB cable Single Plate Adapter Instrument-specific baseplate volt power supply Region-specific power cable for power supply Alignment tools (clear and black) Long Phillips screwdriver 1 package of 5 microplates Note: 40-plate and 50-plate magazines are shipped in a separate box. Instrument box StakMax instrument Barcode reader(s) (installed on instrument as configured) 20-plate magazines (if purchased) Installing the StakMax Instrument WARNING! Make sure the power cord is not connected to the instrument prior to installation or relocation of the instrument. WARNING! Do not touch or loosen any screws or parts other than those specifically designated in the instructions because this can cause misalignment and this can void the instrument warranty. Before installing the StakMax instrument, make sure the foam blocks have been removed from the input stack and the arm Rev B

19 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide To install the StakMax instrument 1. Unpack the StakMax system and make sure that all of the components listed in Components on page 18 are present. 2. Place the instrument on a hard, level surface. Make sure that the power supply and USB port are accessible. 3. Install the SoftMax Pro software. 4. Attach the StakMax instrument to the reader by following the instructions in Connecting the Baseplate on page Attach the power and USB cables by following the instructions in Connecting the Cables on page If this is the first time connecting your StakMax, you must install the USB driver. See Installing the StakMax Driver on page Start the StakMax software and perform the software calibration. See Starting the Software Calibration on page 34. Connecting the Baseplate You must connect the StakMax instrument to the microplate reader with the provided baseplate and mounting hardware. See Figure 2-4. Required equipment Alignment tools Baseplate Long Phillips screwdriver 2 Phillips-head screws Rev B 19

20 Installation and Setup of StakMax system Figure 2-3 Required components for baseplate installation. To connect the baseplate 1. Place the StakMax instrument and the microplate reader on a hard, level surface (for example, a lab bench). 2. Place the baseplate on the left side of the StakMax instrument. See Figure 2-4 for the correct position. Figure 2-4 Aligning the baseplate. 3. Slide the baseplate under the protruding angle bracket that is attached to the instrument Rev B

21 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 4. Align the baseplate with the mounting holes in the StakMax angle bracket and loosely thread the included Phillips-head screws and washers through the top baseplate and into the threads on the StakMax angle bracket. Do not tighten the screws until after the software installation and calibration processes are complete. See Figure 2-5. Figure 2-5 Aligning the baseplate and loosely threading the screws Rev B 21

22 Installation and Setup of StakMax system 5. Lift the right side of the reader and place the feet into the two mounting cups located on the baseplate. Make sure that the reader feet are completely seated in the mounting cups. See Figure 2-6. Figure 2-6 Placing the plate reader feet in the mounting cups. WARNING! Do not operate the instrument in an environment where potentially damaging liquids or gases are present. WARNING! Do not operate the instrument in a cold room with a temperature below 10 C. Connecting the Cables The StakMax instrument must be connected to power with the power cable, and to the computer with a USB cable Rev B

23 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide To connect the cables 1. Connect the instrument to the power supply by plugging the 1/4-inch metal connector into the DC input on the right side of the StakMax instrument. Figure 2-7 Connecting the power cord to the instrument. 2. Connect the power supply and the power cable by inserting one end of the cord into the power supply. See Figure Rev B 23

24 Installation and Setup of StakMax system Figure 2-8 Connecting the power supply to the cable. 3. Connect the power cable to the wall outlet, surge suppressor or UPS, and then wait three seconds. Note: Connecting through a surge suppressor or UPS is preferred. 4. Press the Power/Reset button (located on the front-left side of the instrument) to initialize the instrument. After a few seconds, the Power/Reset button turns green Rev B

25 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Figure 2-9 Pressing the Power/Reset button. 5. Insert one end of the USB cable into the StakMax instrument and the other end to the computer. See Figure Figure 2-10 Connecting the USB cable. Note: If you are connecting through a USB hub, use a powered USB hub Rev B 25

26 Installation and Setup of StakMax system After you have connected the StakMax instrument, a New Hardware Wizard opens. To install new drivers using the New Hardware Wizard, see Installing the StakMax Driver on page 26. Installing the StakMax Driver To install the StakMax driver 1. After installing SoftMax Pro, turn on the StakMax instrument and connect the USB cable from the instrument to the computer. 2. In the Found New Hardware Wizard screen that appears, select No, not this time, and then click Next. See Figure Figure 2-11 The Found New Hardware Wizard welcome screen Rev B

27 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 3. Select Install from a list or specific location (Advanced) and then click Next. See Figure Figure 2-12 Installing driver from a specific location. There are two ways to install the proper drivers. The first method is to install them from the SoftMax Pro CD-ROM. See To install from the CD- ROM on page 28. The second method is to install them without the SoftMax Pro CD-ROM. See To install without the CD-ROM on page Rev B 27

28 Installation and Setup of StakMax system To install from the CD-ROM 1. Select Search for the best driver in these locations. Ensure that the Search removable media box is checked. See Figure Select Browse and locate the CD/DVD drive (usually the D: drive). Figure 2-13 Searching for best driver from the SoftMax Pro CD Rev B

29 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 3. Open the SoftMax Pro CD, locate and select the StakMax Drivers folder, and then click OK to return to the original window. Figure 2-14 Selecting the StakMax Drivers folder. 4. Click Next and continue to To finalize driver installation on page Rev B 29

30 Installation and Setup of StakMax system To install without the CD-ROM 1. After installing the SoftMax Pro software, turn on the StakMax instrument and connect the USB cable from the instrument to the computer. 2. In the Found New Hardware Wizard screen that appears, click Browse and navigate to the C:\Program Files\Molecular Devices\SoftMaxPro folder. See Figure 2-15 to Figure Figure 2-15 Browsing for the SoftMax Pro v5.1 (or later) folder Rev B

31 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Figure 2-16 Selecting the C drive. Figure 2-17 Selecting the Program Files folder Rev B 31

32 Installation and Setup of StakMax system Figure 2-18 Selecting the Molecular Devices folder. Figure 2-19 Selecting the SoftMax Pro folder. 3. Click OK to return to the Found New Hardware Wizard window. 4. Continue to To finalize driver installation on page Rev B

33 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide To finalize driver installation 1. Click Continue Anyway. See Figure Figure 2-20 Continuing with the hardware installation. 2. Click Finish to complete the driver installation. See Figure Figure 2-21 Driver installation complete Rev B 33

34 Installation and Setup of StakMax system Starting the Software Calibration Note: Before proceeding with this section, make sure that you have both pieces of the calibration alignment tool (clear and black), the included Phillips screwdriver, and the included microplate. You can find these components in the accessory kit. To calibrate the software 1. Double-click the SoftMax Pro icon located on the desktop to open the SoftMax Pro software. Note: You must have SoftMax Pro software version 5.1 or later to operate the StakMax instrument. 2. Click the StakMax icon located on the menu bar. After a few seconds, the StakMax software interface appears. 3. Click Calibrate. Note: Do not use the purple plate adapter when performing the calibration. Use the purple adapter only when reading a plate in the top read mode Rev B

35 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 4. Follow the detailed on-screen instructions in the calibration wizard to complete the calibration. This process takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. Make sure that you have the two-piece calibration alignment tool (Figure 2-22) and other included parts available before you start the calibration process. Figure 2-22 Calibration tools Rev B 35

36 Installation and Setup of StakMax system 5. Loosen the silver thumbscrew between the arm and the Input stack. See Figure Lift off the cover from the stacker arm and firmly tighten the baseplate screws. See Figure Figure 2-23 Removing silver thumbscrew (top) and cover (bottom) Rev B

37 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 7. After you finish tightening the baseplate screws, replace the cover and tighten the thumbscrew. See Figure 2-24 and Figure Figure 2-24 Securing the baseplate. Figure 2-25 The StakMax instrument secured to reader Rev B 37

38 Installation and Setup of StakMax system Performing a Functional Check Following calibration, perform the following functional check procedure to make sure that the StakMax instrument is operational. Required Equipment 5 empty microplates (located in the accessory kit) To perform a functional check 1. Turn on the StakMax instrument. 2. Open the SoftMax Pro software. Click the StakMax button. 3. Place 5 microplates in the input stack or the magazine. 4. Click the Scripting button. 5. Click Open. 6. Select the Functional Check protocol and click Open. 7. Click the Run button. The first of 5 plates is now loaded into the read drawer. The drawer closes then re-opens. The plate is picked up and placed in the output stack. The process continues for all of the plates. After the plates have been processed, they are moved from the output stack and are re-stacked in the input stack. This repeats 10 times for a total of 50 plate load/unload cycles. If the plates are stacked properly, your StakMax system passed the functional check. 8. Click Done to close the Scripting window. Getting Started This section describes the basic tasks needed to operate the StakMax system Rev B

39 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Opening the Software The StakMax software interface can be accessed only through SoftMax Pro software version 5.1 or later. To open the software 1. Double-click the SoftMax Pro icon located on the desktop. Note: You can also open the software by clicking Start > All Programs > Molecular Devices > SoftMax Pro v5.1 (or later). 2. Click the StakMax icon located on the menu bar. The StakMax software interface appears. Closing the Software To close the StakMax software, click the X located at the top-right corner of the window or the Done button located on the bottom-right corner of the window. Starting a Read Process The following procedure provides a simplified explanation of the Read process. To run a single plate 1. Place the single plate adaptor in the Input Stack position. 2. Open the StakMax software interface. 3. Load a microplate into the Input area. Note: The system does not pick up and feed the purple plate adapter for top read operations. If you have a reader that has a purple plate adapter, you must manually place it to run top read assays. 4. Click Start Read. 5. Type 1 for the number of plates to read. 6. Assign a protocol. 7. Click Read Rev B 39

40 Installation and Setup of StakMax system Note: If you leave a plate in the reader and try to run a new plate, the system will place the plate on top of the existing plate in the carriage. If this occurs, the reader will jam when it is closed. Although this will not damage the reader, it is best to prevent this from happening. To run a SpectraTest reader validation plate, you must manually place it in the read drawer. Do not attempt to load a SpectraTest reader validation plate using the StakMax instrument. Stopping the StakMax Instrument in an Emergency In an emergency, press the Emergency Stop button (yellow button) in the main StakMax window or press the green Power/Reset button that is located on the front-left side of the instrument. Pressing either of these buttons immediately stops the StakMax instrument and the reader. Note: If you use the Power/Reset button to stop the instrument, AutoSave does not occur. If you stop the stacker while it is still in motion and before a read, there is no data to be saved. If you stop the stacker during a read, data is not autosaved, but you can manually save data in the SoftMax Pro software. Setting Preferences You can set preferences in the SoftMax Pro and the StakMax software interface. The SoftMax Pro preferences primarily set how the data is handled and saved (for example, export format and AutoSave), while the StakMax preferences set the robotic functions (for example, barcoding and scripting). To set StakMax Preferences To set preferences in the StakMax software interface, open the StakMax software interface and click Preferences. To set SoftMax Pro Preferences 1. On the main menu, select File > Edit > Preferences. 2. In the Preferences window, select the preferences, and then click OK. See Figure Rev B

41 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Figure 2-26 SoftMax Pro Preferences window. Save Data After Read (AutoSave) Before you can start a read in the StakMax software interface, you must enable and configure AutoSave in the SoftMax Pro software Preferences window. When AutoSave is enabled, the collected data is automatically saved to a user-defined location immediately after each plate read is completed. This greatly reduces the likelihood of lost data, particularly when AutoSave is set to save files to large corporate network volumes that are backed up on a regular basis. Note: Additional information and detailed instructions regarding the AutoSave function can be found in the SoftMax Pro User Guide. If AutoSave is not enabled, you cannot start a read, and the following error message appears Rev B 41

42 Installation and Setup of StakMax system Figure 2-27 AutoSave error message. To activate and configure AutoSave 1. In the SoftMax Pro software, on the main menu, click File > Edit > Preferences. 2. To activate AutoSave, select the Save Data After Read check box. 3. Click Edit to enter a new path for the save location. We highly recommend that you select a save location that is easily accessible. Note: Do not use the default location to save run files. The Edit AutoSave Settings window opens Rev B

43 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 4. In the Location section, click Assign. See Figure Figure 2-28 Editing AutoSave settings Rev B 43

44 Installation and Setup of StakMax system 5. Create a new folder where you want to save the run files (recommended) or select an existing folder. Figure 2-29 shows an example of a new folder named MDC Autosave folder. Figure 2-29 Selecting a folder for the AutoSave location. 6. Click OK Rev B

45 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide The new autosave location appears in the Assigned Folder field. See Figure Figure 2-30 The assigned folder field. Naming Conventions for AutoSave Files All AutoSave files use the naming convention that is specified in the AutoSave settings. You can use the protocol name or assign a name using the Protocol.Date.Time.pda default naming convention. To change the default name, click in the Assign Name field and type a new name. If you select both of the Append Date and Append Time check boxes, the date and time of the run are added to the file name. We highly recommend that you select the Append Date and Append Time check boxes to avoid overwriting previous files Rev B 45

46 Installation and Setup of StakMax system AutoSave File Formats You can save files in the following formats: SoftMax Pro (.pda), XML file (.xml), or tab-delimited text file (.txt). Select the appropriate AutoSave file format from the Format list. Note: If you are saving to a tab-delimited text file, you can select the option to append plates to your file. You can append hundreds of plates to a file, but the time it takes to save the file increases as the file size increases. Installing or Replacing a Barcode Reader If you need to install, move, or replace the instrument barcode reader, follow the instructions below. Required Equipment 3 small pan-head hex screws (included with barcode reader) Barcode reader with cable (visible laser Class II) 2 mm allen wrench for barcode screws (included) 3 mm allen wrench for opening side panel if necessary (included) To install a barcode reader 1. Turn off the power to the StakMax instrument and the reader Rev B

47 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 2. To remove the front cover, pull the cover down. See Figure Figure 2-31 Removing the front cover 3. To remove the left side panel (when looking at the front of the StakMax instrument), remove the Allen screws and pull the cover down. See Figure Figure 2-32 Removing the left side panel. 4. Attach the barcode scanner with the three provided screws Rev B 47

48 Installation and Setup of StakMax system 5. Attach the cable on the reader to the connector protruding from the grey housing. See Figure Figure 2-33 Attaching the cable to the barcode reader. 6. Close the panel, making sure that you do not pinch any wires Rev B

49 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument 3 This chapter describes how to install and set up the StakMax system for the SpectraMax L instrument. For information and procedures on how to install and set up the StakMax system for other SpectraMax instruments or for a VersaMax instrument, see Installation and Setup of StakMax system on page 15. For information and procedures on how to install and set up the StakMax system for the AquaMax 4000 and 2000 instruments, see Installation and Setup of the AquaMax Microplate Washer on page 81. This section contains the following topics: Unpacking the System on page 49. Installing the StakMax Instrument on page 52. Performing a Functional Check on page 70. Getting Started on page 71. Setting Preferences on page 73. Unpacking the System The StakMax instrument is packed in a specially-designed carton. It consists of an inner box, which contains the StakMax system and all of the included parts, and an outer box for protection. The inner box is suspended under compression between a pair of trampoline-like lids (top and bottom) to protect the StakMax instrument from damage. Retain the original carton and the packing materials. If the unit needs to be returned for any reason, including repairs, it must be sent in the original carton with the original packing materials. Note: Before you unpack the system, examine the external packaging for any signs of damage. If the shipping carton has been damaged in transit, it is particularly important that you retain the carton for inspection by the carrier, in case there has also been damage to the instrument Rev B 49

50 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument To unpack the StakMax instrument WARNING! The StakMax instrument weighs approximately 26 pounds (11.8 kg) and should be lifted with care. Take proper precautions to avoid injury. 1. After examining the carton, place it on the floor in an upright position. 2. Open the top of the box and remove the top lid. 3. Remove the inner instrument box from the shipping box and place it on the lab bench. 4. Open the top of the box. Carefully remove the 20-plate magazines (if ordered) and remove them from the packaging. If other magazine sizes were ordered they are shipped in a second box. 5. Remove the accessory kit. Check to make sure that all of the components are present. See Components on page 51, for a complete list of the included components. 6. Carefully remove the StakMax instrument from the box and place it on a flat surface. 7. Gently pull up the foam block at a slight angle and remove it from the input stack. See Figure Rev B

51 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Figure 3-1 Removing foam from input stack. 8. Gently pull the foam block down and to the left and remove it from the stacker arm. See Figure 3-2. Figure 3-2 Removing foam from stacker arm. Components The StakMax instrument package contains the following components Rev B 51

52 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument Accessory kit StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide USB cable Single Plate Adapter Instrument-specific baseplate volt power supply Region-specific power cable for power supply 1 package of 5 Microplates Allen wrench 2 Phillips-head screws Note: 40-plate and 50-plate magazines are shipped in a separate box. Instrument box StakMax instrument Barcode reader(s) (installed on instrument as configured) 20-plate magazines (if purchased) Installing the StakMax Instrument WARNING! Make sure the power cord is not connected to the instrument prior to installation or relocation of the instrument. WARNING! Do not touch or loosen any screws or parts other than those specifically designated in the instructions because this may cause misalignment and this voids the instrument warranty. Before installing the StakMax instrument, make sure that the foam blocks have been removed from the input stack and the arm. To install the StakMax instrument 1. Unpack the StakMax system and make sure that all of the components listed in Components on page 51 are present Rev B

53 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 2. Place the instrument on a hard, level surface. Make sure that the power supply and USB port are accessible. 3. Install Softmax Pro software version 5.3 (or later). 4. Attach the StakMax instrument to the reader. See Connecting the Baseplate on page Attach the power and USB cables. See Connecting the Cables on page If this is the first time connecting your StakMax instrument, you must install the USB driver. See Installing the StakMax Driver on page Start the StakMax software. Connecting the Baseplate You must connect the StakMax system to the SpectraMax L plate reader with the provided baseplate and mounting hardware. Required equipment Baseplate Allen wrench 2 Phillips-head screws Figure 3-3 SpectraMax L accessory kit parts Rev B 53

54 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument To connect the baseplate 1. Place the StakMax instrument and the SpectraMax L plate reader on a hard, level surface (for example, a lab bench). 2. Place the baseplate on the left side of the StakMax instrument. 3. Align the mounting holes of the SpectraMax L baseplate with the two mounting holes in the back of the StakMax L bracket. See Figure 3-4. Figure 3-4 Aligning the SpectraMax L baseplate to the StakMax bracket Rev B

55 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 4. Thread the included Phillips-head screws through the side of the baseplate and into the threads on the StakMax L bracket and then tighten the screws. See Figure 3-5. Figure 3-5 Attaching the SpectraMax L baseplate to the StakMax L bracket Rev B 55

56 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument 5. Lift the right side of the reader and place the feet into the two mounting cups located on the baseplate. Make sure that the plate reader feet are completely seated in the mounting cups. See Figure 3-6. Figure 3-6 Placing the SpectraMax L plate reader onto the baseplate. WARNING! Do not operate the instrument in an environment where potentially damaging liquids or gases are present. WARNING! Do not operate the instrument in a cold room with a temperature below 10 C Rev B

57 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Connecting the Cables You must connect the StakMax instrument to power with the power cable, and to the computer with a USB cable. To connect the cables 1. Connect the instrument to the power supply by plugging the 1/4 inch metal connector into the DC input on the right side of the StakMax instrument. See Figure 3-7. Figure 3-7 Connecting the power cord to the instrument. 2. Connect the power supply and the power cable by inserting one end of the cord into the power supply. See Figure Rev B 57

58 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument Figure 3-8 Connecting the power supply to the cable. 3. Connect the power cable to the wall outlet, surge suppressor, or UPS, and then wait three seconds. Note: Connecting through a surge suppressor or UPS is preferred. 4. Press the Power/Reset button (on the front-left side of the instrument) to initialize the instrument. See Figure 3-9. After a few seconds, the Power/Reset button turns green Rev B

59 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Figure 3-9 Pressing the Power/Reset button Rev B 59

60 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument 5. Insert one end of the USB cable into the StakMax instrument and the other end to the computer. See Figure Figure 3-10 Connecting USB cable. Note: If you are connecting through a USB hub, use a powered USB hub. After you have connected the StakMax instrument, the Found New Hardware Wizard window appears. To install new drivers using the Found New Hardware Wizard, see Installing the StakMax Driver on page Rev B

61 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Installing the StakMax Driver To install the StakMax driver 1. After installing the SoftMax Pro software, turn on the StakMax instrument and connect the USB cable from the instrument to the computer. 2. On the Found New Hardware Wizard screen, select No, not this time and then click Next. See Figure Figure 3-11 The Found New Hardware Wizard welcome screen. 3. Select Install from a list or specific location and then click Next. See Figure Rev B 61

62 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument Figure 3-12 Installing the driver from a specific location. There are two ways to install the proper drivers. The first method is to install them from the SoftMax Pro CD-ROM, see To install from the CD-ROM on page 63. The second method is to install them without the SoftMax Pro CD-ROM, see To install without the CD- ROM on page Rev B

63 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide To install from the CD-ROM 1. In the Found New Hardware Wizard window, select Search for the best driver in these locations. Ensure that the Search removable media box is checked. 2. Select Browse and locate the CD/DVD drive (usually the D: drive). See Figure Figure 3-13 Searching for the best driver from the SoftMax Pro CD Rev B 63

64 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument 3. Open the SoftMax Pro v5.3 (or later) CD, locate and select the StakMax Drivers folder, and then click OK to return to the original window. See Figure Figure 3-14 Selecting the StakMax Drivers folder. 4. Click Next and continue to To finalize the driver installation on page Rev B

65 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide To install without the CD-ROM 1. In the Found New Hardware Wizard window, click Browse and navigate to the C:\Program Files\Molecular Devices\SoftMaxPro v.5.3 (or later) folder. See Figure 3-15 to Figure Figure 3-15 Locating the SoftMax Pro folder Rev B 65

66 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument Figure 3-16 Selecting the C: drive. Figure 3-17 Selecting the Program Files folder Rev B

67 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Figure 3-18 Selecting the Molecular Devices folder. Figure 3-19 Selecting the SoftMax Pro folder Rev B 67

68 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument 2. Click OK to return to the Found New Hardware Wizard window. 3. Continue to To finalize the driver installation on page 68. To finalize the driver installation 1. Click Continue Anyway. See Figure Figure 3-20 Continuing with the hardware installation Rev B

69 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 2. Click Finish to complete the driver installation. See Figure Figure 3-21 Driver installation complete. Starting the Software To start the software 1. Insert the single plate loading tool into the input stack. 2. Open the SoftMax Pro v5.3 (or later) software by double-clicking on the SoftMax Pro icon located on the desktop. Note: You must have SoftMax Pro software version 5.3 or later to operate the StakMax instrument with the SpectraMax L reader. 3. Click the StakMax icon located on the menu bar. After a few seconds, the StakMax software interface appears. The status message indicates when the StakMax control program has successfully connected to the StakMax system. 4. Press the Drawer button on the front of the SpectraMax L reader to eject the plate carriage Rev B 69

70 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument 5. Click Load Plate on the StakMax interface to transfer a plate from the StakMax instrument to the SpectraMax L reader. 6. Press the Drawer button on the front of the SpectraMax L reader to eject the plate carriage. Note: The plate is indexed against the A1 corner when the carriage enters the instrument. The plate location is slightly different after the drawer has been closed and reopened. 7. Click Return Plate on the StakMax interface to return the plate from the SpectraMax L reader to the StakMax system. Performing a Functional Check Perform a functional check to make sure that the StakMax instrument is operational. Required equipment 5 empty microplates (located in the accessory kit) To perform a functional check 1. Turn on the StakMax instrument. 2. Open the SoftMax Pro software and then click the StakMax icon. 3. Place 5 microplates in the input stack or the magazine. 4. Click the Scripting button. 5. Click Open. 6. Highlight the Functional Check protocol and click Open. 7. Click the Run button. The first of 5 plates are loaded into the read drawer. The drawer closes then re-opens. The plate is picked up and placed in the output stack. The process continues for all of the plates. After the plates have been processed, they are moved from the output stack and re-stacked in the input stack. This repeats 10 times for a total of 50 plate load/unload cycles Rev B

71 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide If the plates stacked properly, your StakMax system passed the functional check. 8. Click Done to close the Scripting window. Getting Started This section describes the basic tasks needed to operate the StakMax system. Opening the Software The StakMax software interface can be accessed only through SoftMax Pro software version 5.3 (or later). To open the software 1. Double-click the SoftMax Pro icon that is located on the desktop to open the SoftMax Pro software v5.3 (or later). Note: You can also open the software by clicking Start > All Programs > Molecular Devices > SoftMax Pro v5.3 (or later). Note: You must have SoftMax Pro software v5.3 or later to access the StakMax software interface with the SpectraMax L reader. 2. Click the StakMax icon located on the menu bar. The StakMax software interface appears. Closing the Software To close the StakMax software, click the X located at the top-right corner of the window or the Done button located on the bottom-right corner of the window Rev B 71

72 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument Starting a Read The following procedure provides a simplified explanation of the Read process. For detailed, step-by-step instructions on starting a read, see Starting a Read on page 72. To run a single plate 1. Place the single plate adapter in the Input Stack position. 2. Open the StakMax software interface. 3. Load a microplate into the Input area. 4. Click Start Read. 5. Type 1 for the number of plates to read. 6. Assign a protocol. 7. Click Read. Note: If you leave a plate in the reader and try to run a new plate, the system will place the plate on top of the existing plate in the carriage. If this occurs, the reader will jam when it is closed. Although this will not damage the reader, it is best to prevent this from happening. To run a SpectraTest reader validation plate, you must manually place it in the read drawer. Do not attempt to load a SpectraTest reader validation plate using the StakMax instrument. Stopping the StakMax Instrument in an Emergency To stop the StakMax instrument in an emergency In an emergency, press the Emergency Stop button (yellow button) in the main StakMax window or press the green Power/Reset button that is located on the front-left side of the instrument. Pressing either button immediately stops the StakMax instrument and reader. Note: If you use the Power/Reset button to stop the instrument, AutoSave does not occur. If you stop the stacker when it is still in motion and before a read, there is no data to be saved. If you stop the stacker during a read, the data is not autosaved, but you can manually save the data in the SoftMax Pro software Rev B

73 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Setting Preferences You can set preferences in the SoftMax Pro and the StakMax software interface. The SoftMax Pro software preferences primarily set how the data is handled and saved (for example, export format and AutoSave), while the StakMax software preferences set the robotic functions (for example, barcoding and scripting). To set StakMax preferences To set preferences in the StakMax software interface, open the StakMax software interface and click Preferences. To set SoftMax Pro preferences 1. On the main menu, select File > Edit > Preferences Rev B 73

74 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument 2. In the Preferences window, select the preferences, and then click OK. See Figure Figure 3-22 The SoftMax Pro software Preferences window. Save Data After Read (AutoSave) Before you can start a reading in the StakMax software interface, you must enable and configure AutoSave in the SoftMax Pro software Preferences window. When AutoSave is enabled, the collected data is automatically saved to a user-defined location immediately after each plate read is completed. This greatly reduces the likelihood of lost data, particularly when AutoSave is set to save files to large, corporate network volumes that are backed up on a regular basis. Note: Additional information and detailed instructions regarding the AutoSave function can be found in the SoftMax Pro User Guide Rev B

75 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide If AutoSave is not enabled, you cannot start a read and the following error message appears. See Figure Figure 3-23 Autosave error message. To activate and configure AutoSave 1. In the SoftMax Pro software, select File > Edit > Preferences. 2. To activate AutoSave, select Save Data After Read. 3. Click Edit to enter a new path for the save location. We highly recommend that you select a save location that is easily accessible. Note: Do not use the default location to save run files. The Edit AutoSave Settings window opens Rev B 75

76 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument 4. In the Location field, click Assign. See Figure Figure 3-24 Editing the AutoSave settings Rev B

77 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 5. Create a new folder to save the run files (recommended) or select an existing folder. Figure 3-25 shows an example of a new folder named MDC Autosave folder. Figure 3-25 Selecting a folder for the AutoSave location. 6. Click OK Rev B 77

78 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument The new autosave location displays in the Assigned Folder field. See Figure Figure 3-26 The assigned folder field. Naming Conventions for AutoSave Files All AutoSave files use the same naming convention as specified in the AutoSave settings. You can use the protocol name or assign a name. The default naming convention is Protocol.Date.Time.pda. To change the default name, click in the Assigned Name field and type a new name. If you select both of the Append Date and Append Time check boxes, the date and time of the run are added to the file name. We highly recommend that you use the Append Date and Append Time settings to avoid overwriting previous files. AutoSave File Formats You can save files in the following formats: SoftMax Pro (.pda), XML file (.xml), or a tab-delimited text file (.txt). Select the appropriate file format from the Format list Rev B

79 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Note: If you are saving to a tab-delimited text file, you can select an option to append a plate to your file. You can append hundreds of plates to a file, but the time it takes to save the file increases as the file size increases Rev B 79

80 Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument Rev B

81 Installation and Setup of the AquaMax Microplate Washer 4 This chapter describes how to install and set up the StakMax system for the AquaMax 4000 and 2000 washers. For information and procedures on how to install and set up the StakMax system for the SpectraMax Absorbance, Fluorescence, and Multimode microplate readers, see Installation and Setup of StakMax system on page 15. For information and procedures on how to install and set up the StakMax system for the SpectraMax L instrument, see Installation and Setup of SpectraMax L instrument on page 49. This section contains the following topics: Unpacking the System on page 81. Installing the StakMax Instrument on page 84. Unpacking the System The StakMax instrument is packed in a specially designed carton. It consists of an inner box that contains the StakMax system and all of the included parts, and an outer box for protection. The inner box is suspended under compression between a pair of trampoline-like lids (top and bottom) to protect the StakMax system from damage. Retain the original carton and the packing materials. If the unit needs to be returned for any reason, including repairs, it must be sent in the original carton with the original packing materials. Note: Before you unpack the system, examine the external packaging for any signs of damage. If the shipping carton has been damaged in transit, it is particularly important that it is retained for inspection by the carrier in case there has also been damage to the instrument Rev B 81

82 Installation and Setup of the AquaMax Microplate Washer Unpacking the StakMax Instrument WARNING! The StakMax instrument weighs approximately 26 pounds (11.8 kg) and should be lifted with care. Take proper precautions to avoid injury. To unpack the StakMax instrument 1. After examining the carton, place it on the floor in an upright position. 2. Open the top of the box and remove the top lid. 3. Remove the inner instrument box from the shipping box and place it on the lab bench. 4. Open the top of the box. Carefully remove the 20-plate magazines (if ordered) and remove them from the packaging. If other magazine sizes were ordered, they are shipped in a second box. 5. Remove the accessory kit and check to make sure that all of the components are present. Refer to Components on page 83, for a complete list of the included components. 6. Carefully remove the StakMax instrument from the box and place it on a flat surface. 7. Remove the foam block from the input stack by gently pulling it up at a slight angle. See Figure Rev B

83 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Figure 4-1 Removing foam from input stack. 8. Remove the foam block from the stacker arm by gently pulling it down and to the left. See Figure 4-2. Figure 4-2 Removing foam from stacker arm. Components The StakMax instrument package contains the following components Rev B 83

84 Installation and Setup of the AquaMax Microplate Washer Accessory kit StakMax Microplate Handling System User Guide Serial cable Single Plate Adapter Instrument-specific baseplate with captive Allen screws volt power supply Region-specific power cable for power supply Allen wrench 1 package of 5 Microplates Note: 40-plate and 50-plate magazines are shipped in a separate box. Instrument box StakMax instrument 20-plate magazines (if purchased) Installing the StakMax Instrument WARNING! Make sure the power cord is not connected to the instrument prior to installation or relocation of the instrument. WARNING! Do not touch or loosen any screws or parts other than those specifically designated in the instructions because this can cause misalignment and this can void the instrument warranty. Before installing the StakMax instrument, make sure the foam blocks have been removed from the input stack and the arm. 1. Unpack the StakMax system and make sure that all of the components listed in Components on page 83 are present. 2. Place the instrument on a hard, level surface. Make sure that the power supply and round serial port are accessible Rev B

85 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 3. Align the AquaMax baseplate with the L brackets on the StakMax instrument. Make sure that This side up is visible on the baseplate. See Figure 4-3. Figure 4-3 Aligning AquaMax baseplate to StakMax bracket. 4. Use the two captive screws that correspond to the two holes on the L bracket to attach the AquaMax baseplate to the L brackets on the StakMax instrument. Loosely attach until both screws are connected, then tighten the screws. See Figure 4-4. Figure 4-4 Using captive screws to attach the baseplate. 5. Place the washer positioning pins, on the bottom of the washer, into the corresponding holes in the baseplate. When the washer is Rev B 85

86 Installation and Setup of the AquaMax Microplate Washer positioned correctly over the baseplate, you can hear and feel the pins drop in. See Figure 4-5. Figure 4-5 Placing washer positioning pins into the baseplate. 6. Confirm that the StakMax instrument is set up correctly. See Figure 4-6. Figure 4-6 Confirming correct physical set-up. 7. Locate the two communication ports on the left side of the back panel of the AquaMax washer. Connect the StakMax serial cable Rev B

87 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide (included) to the StakMax serial port (standard serial DB9 connector) on the back panel. See Figure 4-7. Figure 4-7 Connecting StakMax serial cable to AquaMax washer. Note: The AquaMax instrument controls the StakMax operation using the serial cable. 8. Connect the other end of the cable to the round Din8 serial connector on the StakMax instrument. See Figure Rev B 87

88 Installation and Setup of the AquaMax Microplate Washer Figure 4-8 Connecting serial cable to the StakMax instrument. 9. Plug the power connector into the StakMax instrument. See Figure 4-9. Figure 4-9 Connecting power to the StakMax instrument. 10. To reset and turn on the StakMax system, press the green button on the front, left side of the StakMax instrument. 11. To turn on the AquaMax washer, use the switch next to the power inlet on the back panel of the AquaMax instrument. 12. For further information on setting up the StakMax system for use with the AquaMax washer, see the AquaMax User Guide Rev B

89 Operation 5 This chapter describes the operation of the StakMax instrument and software for integration with SpectraMax and VersaMax microplate readers. For operation of the StakMax instrument integrated with AquaMax microplate washers, see the AquaMax User Guide. This section contains the following topics: Starting the StakMax System on page 89. Loading the StakMax Instrument on page 90. The StakMax Software Interface on page 104. Stacker Settings on page 112. Calibration on page 114. Status Window on page 115. Help on page 115. Starting the StakMax System Turning the StakMax Instrument On and Off The power button is located on the lower-front side of the StakMax instrument. The Power/Reset button operates as a Power On button, Emergency Interrupt, and Reset button. Figure 5-1 The StakMax Power/Reset button Rev B 89

90 Operation To turn the StakMax instrument on To turn the StakMax instrument on, plug in the power cord and press the green button. To turn the StakMax instrument off To turn the StakMax instrument off, unplug the power cord. Opening the StakMax Software Window To open the StakMax Software window 1. Double-click the SoftMax Pro v5.1 (or later) icon that is located on the desktop. Note: You can also click Start > Programs > Molecular Devices > SoftMax Pro v5.1 > SoftMax Pro to start the software. The SoftMax Pro software opens. 2. On the menu bar, click the StakMax icon. The StakMax software interface opens. Loading the StakMax Instrument There are several ways to load microplates into the instrument: load the magazine from the top, load the magazine from the bottom, or load using continual feed. An additional method requires an optional Magazine Loading and Unloading tool. This section describes each method in detail. Note: Plates should always be loaded with well A1 in the top left when looking at the front of the stacker. Note: Make sure you avoid any substance that can adhere plates together in the stacker. For example, build up of proteins on the plate top or adhesive from plate seals are common substances that can cause plates to adhere together Rev B

91 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide To load a magazine from the top Load plates into the top of the magazine as illustrated in Figure 5-2. Then, place the magazine in the stacker. See Figure 5-6. Figure 5-2 Loading the StakMax magazine from the top. To load a magazine from the bottom 1. Stack all of the microplates on the bench Rev B 91

92 Operation 2. Align the magazine over the stacked plates. See Figure 5-3. Figure 5-3 Aligning magazine over stacked plates. 3. Carefully lower the magazine over the stacked plates. See Figure 5-4. Figure 5-4 Loading the magazine from the bottom Rev B

93 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 4. The magazine picks up all of the plates except the bottom plate. See Figure 5-5. Figure 5-5 Magazine does not pick up last plate when loaded from the bottom. Note: Always stack one extra plate if you are loading the magazine from the bottom because the bottom plate is not picked up Rev B 93

94 Operation 5. Place the magazine in the stacker. See Figure 5-6. Figure 5-6 Magazines in the StakMax plate handler. Continual Feed Note: Use the single plate loading tool if you are not using a magazine to stack the microplates. You can use the StakMax instrument to manually feed up to 50 plates into the input or output stack. If you choose to read plates until empty, you can continuously feed plates into the StakMax instrument. Note: Never place more than 50 plates in the input stack or allow more than 50 plates to accumulate in the output stack Rev B

95 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Magazine Loading and Unloading Tool The optional StakMax Magazine Loading and Unloading Tool assists in loading and unloading a group of microplates to and from a StakMax magazine. Use the Magazine Loading and Unloading tool if you: want to load or unload a group of plates, without lifting plates from the top of the magazine. do not want to leave the last plate on the bench. The tool assembly consists of two parts: the Plate Loading Base, labeled Load Plates the Unload Plate Ring, labeled Unload Plates The Unload Plate Ring fits in the recessed channel of the Plate Loading Base for unloading plates and for storage of the tool. Figure 5-7 Plate Loading Base and Unload Plate Ring Rev B 95

96 Operation To load plates into a StakMax magazine 1. Remove the Unload Plate Ring from the Plate Loading Base and set it aside. The Unload Plate Ring is not used for loading plates. 2. Place the stack of plates that you want to load onto the Plate Loading Base. 3. Make sure the stack of plates is stable and seated securely on the central portion of the base. 4. Carefully lower the empty magazine over the top of the stack of plates on the Plate Loading Base. Figure 5-8 Empty magazine being lowered over plate stack Rev B

97 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 5. Gently press down on the top of the magazine until the black metal base is fully seated in the recessed channel of the Plate Loading Base. When the empty magazine is fully seated, the four (4) hooks at the four (4) corners at the bottom of the magazine are released to stop the plates from falling off the magazine. 6. Using the magazine handle, slowly lift the loaded magazine straight up and off the Plate Loading Base, and relocate the magazine and plate stack to an appropriate location. Figure 5-9 Loaded magazine removed from Plate Loading Base 7. To load another magazine with plates, repeat Step 2 through Step Rev B 97

98 Operation 8. To store the tool, replace the Unload Plate Ring in the recessed channel of the Plate Loading Base. The Magazine Loading and Unloading Tool is ready to unload plates. To unload plates from a StakMax magazine 1. Place the Unload Plate Ring onto the Plate Loading Base and make sure it is securely seated in the base. Figure 5-10 Unload Plate Ring seated in Plate Loading Base 2. Using the magazine handle, pick up the loaded magazine Rev B

99 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 3. Carefully lower the loaded magazine over the top of the tool, aligning the corners of the black aluminium magazine base into the blue raised corners of the Unload Plate Ring. Figure 5-11 Loaded magazine positioned over tool Rev B 99

100 Operation 4. Place the loaded magazine on top of the tool, making sure the two spring clips on the Unload Plate Ring are securely clipped on the crossing bars on each side of the magazine. When the magazine is securely seated on the Unload Plate Ring, the four (4) hooks at the four (4) corners on the bottom of the magazine are retracted to allow the plates to slide out from the bottom of the magazine. Figure 5-12 Loaded magazine seated on tool Rev B

101 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 5. Carefully lift up the empty magazine and the Unload Plate Ring until you clear the plate stack. CAUTION! When removing the empty magazine and the Unload Plate Ring, do not touch the unsupported stack of plates. Figure 5-13 Empty magazine and ring being removed from plate stack Rev B 101

102 Operation 6. Place the empty magazine and the Unload Plate Ring in a stable location. Figure 5-14 Empty magazine and ring next to plates Rev B

103 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 7. Use your thumbs to unclip the Unload Plate Ring from the magazine by pushing the two spring clips on the Unload Plate Ring away from the crossing bars on the sides of the magazine. Figure 5-15 Empty magazine unclipped from ring, next to plates 8. Remove the Unload Plate Ring from the magazine. To unload another magazine, repeat Step 1 through Step Rev B 103

104 Operation Single Plate Loading Tool Place the single plate loading tool into the input area of the stacker. Load a single plate in the opening. See Figure A B Figure 5-16 (A) Single plate loading tool, (B) inserting the tool, (C) loading a plate. The StakMax Software Interface C This section describes the main elements of the StakMax software interface. You can use the StakMax software to manually control basic stacker functions, for example, starting and stopping plate reads, moving plates from the reader to the input or output stacks, and moving plates within the stacker. You can use more advanced functions, such as scripting, if you want to create and run your own scripts with automation instead of running plates from the main window. Use the main StakMax software interface (see Figure 5-17) to control the StakMax instrument. Each of the available functions is described in this section Rev B

105 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Note: When processing plates, the StakMax software interface is operating the StakMax instrument as well as remote-controlling the SoftMax Pro software. We recommend that you do not perform data analysis or other operations in SoftMax Pro software until the process is complete. As with any robotic plate handling system, it is best to perform data analysis on a separate computer while running the robot. Figure 5-17 The StakMax software interface. Start Read The Start Read button starts a plate read. This button is green when the software and instrument are ready to start a reading. See Figure Figure 5-18 Start Read button in green Rev B 105

106 Operation Note: You must have the AutoSave feature turned ON to start a reading with the Start Read button. For instructions on how to turn on the AutoSave feature, see Save Data After Read (AutoSave) on page 41. After you click Start Read, the Read Plate window appears. See Figure Figure 5-19 The Read Plate window. The Read Plate window is divided into the following sections: Number of Plates: Type a specific number of plates or select All of Input Stack. If you do not want to read all of the plates in the input stack, type a specific number of plates. For example, if there are 50 plates in the input stack and you want to read only 10 plates, type 10 in the Specify field. To read all of the plates in the input stack, select All of Input Stack. Action when plate section(s) filled: Select an action to take if there are more plates to read than sections in the assigned protocol. The software will either open new copies of the protocol or will append plate sections to the original protocol until all of the plates have been read Rev B

107 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide If you want to save the data from each plate or set of plates to a different data file, select Open a New Protocol. For example, if you have 50 sample plates and the assigned protocol has one Plate section, the software opens 49 copies of the protocol and saves the data to 50 data files. Alternatively, if you have 4 sets of 5 plates (1 control plate and 4 sample plates) and the assigned protocol has 5 plate sections, the software opens 4 instances of the protocol for each set of plates and saves the data to 4 data files. This option allows you to easily automate the processing of plate sets without the need to develop a script. If you want to save the data from all of the plates to the same data file, select Append a Plate Section. For example, if you have 50 sample plates and the assigned protocol has one Plate section, the software adds 49 Plate sections to the original protocol and the data from all of the plates is saved in a single data file. Source Protocol: Click Assign to select a protocol. The Choose a Protocol for reading window appears. See Figure Figure 5-20 The Choose a Protocol for reading window. Select a protocol and then click Open Rev B 107

108 Operation Note: If you do not see the protocol you want in this list, refer to the SoftMax Pro User Guide for information on protocol authoring. The assigned protocol displays in the Source Protocol field. Destination: This field should display The results will be saved using Autosave because AutoSave is required to start a plate read from the Read Plate window. Read: Click to start the reading. Cancel: Click to cancel the action and return to the main StakMax window. To start a reading 1. Turn on the StakMax system and reader instruments. See Turning the StakMax Instrument On and Off on page Open the StakMax software interface. See Opening the StakMax Software Window on page Load the plates into the StakMax magazine. See Loading the StakMax Instrument on page Click Start Read. The Read Plate window opens. 5. Specify the number of plates to read or indicate that you want to read all of the plates in the input stack. 6. Select one of the following actions to take when the Plate section(s) are filled: Select Open a New Protocol to save the data to a different file OR Select Append a Plate Section to save the data from all of the plates to the same file. 7. Click Assign to assign a protocol. 8. Select a protocol from the list and click Open. Note: If you do not see the desired protocol in this list, refer to the SoftMax Pro User Guide for information on protocol authoring Rev B

109 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 9. Click Read. After the reading starts, the status is displayed in the main StakMax window next to Status. You can also click the Status Window button to view more details about the reading. Note: If you leave a plate in the reader and try to run a new plate, the system detects that a plate is present and moves the new plate back to the input stack. Use the Return Plate command to move the previous plate to the output stack and then restart your run. Stop Read To stop a reading Pressing the Stop Read button manually stops a plate reading. This button turns bright red after a read starts. Pressing the Stop Read button stops and resets the stacker and the instrument. If there is a plate in the drawer, it is returned to the output stack.the Status field displays Read plate session stopped after the reading has stopped. Table 5-1 Stop read status table Stop Read Before the read has started and while stacker is in motion During a read (read is interrupted) After the read has finished AutoSave turned on AutoSave turned off Data Not Saved. Status Data Not AutoSaved. Manual save is possible. Data Not AutoSaved. Manual save is possible. Data Saved. Data Not Saved. Note: The amount of data that is saved depends on when the reading is stopped. If the reading is stopped at the end of the read and the AutoSave feature is turned on, all of the data is saved. If the read is stopped while the stacker is still in motion and before the read has started, the data is not saved Rev B 109

110 Operation Emergency Stop The Emergency Stop button immediately shuts down the entire system, including the StakMax system and the reader. After you click the Emergency Stop button, clear any object that is in the way, remove any plates that are in the drawer, and then click the Reset button in the main StakMax window. Load Plate The Load Plate button manually moves one plate from the input stack to the reader. Instead of running a complete calibration, you can use this command to perform a quick check to make sure that the plate is aligned and moving properly between the input stack and the reader. Return Plate The Return Plate button manually moves one plate from the reader to the output stack. You can use this command to clear a plate that was left in the reader or to help determine if a component is out of sync. Restack The Restack button moves plates from the output stack to the input stack. Specify the number of plates to restack. To move all of the plates, leave the Number of Plates field blank or type 0 (zero). See Figure Figure 5-21 The Restack Plates window Rev B

111 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Demo The Demo button continuously moves plates to the instrument from the stacker and back, switching the plate source between the input and output stacks as they fill and empty. Demo mode is primarily used to demonstrate the plate movement and is generally not used under normal operation. To move a specific number of plates to the output stack, type a number in the Number of Plates field. To move all of the plates, leave the Number of Plates field blank or type 0 (zero). If you need to interrupt the movement, press the Emergency Stop button and then, a few seconds later, press the Reset button. Figure 5-22 The Cycle Plates window. Scripting (optional) The Scripting button opens the scripting window, which allows you to create and edit scripts to run the stacker. A script is a series of commands that control and automate runs. For detailed information about creating and editing scripts see Scripting on page 117. Note: Scripting is an optional feature and is not required to perform tasks, for example, single plate reads or reading stacks of plates with basic SoftMax Pro protocols Rev B 111

112 Operation Reset The Reset button resets the stacker to the initial startup state. In most cases, the software automatically resets the system if an error occurs. Therefore, the Power/Reset button should be used only in rare cases when the stacker does not reset itself. Note: In case of emergency, you can press the Power/Reset button on the front of the StakMax instrument to reset the entire system. Stacker Settings The Settings button is located on the bottom-left corner of the main StakMax interface. See Figure Use the Settings window to configure script edit prompting, set the date and time, and set barcoding preferences. See Figure Click the StakMax Settings button. Figure 5-23 The StakMax software interface Rev B

113 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Figure 5-24 The StakMax Settings window. Barcoding Select the Use Barcode check box (see Figure 5-24) in the StakMax Settings window to enable barcode reading. Select Rename to overwrite the Plate section name with the barcode or select Append to add the barcode to the Plate section name. The following barcoding libraries are supported: Interleaved 2 of 5, Code 128, EAN 128, Code 39, Code 93, and CODABAR. Note: The barcoding field displays information only if your instrument is configured with a barcode reader. Barcode readers are usually installed and configured at the factory at the time of purchase; however, it is possible to add a barcode reader at a later time by contacting your local representative. Note: When using Interleaved 2 or 5, the barcode needs to be between 6 and 48 characters. Allow Edit Prompting If the Allow Edit Prompting feature is turned on, the software displays a warning message each time you click Remove or Remove All in the script editor. If this feature is turned off, you do not receive any warnings when you delete a script command in the script editor Rev B 113

114 Operation Note: The Allow Edit Prompting feature is only applicable if you are using the Scripting feature. Append Date/Time Type the date and time in this field if you want file names to contain the date and time. If this feature is turned on, the software adds the date and time to all saved files. For example, a script command such as Save Document As: c:\user.pda would be saved as user PM.pda. We recommend that you use this feature to help with record keeping and backups, as well as to reduce the risk of overwriting previous files. For example, if the Save Document As command is included in a Repeat block, each time the Save Document As command runs, a new file is generated, instead of overwriting the previous file. Note: If the Append Date/Time setting is turned off, the software adds a 1, 2, etc. at the end of the file name to avoid overwriting previous files. Calibration You must calibrate the instrument before using it for the first time. The Calibrate button opens the calibration wizard. The calibration wizard provides detailed step-by-step instructions to calibrate the stacker. Perform calibration immediately after you connect the SpectraMax reader to the StakMax system. Note: The calibration process takes approximately 15 minutes to complete Rev B

115 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Status Window The Status window displays details about the current run, including low level commands and error messages. For a list and description of error messages, see Table 8-1 on page 139. To print the contents of the Status window, select the Print button located on the bottom-left side of the window. To save information that is recorded in the Status window, select the text, copy (Ctrl+C) the text, and paste it (Ctrl+V) into Microsoft Word or a text editor such as NotePad or WordPad. Help The Help button opens the StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Rev B 115

116 Operation Rev B

117 Scripting 6 Scripting is an optional tool that can be used to automate a series of commands that control runs. There are two ways to create a script. You can edit and use one of the default scripts as a template or you can start with a blank document and create a new script Rev B 117

118 ScriptingScript Editor Script Editor To open the script editor Click the Scripting button that is located in the middle section of the StakMax software interface. See Figure 6-1. Figure 6-1 The Scripting window Rev B

119 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide The script editor is divided into four main sections: commands (left column), command editor (top middle), command script viewing area (middle), and the Check Syntax, Print, Remove, and Save functions (bottom middle). See Figure 6-2. The commands are grouped into four different categories starting with the most basic StakMax commands. See the following section for a definition of each command. Figure 6-2 A new script editor document Rev B 119

120 ScriptingScript Editor Command Definitions All of the available commands are listed in the left column. These include StakMax commands, SoftMax Pro commands, Advanced SoftMax Pro commands, and Miscellaneous (Misc) scripting commands. StakMax Commands Reset: resets the stacker to the initial startup state/position. Home: returns all axes of the stacker to their Home positions. Load Plate: moves one plate from the input stack to the reader. Return Plate: moves one plate from the reader to the output stack. Restack: moves all plates from the output stack to the input stack. Cycle: moves all plates from the input stack to the output stack. Record Barcode: sets the current barcode (a variable in the scripting system) to that of the plate most recently scanned by the barcode reader. SoftMax Pro Commands Note: See the SoftMax Pro User Guide for a detailed description of SoftMax Pro commands. New Document: creates a new SoftMax Pro document or opens an existing protocol. Close Document: closes the current SoftMax Pro document. Open Protocol: opens an existing protocol. You must specify the correct path for the protocol. Open Document: opens an existing SoftMax Pro document. You must specify the correct path for the document. Save Document As: saves the current document as the name you type in the command editor field. You must type a the complete path and file name. Close All Documents: closes all SoftMax Pro documents Rev B

121 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Start Read: starts an instrument reading. Stop Read: stops an instrument reading. Select Section: selects a section by name. Select Section Num: selects a section by number. Name Current Section: names the section that is currently selected. SoftMax Pro Version: displays the version of SoftMax Pro software. Append Section Name: adds a specific string of text to the section name. You must type the text in the command edit field. Select Next Plate Section: selects the next available Plate section. Quit SoftMax Pro: closes the SoftMax Pro software application. Save Document As with Barcode: appends the current barcode to the data file name. Name Current Section with Barcode: names the section that is currently selected and adds the current barcode value to the end of the section. Append Section Name with Barcode: appends the current barcode to the selected section name Rev B 121

122 ScriptingScript Editor Advanced Commands Click the right-facing arrow to access the list of advanced commands. See Figure 6-3. Figure 6-3 List of Advanced commands. Open Drawer: opens the instrument plate drawer. Close Drawer: closes the instrument plate drawer. Set Temperature: sets the instrument s incubator temperature. Shake Plate: shakes the plate inside the reader. New Plate Section: creates a new Plate section. New Notes Section: creates a new Notes section. Import Plate Template: imports a plate template to the current plate. Export Section: exports data from the current section. Set Protocol Folder: sets the current protocol folder. Log On: logs on a specific user. Log Off: logs off a specific user. Set User Name: sets the user name for a protected protocol Rev B

123 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Misc Commands Comment: adds comments or notes to the current script. Begin Repeat: signals to repeat a set of commands. End Repeat: signals to end the repeat of a set of commands. Wait: waits a specified number of seconds until proceeding to the next action. Creating a New Script from a Template The easiest way to create a script for the first time is to create a script from an existing template. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with all of the script commands before you start to create a new script. To create a new script from a template 1. Click the Scripting button on the StakMax software interface to open the main Scripting window. See Figure 6-4. Figure 6-4 The Scripting window. 2. Click Open. 3. Select one of the default scripts to use as a template and click Open. The example described below uses the Read_One_Plate script. See Figure Rev B 123

124 ScriptingScript Editor Figure 6-5 Verifying the file path and file name. 4. Verify that the File Path and File Name are correct. 5. Click Edit Rev B

125 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide The command script displays in the middle section of the screen. See Figure 6-6. Figure 6-6 The Script editor screen. Adding Commands To add a command to a script 1. Select the command above where you want to insert the new command. See Figure Select a command from the left column. The command name appears in the Command Edit field. See Figure Rev B 125

126 ScriptingScript Editor 2. Select the command. 3. The command name appears in the Command Edit field. 4. Click Add. 1. New command is inserted below selected command. Figure 6-7 Adding a new command to a script. 3. Click Add Rev B

127 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide The new command is inserted after the selected command. In the example script, notice that the Record Barcode command was inserted after the Select Next Plate Section command. See Figure 6-8. Figure 6-8 Command script after a new command is inserted. 4. Repeat Step 1 through Step 3 until all new commands have been added. 5. If you do not want to make any further changes to the command script, go to Saving Scripts on page 134. OR If you want to remove or change the order of the commands, go to Removing Commands on page 128 or Changing the Order of Commands on page Rev B 127

128 ScriptingScript Editor Removing Commands To remove a command 1. Select the command name in the Command Script section of the screen. See Figure 6-9. Figure 6-9 Selecting a command to remove. 2. Click Remove. Note: Click the Remove All button only if you want to remove the entire command script Rev B

129 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide 3. If you have the Allow Edit Prompting feature turned on, click OK to verify that you want to remove the command. OR Click Cancel to interrupt and stop the remove command process. Figure 6-10 The Edit prompting dialog box Rev B 129

130 ScriptingScript Editor In Figure 6-11, the Record Barcode command was removed from the script. Figure 6-11 Command script after selected command was removed. 4. Repeat Step 1 through Step 3 until all intended commands have been removed. 5. If you do not want to make any further changes to the command script, go to Saving Scripts on page 134. OR If you want to change the order of the commands, go to Changing the Order of Commands on page Rev B

131 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Changing the Order of Commands To change the order of a command 1. Select the command that you want to move and drag it to the new position in the command script. When you start to drag the command, a horizontal bar appears to help guide you. See Figure Figure 6-12 Selecting a command to move Rev B 131

132 ScriptingScript Editor 2. Verify that the command was moved to the new position in the script. See Figure Figure 6-13 Command script after a command is moved. 3. Repeat Step 1 and Step 2, as necessary. 4. When you have finished making changes, go to Saving Scripts on page Rev B

133 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Checking the Syntax The Check Syntax button runs a script and looks for invalid commands. An invalid command is defined as having an unknown or missing required parameter. If a command is created using the Add button, it is guaranteed to be valid. However, if a user manually edits the command, this could create a syntax error and make the command invalid. If an invalid command is found, the checking stops and a warning dialog box appears. After the dialog box is closed, the invalid line is selected. For example, if the New Document command in the script (Figure 6-13) is changed to New Document, checking the syntax results in the following error message. See Figure Figure 6-14 Check Syntax error message. Note: Syntax checking does not detect stacker or reader operations that are illogical when taken as a whole sequence; only individual commands that cannot be interpreted are flagged Rev B 133

134 ScriptingScript Editor Saving Scripts To save a script 1. Click Save As. Note: Always use Save As when you are saving a new script that was created from a template to avoid overwriting the template script. 2. In the File name field, type a unique file name. See Figure Note: The StakMax software defaults to the StakMax Scripts folder to save new scripts. To change the destination folder, click on the downward facing arrow next to the Save In field. Figure 6-15 Saving a new script. 3. Click Save Rev B

135 StakMax Plate Handling System User Guide Printing Scripts To print a script 1. At the bottom of the script window, click Print. 2. Select the appropriate printer from the list. 3. Click OK. Using Repeats Use the Begin/End Repeat commands to repeatedly execute a set of commands. Specify the number of required repetitions when you add the Begin Repeat command. The block of commands between the Begin Repeat command and the End Repeat command runs the specified number of times. The example in Figure 6-16 shows how to set up a repeat for running three plates. Repeated commands. Signals the start of the repeated commands and is set to repeat 3 times. Signals the end of the repeated commands. Figure 6-16 Example command script with a repeat Rev B 135