FLUOstar / POLARstar / LUMIstar OPTIMA Operating Manual BMG LABTECH
20/23 0413B0001I 2007-11-19
4.5 Spacers
The FLUOstar, POLARstar and LUMIstar OPTIMA are designed for most plate formats. The height of some
microplates exceeds the space allowed under the optics. The minimum space between the optics and
microplate should be 1.5 mm. With 6, 24, 48-well plate formats, it will be necessary to raise the optics using
the spacers provided in the service box.
The spacers are metal rectangular pieces with a hole in the center. Each spacer is 2 mm in height. They fit
between the measurement head and the optics. The number of spacers used depends on how high the
optics needs to be elevated.
Determination of the number of spacers:
If the height of the microplate exceeds the height of the left border of the plate carrier, (see figure 31)
spacers needs to be installed under the measurement head (see figure 32). There should be enough
spacers so that the height of the left side of the plate carrier is slightly higher than the microplate.
Figure 31: Front view of the plate carrier
Installation of spacers:
If you install spacers, then first remove the injection needles (if
any) from the optics and then remove the optics.
Install the appropriate number of spacers, using the positioning
pins as a guide.
Figure 32: Example of spacers between
measurement head and bottom of reagent box
As a cross check (to ensure that the microplate can pass under the optics), push the plate carrier manually
into the instrument and slowly move it towards the optics. If there is approximately 1.5 to 2 mm of space
between the optics and microplate, then enough spacers were installed.
3 spacers are needed in this
example to make the height of the
side of the plate carrier higher than
the microplate
Microplate (e.g. 24 well
plate) in the plate carrier
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