Hamilton Microlab STAR - Page 24

Microlab
®
STAR User Manual
Page 24 of 225 610766/02
The instrument’s internal coordinate system is shown in the figure, located at its origin.
The Microlab STAR is equipped with a pipetting arm typically containing 8 pipetting channels
which work independently. The pipetting arm can move in an X direction, whereas each
pipetting channel can move relatively independently both in a Y and a Z direction. The
Microlab STAR supports pipetting with disposable tips or with needles.
The pipetting channels have a set “travelling height” of 245 mm above the origin, or 145 mm
between the tip of the disposable tip and the deck of the instrument. That means that when
a channel is to move from one location on the deck to another, it automatically does so at
that particular height. This is a safety precaution, so that channels will not collide with any
items that may be on the deck.
The instrument is equipped with a front shield and a hinged transparent window made of
plexiglass. This window is equipped with a magnetic switch and it is locked during a run.
$77(17,21
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Options are defined as components or configurations that are part of the instrument initially
provided to the customer as specified by that customer. Options cannot be added later,
whereas accessories can (see Section 3.3 “Accessories” below). The instrument’s
configuration is set within the configuration editor of the User Software.
 RU3LSHWWLQJ&KDQQHOV
The Microlab STAR comes with 4, 8, 12, or 16 pipetting channels working in parallel for
simultaneous transfer of liquids.
Instruments with 4,8, or 16 channels are best operated with carriers, holding microplates and
tip racks in landscape orientation (e.g. PLT-CAR-L5MD), whereas carriers with portrait
orientation for microplates and tips (e.g. PLT-CAR-P3MD) are best suited for the 12-channel
Microlab STAR. In addition, increasing the number of channels to 12 or 16 reduces the
“random access space” of the Microlab STAR, i.e., the space that can be reached with all
pipetting channels. This is shown in the following table:
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PLQ
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Rel. to Instr. Coordinate System
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77.5 77.5 + 465

113.5 113.5 + 393
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149.5 149.5 + 321
The random access range of the different numbers of channels is indicated by brackets at
the left side of the deck layout display in the User Software (see chapter 6 for an account of
deck layouts).