RWD MP-500 - User Manual

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Overview

Function Description
Important Technical Specifications
Usage Features
Maintenance Features

The RWD MP-500 Micropipette Puller is a laboratory instrument designed for creating glass microelectrodes with symmetrical tips. It achieves this by softening a single capillary glass with high-temperature heating and then pulling it into two microelectrodes. The device is primarily used in universities, research institutions, hospitals, and assisted reproductive centers for applications such as patch clamp experiments and microinjection operations. It also finds use in industrial applications requiring micro-control, such as preparing liquid flow pipelines in microfluidic chip technology, nozzles in printed circuit and 3D printing, operating needles in cell systems, and particle capture needles in material science.

Function Description:

The MP-500 Micropipette Puller integrates a heating assembly, a pulley assembly, and an air cooling system. It allows users to precisely control the pulling process to produce microelectrodes tailored to specific experimental needs. The device features a capacitive color touch screen for intuitive operation and provides reference pull protocols that can be modified. A key function is the one-button glass softening point test, displayed directly on the main interface for user convenience. The integrated plug-in humidity control chamber ensures dry air around the filament and capillary glass during pulling, preventing adverse effects of humidity on the results. The device also includes safety features such as a low light transmittance cover to isolate hazardous factors like heat, dazzling light, and rapid clamping arm movement. It automatically shuts off power if the heating function is abnormal.

Important Technical Specifications:

Display size: 7-inch capacitive color touch screen
Display Pixels: 1024 × 600 px
Device Size: 530 × 355 × 278 mm (length × width × height)
Parameter Ranges:
- Softening point: 1-999 (current value for glass softening)
- Pressure: 1-999 (air pressure for cooling)
- Puff(s): 1-30 (duration of dry gas filling in humidity control chamber, 5-20 seconds recommended)
- Safe heat: Heat cannot be lower or higher than 10% of the softening point (to avoid unstable pulling or filament burning)
- Time: 1-255 (duration of puffing to cool glass and filament)
- Delay: 1-255 (delay time between heating stop and pulling start)
- Cycles: 1-10 (number of heating cycles per line)
- Heat: 1-999 (heat range of heating filament)
- Pull: 0-255 (pulling force applied to glass ends)
- Velocity: 1-255 (velocity of pulling apart the glass)
- Cooling mode: Time mode (1-255), Delay mode (1-255)
Power: AC 100-240 V, 50/60 Hz; maximum power 150 W
Operating Conditions:
- Temperature: 5-40 °C (recommended 20-25 °C)
- Humidity: 10%-80% (non-condensing, 10%-80% at 31 °C, 10%-50% at 40 °C; recommended 50%-80%)
Storage Conditions:
- Temperature: -20-60 °C
- Humidity: 10%-93% (non-condensing)
- Pressure: 50 kPa-106 kPa
Altitude: Cannot exceed 2000 m

Usage Features:

The MP-500 is designed for ease of use and precision. The front panel cover features a roller design for easy opening. Users can install capillary glass by moving puller bars, fixing the glass in the V-groove, and centering it with the heating filament. The device provides recommended pull protocols based on glass type, heating filament, and desired microelectrode type (e.g., patch clamp, intracellular recording). These protocols can be customized. The softening point test is crucial when replacing heating filaments or using different glass types. The system allows for parameter adjustment, including heat, pull, and velocity, to achieve desired microelectrode characteristics. For patch clamp microelectrodes, specific guidelines are provided for thickwall and thinwall glass, including recommended delay settings and methods for testing median velocity and selecting appropriate velocity based on target impedance. The device stores up to 99 pulling programs, and users can create, copy, and rename programs. A preheat jaws function helps stabilize pulling results by maintaining jaw temperature at 70°C. The system also includes diagnostic tools for pressure, heat, pull, and velocity to ensure proper operation and troubleshoot issues like air leakage.

Maintenance Features:

Maintenance of the MP-500 includes routine cleaning and component replacement.

Cleaning: The device should be cleaned with a dry, soft cloth. The touch screen should be wiped with a lens paper, avoiding chemical reagents.
Filament Replacement: The unique fixed position design of the heating filament simplifies replacement. Users must unscrew the old filament, check if the jaw groove matches the new filament size, and install the new filament, ensuring it is vertically and horizontally centered over the air jet opening. After replacement, the filament must be adjusted, and the softening point retested.
Drierite Canister Replacement: The Drierite canister, which controls humidity, should be replaced when two-thirds of the blue or blue-purple Drierite turns pink, indicating moisture absorption. The process involves unplugging the power, removing hoses and fixing screws, replacing the canister, and then connecting the left hose to run the air pump and spray for a few minutes to remove dust before connecting the right hose. Drierite can be reused after drying in an oven at 200 °C until it turns blue.
General Check: Regular checks include confirming filament installation and condition, touch screen operation, and identification labels. Any parts needing replacement should be handled by RWD after-sales service.
Annual Inspection: RWD recommends a comprehensive annual inspection to ensure the device remains in good operating condition.
System Maintenance: The device offers brightness adjustment for the screen. Other system maintenance functions are reserved for RWD after-sales personnel.