Quadra 4 Operator Manual
Tomtec
57
Basic Settings
Empty Speed
The Empty Speed is the rate at which the tips will pipette liquid. This can be a
value between 1 and 4, 4 being the fastest. By default, 3 is automatically
selected.
Empty Height
Empty Sample height is the height at which the tips will dispense liquid into the
well.
Selecting “Clear Position”, “Top”, or “Near Bottom” will use the height values set
within the database for the plate being used. If a different value is required, this
can be set in the “Advanced Settings”.
Advanced Settings
Touch Off
While Dispensing liquid into the plates, due to the surface tension at the tip
orifice, drops may form and remain on the tips when dispensing has concluded.
To accurately pipette the correct amount of liquid into the wells, these drops must
be captured. Using the ‘Touch Off’ is one method of capturing hanging
drops remaining on the tips. By setting the correct values within the Plate
Database,
you can have the tips contact the side of the wells in order to release the drops
into the wells.
The Touch Off will occur at the height at which the Dispense or Blow Out has
ended. For example, if Liquid Following has been enabled, the Touch Off will
occur at the height at which the stage has come to a rest, otherwise it
will occur at the height specified by the ‘Dispense Height’ value.
Dip Tips
Dip Tips is another method of capturing hanging drops. Dip Tips is a
vertical Touch Off. What this function accomplishes is capturing drops held
on the tips by placing the tips in very close proximity to the liquid that has already
been dispensed into the wells.
The ‘Dispense Tip Dip’ Value, by default, cannot exceed (be less than)
the Dispense Height. This is to prevent the Dip Tip function from never
reaching the liquid. If Liquid Following is enabled, however, the restraint on the
Dispense Tip Dip value is lifted, due to the fact that the ending height after the
Dispense Function has been completed may be higher than the Dispense
Height Value, or the height at which the Dispense Function actually began. It
is up to the user from this point to estimate approximately how far within the well
the liquid will begin after the Dispense function has completed.
Additionally, refer to Section “3.37 Program Operations Common Options” on page 89
for information on other parameters used by this function.
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