From: Elizabeth Murray (by way of Laboratory Robotics Interest Group ) Subject: Robotics Donations Date: Sun, 01 Aug 1999 21:51:37 -0400 Marshall University Integrated Science and Technology is a new program (entering its third year) focussing on training students in IS, Biotechnology, manufacturing and environmental engineering. We are very interested in acquiring some laboratory pipetting stations or any other laboratory robots to assist in integrating our IS Basic programming and Biotechnology areas. I understand that big companies are scaling up to newer platforms for improved throughput. We are interested in training the new generation of students to bridge the gap between understanding experimental design and biotech and getting equipment to work for applications. If there are any companies out there who would like to share some equipment which is still working but obsolete for your purposes with an exciting new program, please contact Dr. Liz Murray Associate Professor Integrated Science and Technology Marshall University 400 Hal Greer Blvd. Huntington WV 25755 murraye@SPAMFOIL.marshall.edu We will be happy to accept these donations for educational purposes. From: "Broek, J.H.M. van den (Jacques)" Subject: Temperature controlled incubator Date: Mon, 02 Aug 1999 11:33:54 +0200 I am looking for only temperature controlled incubators (37 degrees), which can be used in robotic sytems. Using cell culture incubators looks to be an expensive way. Does anybody have suggestions? Jacques J.H.M. van den Broek (Jacques) Room Re1136 Technology co-ordinator Postbox 20 Lead discovery 5340BH Oss Organon The Netherlands Email: j.broek@SPAMFOIL.organon.oss.akzonobel.nl Tel. 31 (0)412 662290 Fax. 31 (0)412 662542 From: Alex Henkel Subject: New England C++ laboratory automation Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1999 08:14:50 -0400 >I am looking for a C++ programmer (preferably a consultant in the New England area) with some laboratory automation >experience. This individual would be working for a couple of months (possibly more) with a team of people to aid in the >development of an exciting automation application. EIMINC is a central New England-based company with over 12 years experience in laboratory barcode labeling and automation. Our team of experienced programmers specializes in designing database-connected applications for laboratory and manufacturing environments. If you would like to describe your needs in greater detail, I would be happy to provide a quote for you. Alex Henkel EIMINC Technology Manager Dear Mr Zocher, I am on the development team for Multiwell products at Millipore and previously spent 3 years in the Protein Applications group as a scientist for the MultiScreen product line. I am afraid the information/interpretation you received in Baltimore is in error. We do not have a plate that can lyse cells by filtration on microporous membrane nor is there one is development. The pressure differential across a microporous membrane under vacuum is not high enough to lyse a significant number of bacterial cells. What we do have currently is a 96-well MultiScreen product for "clearing" lysate. (cat# MANLY) This product was introduced in the last year or so. The general application here is Plasmid Prep from 96 well cultures. The lysate clearing plates allow for the separation of DNA from membrane and other intracellular material (proteins) following Alkaline lysis. Typically the cellular debris is trapped in our MANLY plate and the DNA is passed on to a Glass Fiber binding step and eluted for further processing. Several customers are using this preparation in high throughput plasmid preparation. It is possible that you could recover the debris from the MANLY plate if this is the portion of interest. This is an interesting application, but not one that I have investigated personally. I would be interested in talking to you more about your needs and if you plan to automate your assay. Sorry for any confusion on this application. Jeffrey S. Busnach MultiWell Products & Automation Scientist Email: Jeff_Busnach@SPAMFOIL.millipore.com Tel: U.S. (978) 762-5204 Fax: U.S. (978) 762-5384 MILLIPORE CORPORATION 17 Cherry Hill Drive Danvers, MA 01923 "Zocher, Frank, AVENTIS/DE" on 07/30/99 03:45:06 AM Please respond to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org (Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List) cc: (bcc: Jeff Busnach/Bev/NA/Millipore) Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: microtiter plate able to lyse cells --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- Hi Everyone, I am looking for a microtiter plate which is able to lyse cells, like E.coli, by filtration through a porous membrane using a vacuum manifold. The cells would be lysed by the difference in the pressure in the membrane and by mechanic interactions with the small pores. Millipore annouced such a plate one year ago on the SBS in Baltimore, but it is still not on the market. The proteins should then be in the flow through. Does anybody know anyone who may be able to help us I would appreciate any information. Regards, Frank Frank Zocher Aventis Research & Technologies GmbH & Co KG (former/frer Hoechst Research & Technology Deutschland) Operative Research - Synthetische Methoden ?Industriepark H鐼hst ?Geb酳de G 830 D-65926 Frankfurt am Main Telefon ++49.+69.305.23121 ?Telefax:++49.+69.305.81535 Mobil 0171.8307128 E-mail: zocher@SPAMFOIL.aventis.com ?Internet: http://www.aventis.com --- Lab-Robotics Discussion To retrieve a help file on this list, send an e-mail message to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just HELP as the subject. From: "BODE, Donald C." Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Temperature controlled incubator Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1999 10:25:08 -0400 The best-looking solution that I have seen, although quite expensive (and I have not used it myself) is the Cytomat 6000 incubator from Kendro (formerly Sorvall + Heraeus). In The Netherlands, try telephone number (34) 3571900. Chris Bode > ---------- > From: Broek, J.H.M. van den > (Jacques)[SMTP:j.broek@SPAMFOIL.organon.oss.akzonobel.nl] > Sent: Monday, August 02, 1999 5:33 AM > To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org > Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Temperature controlled incubator > > --------------------- > Lab-Robotics Discussion > --------------------- > I am looking for only temperature controlled incubators (37 degrees), > which > can be used in robotic sytems. > Using cell culture incubators looks to be an expensive way. > Does anybody have suggestions? > > > Jacques > > J.H.M. van den Broek (Jacques) Room Re1136 > Technology co-ordinator Postbox 20 > Lead discovery 5340BH Oss > Organon The Netherlands > Email: j.broek@SPAMFOIL.organon.oss.akzonobel.nl Tel. 31 (0)412 662290 > Fax. 31 (0)412 662542 > > --- Lab-Robotics Discussion > To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to > discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. > From: Deborah S Teitz Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Temperature controlled incubator Date: Mon, 02 Aug 1999 12:48:53 -0400 How about using insulated racks that can hold a temperature for a specified amount of time? Deb Broek, J.H.M. van den (Jacques) wrote: > > --------------------- > Lab-Robotics Discussion > --------------------- > I am looking for only temperature controlled incubators (37 degrees), which > can be used in robotic sytems. > Using cell culture incubators looks to be an expensive way. > Does anybody have suggestions? > > Jacques > > J.H.M. van den Broek (Jacques) Room Re1136 > Technology co-ordinator Postbox 20 > Lead discovery 5340BH Oss > Organon The Netherlands > Email: j.broek@SPAMFOIL.organon.oss.akzonobel.nl Tel. 31 (0)412 662290 > Fax. 31 (0)412 662542 > > --- Lab-Robotics Discussion > To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to > discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. From: "Raymond Reilly" Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Temperature controlled incubator Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1999 14:24:29 -0400 CRS offers a robot carousel incubator based on a Hotpack incubator which includes a single axis controller and CO2 capability. We have a single plate version that holds up to 120 microplates and a Stacker version that holds up to 12 stacks of 20 plates each. We also have our own design lower cost Small Pack Microplate Incubator which holds up to 10 plates. Please contact me if you would like additional details. Regards, Ray Reilly Eastern Regional Manager CRS Automation Solutions ----- Original Message ----- From: Broek, J.H.M. van den (Jacques) To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Sent: Monday, August 02, 1999 5:33 AM Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Temperature controlled incubator > --------------------- > Lab-Robotics Discussion > --------------------- > I am looking for only temperature controlled incubators (37 degrees), which > can be used in robotic sytems. > Using cell culture incubators looks to be an expensive way. > Does anybody have suggestions? > > > Jacques > > J.H.M. van den Broek (Jacques) Room Re1136 > Technology co-ordinator Postbox 20 > Lead discovery 5340BH Oss > Organon The Netherlands > Email: j.broek@SPAMFOIL.organon.oss.akzonobel.nl Tel. 31 (0)412 662290 > Fax. 31 (0)412 662542 > > --- Lab-Robotics Discussion > To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to > discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. > > From: Susan Vigilante Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Robotics Donations Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1999 15:01:11 -0700 Are you doing anything in the chemistry area? Susan Vigilante Argonaut Technologies -----Original Message----- From: Elizabeth Murray [mailto:murraye@SPAMFOIL.MARSHALL.EDU] Sent: Sunday, August 01, 1999 9:52 PM To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Robotics Donations --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- Marshall University Integrated Science and Technology is a new program (entering its third year) focussing on training students in IS, Biotechnology, manufacturing and environmental engineering. We are very interested in acquiring some laboratory pipetting stations or any other laboratory robots to assist in integrating our IS Basic programming and Biotechnology areas. I understand that big companies are scaling up to newer platforms for improved throughput. We are interested in training the new generation of students to bridge the gap between understanding experimental design and biotech and getting equipment to work for applications. If there are any companies out there who would like to share some equipment which is still working but obsolete for your purposes with an exciting new program, please contact Dr. Liz Murray Associate Professor Integrated Science and Technology Marshall University 400 Hal Greer Blvd. Huntington WV 25755 murraye@SPAMFOIL.marshall.edu We will be happy to accept these donations for educational purposes. --- Lab-Robotics Discussion To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. From: Niek Subject: Looking for flat glass bottom well plates Date: Tue, 20 Jul 1999 11:34:52 +0200 I am looking for 384 and 1536 well plates with a (flat) glass bottom. Does somebody know where I can buy them? Thanks, ing. Niek Kunst Micro Spectroscopy Centre Dreyenlaan 3 6703 HA Wageningen The Netherlands Phone: +31 317 484560 Fax: +31 317 484801 E-mail: Niek.Kunst@SPAMFOIL.laser.bc.wau.nl From: "Stein Roaldset" Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Temperature controlled incubator Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999 07:53:27 -0700 Tomtec Inc. produces a robot friendly incubator with temperature control. www.tomtec.com Regards Stein A. Roaldset Tomtec Inc. -----Original Message----- From: Broek, J.H.M. van den (Jacques) To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Date: Monday, August 02, 1999 6:51 AM Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Temperature controlled incubator >--------------------- >Lab-Robotics Discussion >--------------------- >I am looking for only temperature controlled incubators (37 degrees), which >can be used in robotic sytems. >Using cell culture incubators looks to be an expensive way. >Does anybody have suggestions? > > >Jacques > >J.H.M. van den Broek (Jacques) Room Re1136 >Technology co-ordinator Postbox 20 >Lead discovery 5340BH Oss >Organon The Netherlands >Email: j.broek@SPAMFOIL.organon.oss.akzonobel.nl Tel. 31 (0)412 662290 > Fax. 31 (0)412 662542 > >--- Lab-Robotics Discussion >To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to >discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. > > From: "Sheldon, Adrian" Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Looking for flat glass bottom well plates Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999 10:44:36 -0400 Check with Greiner. > ---------- > From: Niek[SMTP:niek.kunst@SPAMFOIL.LASER.BC.WAU.NL] > Reply To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org > Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 1999 5:34 AM > To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org > Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Looking for flat glass bottom well > plates > > --------------------- > Lab-Robotics Discussion > --------------------- > I am looking for 384 and 1536 well plates with a (flat) glass bottom. > Does somebody know where I can buy them? > > Thanks, > > > > > ing. Niek Kunst > Micro Spectroscopy Centre > Dreyenlaan 3 > 6703 HA Wageningen > The Netherlands > > Phone: +31 317 484560 > Fax: +31 317 484801 > E-mail: Niek.Kunst@SPAMFOIL.laser.bc.wau.nl > > --- Lab-Robotics Discussion > To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to > discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. > We have both clear and quartz 384-well plates. The glass plate has a flat bottom, but is not optically clear. The quartz plate is optically clear. You can see it at www.spike.cc/quartz.htm. Please let me know if you would like additional information. Regards, Fred Spike, President Spike International, Ltd PO Box 15410 Wilmington, NC 28408 USA Fred@SPAMFOIL.spike.cc www.spike.cc Phone: (800) 734-9408 Toll-free Fax: (877) 561-6015 >From outside the US: Phone: (910) 790-3380 Fax: (910) 790-2023 Reply-To: From: "Niek" Sender: To: "Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List" Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Looking for flat glass bottom well plates Date: Tue, 20 Jul 1999 05:34:52 -0400 Message-ID: <199908031420.JAA06881@SPAMFOIL.dfw-ix8.ix.netcom.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0) Importance: Normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2314.1300 [] Lab-Robotics Discussion Digest From: Derek Yegian Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Looking for flat glass bottom well plates Date: Tue, 03 Aug 1999 08:58:57 -0700 I believe Whatman Polyfiltronics has glass bottom microtiter plates, but I'm unsure if they have them in the 384/1536 format. Their number is (800) 434-7659. Derek Yegian BioInstrumentation Group Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. Niek wrote: > --------------------- > Lab-Robotics Discussion > --------------------- > I am looking for 384 and 1536 well plates with a (flat) glass bottom. > Does somebody know where I can buy them? > > Thanks, > > ing. Niek Kunst > Micro Spectroscopy Centre > Dreyenlaan 3 > 6703 HA Wageningen > The Netherlands > > Phone: +31 317 484560 > Fax: +31 317 484801 > E-mail: Niek.Kunst@SPAMFOIL.laser.bc.wau.nl > > --- Lab-Robotics Discussion > The LRIG also maintains a mailing list for buying and selling used laboratory > automation equipment. To subscribe to the Swap Shop list, send a message to > swapshop@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just "Subscribe" (no quotes) in the subject. From: Ben Moshiri Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Robbins filtration Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999 19:32:11 -0500 John, our MiniBlock Vacuum Collection Base is used to collect in to racks which have a Microplate footprint. The height is completely adjustable. Here are a few photos and references: Best Regards, Ben _________________________ Ben Moshiri, Ph.D. Marketing Manager bmoshiri@SPAMFOIL.bohdan.com Tel: (847) 557-0607, Fax: (847) 680-3939 >---------- >From: Wetzel[SMTP:JWetzel@SPAMFOIL.synapticcorp.com] >Sent: Friday, July 30, 1999 7:42 AM >To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org >Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Robbins filtration > >--------------------- >Lab-Robotics Discussion >--------------------- >Does anyone know where I can buy a vacuum filtration >apparatus that allows collection of the post-cleavage >filtrate from Robbins 48-well or 96-well solid-phase >reaction blocks into 16 x100 mm glass test tubes? >The devices that Robbins sells are designed for >collection into plates, not test tubes. If no >company sells a stock item for this purpose, I would >like to know who can design and fabricate such a >device for me. > >John M. Wetzel, Ph.D. >Group Leader >Chemistry >Synaptic Pharmaceutical Corporation > >--- Lab-Robotics Discussion >To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to >discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. > > > From: "Terry Iorns" Subject: Ink-jet Printing Directly on Daughter Plates Date: Tue, 3 Aug 1999 23:23:48 -0700 A client I am working with is considering using an ink-jet printer to provide human readable information directly on the blank, pre-labeled end of polypropylene plates, replacing their current approach of printing a label and affixing the label. What are the pitfalls with this approach? What has been the experience of others using ink-jet printers to print directly on polypropylene plates? Is the information readable, durable, solvent resistant, etc.? Is there any problem with a plume of solvent vapors or ink mist contaminating the plate contents, or more likely, the contents of nearby plates that have not been sealed yet? Any other areas of concern? What brands of printers are being used? Any special inks recommended? Terry V. Iorns Iorns Consulting, Inc. Cell phone(voice mail) 602-432-0947 E-mail: tiorns@SPAMFOIL.iorns.com http://www.iorns.com Oyster Bay Pump Works has extensive experience with such printing. They can be reached at: P 516 922-3789, F 516 624-9253, www.obpw.com, prodinfo@SPAMFOIL.obpw.com. Fred Spike, President Spike International, Ltd PO Box 15410 Wilmington, NC 28408 USA Fred@SPAMFOIL.spike.cc www.spike.cc Phone: (800) 734-9408 Toll-free Fax: (877) 561-6015 >From outside the US: Phone: (910) 790-3380 Fax: (910) 790-2023 Reply-To: From: "Terry Iorns" Sender: To: "Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List" Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Ink-jet Printing Directly on Daughter Plates Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 02:23:48 -0400 Message-ID: <199908041939.OAA12380@SPAMFOIL.dfw-ix10.ix.netcom.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0) Importance: Normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2314.1300 [] Lab-Robotics Discussion Digest1 From: David Bruce Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Ink-jet Printing Directly on DaughterPlates Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 13:57:59 -0600 I would like to see the discussion extended to all methods of labeling of microtiter plates. 1) What methods are people using? 2) Are there manual and automated labeling systems adapted for microtiter plates? 3) What is the labeling rate of various systems? 4) What is the equipment costs? Costs per label? 3) What kind of software is used to drive the labeler? 4) Can the system be adapted for different height plates and/or lids? My group is using hand applied polyester labels generated from a thermal transfer Zebra printer driven by a PC based database. >--------------------- >Lab-Robotics Discussion >--------------------- >A client I am working with is considering using an ink-jet printer to >provide human readable information directly on the blank, pre-labeled end of >polypropylene plates, replacing their current approach of printing a label >and affixing the label. What are the pitfalls with this approach? > >What has been the experience of others using ink-jet printers to print >directly on polypropylene plates? Is the information readable, durable, >solvent resistant, etc.? Is there any problem with a plume of solvent vapors >or ink mist contaminating the plate contents, or more likely, the contents >of nearby plates that have not been sealed yet? Any other areas of concern? >What brands of printers are being used? Any special inks recommended? > >Terry V. Iorns >Iorns Consulting, Inc. >Cell phone(voice mail) 602-432-0947 >E-mail: tiorns@SPAMFOIL.iorns.com >http://www.iorns.com > >--- Lab-Robotics Discussion >The Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List is a feature of the Laboratory >Robotics Interest Group, www.lab-robotics.org. David Bruce MS M888 Group LS-3 Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM 87545 505-667-2699, voice 505-665-3024, fax 505-996-1458, pager dbruce@SPAMFOIL.lanl.gov .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. /|||\|||\ /|||\|||\ /|||\|||\ /|||\|||\ /|||\ \|||/ \|||\|||/ \|||\|||/ \|||\|||/ \|||\|||/ `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' From: chance@SPAMFOIL.molecumetics.com (Chance Elliott) Subject: Robot Friendly CO2 Incubator Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 13:38:22 -0700 Hi everyone, we are looking for an off the shelf robot friendly CO2 incubator. The only one I know of is from Beckman, does anyone know of any others? We would prefer to stay away from customized solutions. Thanks for your help! Chance Elliott Research Automation Engineer Molecumetics LTD chance@SPAMFOIL.molecumetics.com From: Robert F Trinka Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Ink-jet Printing Directly onDaughter Plates Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 16:41:39 -0400 Terry: One problem has been that there isn't enough contrast between the plate and the ink-jet printed bar code, so scanning errors have been quite high. Regards, Bob Trinka, Robocon, Inc. From: "Sanjaya N. Joshi" Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Ink-jet Printing Directly on DaughterPlates Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 22:08:21 -0700 An off the wall suggestion: The microelectronics industry regulary uses automated printing techniques to (mostly) ceramic substrates (some glass) to identify components (especially microprocessors). These are heat resistant, I am not sure about fluids or sterilization. Pre-printing the plates prior to use would be the way to go. Wouldn't it be great if the same robots used for moving the plates labeled them first, and recorded the information directly onto your favorite LIMS? There are some neat materials science tricks for adhering to glass... One could conceive piezo print-jet heads to dispense glass-adhering high flow (low viscosity) thermoset epoxy (loaded with carbon particles for contrast), so that the labeling process can be automated. The jig would look interesting for curved surfaces (test-tubes, etc). There always is a solution waiting for the right problem... Sanjay. > -----Original Message----- > From: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org [mailto:discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org]On > Behalf Of David Bruce > Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 1999 12:58 PM > To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List > Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Ink-jet Printing Directly on > DaughterPlates > > > --------------------- > Lab-Robotics Discussion > --------------------- > I would like to see the discussion extended to all methods of > labeling of microtiter plates. > > 1) What methods are people using? > 2) Are there manual and automated labeling systems adapted for > microtiter plates? > 3) What is the labeling rate of various systems? > 4) What is the equipment costs? Costs per label? > 3) What kind of software is used to drive the labeler? > 4) Can the system be adapted for different height plates and/or lids? > > My group is using hand applied polyester labels generated from a > thermal transfer Zebra printer driven by a PC based database. > > > >--------------------- > >Lab-Robotics Discussion > >--------------------- > >A client I am working with is considering using an ink-jet printer to > >provide human readable information directly on the blank, > pre-labeled end of > >polypropylene plates, replacing their current approach of > printing a label > >and affixing the label. What are the pitfalls with this approach? > > > >What has been the experience of others using ink-jet printers to print > >directly on polypropylene plates? Is the information readable, durable, > >solvent resistant, etc.? Is there any problem with a plume of > solvent vapors > >or ink mist contaminating the plate contents, or more likely, > the contents > >of nearby plates that have not been sealed yet? Any other areas > of concern? > >What brands of printers are being used? Any special inks recommended? > > > >Terry V. Iorns > >Iorns Consulting, Inc. > >Cell phone(voice mail) 602-432-0947 > >E-mail: tiorns@SPAMFOIL.iorns.com > >http://www.iorns.com > > > >--- Lab-Robotics Discussion > >The Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List is a feature of the Laboratory > >Robotics Interest Group, www.lab-robotics.org. > > > David Bruce > MS M888 > Group LS-3 > Los Alamos National Laboratory > Los Alamos, NM 87545 > > 505-667-2699, voice > 505-665-3024, fax > 505-996-1458, pager > dbruce@SPAMFOIL.lanl.gov > > .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. > /|||\|||\ /|||\|||\ /|||\|||\ /|||\|||\ /|||\ > \|||/ \|||\|||/ \|||\|||/ \|||\|||/ \|||\|||/ > `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' > > --- Lab-Robotics Discussion > To retrieve a help file on this list, send an e-mail message to > discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just HELP as the subject. > From: Richard Martin Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Pre-barcoded microtitre plates Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 08:14:28 +0100 I have been trying to source pre-barcoded microtitre plates and have had difficulty. Are they available? Richard Martin Research Scientist Celltech plc. The information contained in this email is intended for the personal and confidential use of the addressee only. It may also be privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient then you are hereby notified that you have received this document in error and that any review, distribution or copying of this document is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify Celltech immediately on (+44)(0)1753 534655, or email 'is@SPAMFOIL.celltech.co.uk' Celltech Therapeutics Ltd. 216 Bath Road, Slough, SL1 4EN, Berkshire, UK. Registered Office as above. Registered in England No. 1472269 From: Linda Kover Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Ink-jet Printing Directly on DaughterPlates Date: Thu, 05 Aug 1999 10:34:25 -0400 I believe Nunc, Naperville, IL, has the ability to print bar codes directly onto the plate. They can be reached at 1-800-625-4327 or their website: www.nalgenunc.com. Linda Kover David Bruce wrote: > --------------------- > Lab-Robotics Discussion > --------------------- > I would like to see the discussion extended to all methods of > labeling of microtiter plates. > > 1) What methods are people using? > 2) Are there manual and automated labeling systems adapted for > microtiter plates? > 3) What is the labeling rate of various systems? > 4) What is the equipment costs? Costs per label? > 3) What kind of software is used to drive the labeler? > 4) Can the system be adapted for different height plates and/or lids? > > My group is using hand applied polyester labels generated from a > thermal transfer Zebra printer driven by a PC based database. > > >--------------------- > >Lab-Robotics Discussion > >--------------------- > >A client I am working with is considering using an ink-jet printer to > >provide human readable information directly on the blank, pre-labeled end of > >polypropylene plates, replacing their current approach of printing a label > >and affixing the label. What are the pitfalls with this approach? > > > >What has been the experience of others using ink-jet printers to print > >directly on polypropylene plates? Is the information readable, durable, > >solvent resistant, etc.? Is there any problem with a plume of solvent vapors > >or ink mist contaminating the plate contents, or more likely, the contents > >of nearby plates that have not been sealed yet? Any other areas of concern? > >What brands of printers are being used? Any special inks recommended? > > > >Terry V. Iorns > >Iorns Consulting, Inc. > >Cell phone(voice mail) 602-432-0947 > >E-mail: tiorns@SPAMFOIL.iorns.com > >http://www.iorns.com > > > >--- Lab-Robotics Discussion > >The Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List is a feature of the Laboratory > >Robotics Interest Group, www.lab-robotics.org. > > David Bruce > MS M888 > Group LS-3 > Los Alamos National Laboratory > Los Alamos, NM 87545 > > 505-667-2699, voice > 505-665-3024, fax > 505-996-1458, pager > dbruce@SPAMFOIL.lanl.gov > > .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. .-. > /|||\|||\ /|||\|||\ /|||\|||\ /|||\|||\ /|||\ > \|||/ \|||\|||/ \|||\|||/ \|||\|||/ \|||\|||/ > `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' `-' > > --- Lab-Robotics Discussion > A digest is a single MIME-encoded message containing the contents of all the > messages posted to the mailing list during the digest period. If you send the > DIGEST-xx (xx is a number) command to the list, you will no longer receive > individual messages. Instead you will receive digest messages at the specified > interval. From: "BODE, Donald C." Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Robot Friendly CO2 Incubator Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 10:32:37 -0400 Check out the Cytomat 6000 from Kendro (formerly Sorvall and Heraeus): 415-565-7274. > ---------- > From: chance@SPAMFOIL.molecumetics.com[SMTP:chance@SPAMFOIL.molecumetics.com] > Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 1999 4:38 PM > To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org > Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Robot Friendly CO2 Incubator > > --------------------- > Lab-Robotics Discussion > --------------------- > Hi everyone, we are looking for an off the shelf robot friendly CO2 > incubator. > The only one I know of is from Beckman, does anyone know of any others? We > would > prefer to stay away from customized solutions. Thanks for your help! > > Chance Elliott > Research Automation Engineer > Molecumetics LTD > chance@SPAMFOIL.molecumetics.com > > --- Lab-Robotics Discussion > To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to > discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. > From: Jackbonham@SPAMFOIL.aol.com Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Pre-barcoded microtitre plates Date: Thu, 5 Aug 1999 19:07:12 EDT I spoke with Nunc about a week ago on this topic and was informed that you can order plates from them with paper labels already applied. I do not believe they do direct printing of bar codes. As I understand it, bar coding is a study in contrast of absorbed Vs reflected light and the clear plastic does not provide the contrast required to give accurate reading. It's why they print a white background on bread bags. Perhaps direct printers could be supplied with white ink? Direct to polystyrene text printing has been done for many years. Jack Bonham Titertek Instruments From: "Ashton, Mark" Subject: IRORI Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 08:43:17 +0100 Dear All We are presently investigating the IRORI AccuTag system using the micro,mini and macroKans. What are peoples views and experiences of the equipment/technique? Are there any pitfall or tips that would be helpful to know? I understand that the reaction time is longer when compared to normal parallel synthetic techniques and that washing is sometimes a problem with the Kans. Is this the case? Has anyone had any problems with resin not being retained in the Kans? If so what solvents does this normally happen in and what size of beads were being used? We have been assured that a bead size of greater than or equal to 75 microns is sufficient. What types of washing protocol/equipment do people employ and how is the resin in the Kans dried sufficiently? Are the Kans readily amenable to heated steps in all solvents? If not which solvents are not recommended for heating in? Is the software user friendly? I understand that it integrates with the Afferent Combichem software. Has anyone interfaced or used it with any other pieces of software? What are peoples experiences with the cleavage station? Is cross contamination or amount of material recovered a problem? I would very much appreciate any answers to the above queries/points and would very much like to initiate a discussion on the pros and cons of the IRORI technology/equipment. I feel that many people would benefit from such a discussion. Many thanks Mark Ashton ------------------------------------------- Dr. Mark R. Ashton Department Manager Oxford Asymmetry International 111 Milton Park Abingdon, Oxon OX14 UK Tel: ++ 44 (0)1235 441236/441200 Fax: ++ 44 (0)1235 441509 E-mail: mashton@SPAMFOIL.oai.co.uk internet: http://www.oai.co.uk/ The information contained in this e-mail message is confidential and is to be read only by the intended recipient named above. If this e-mail message fails to reach the intended recipient it cannot be copied nor its contents be disclosed to any third party whether within or outside the receiving organisation. If this message does not reach the named recipient please contact us by telephone and return the original e-mail to the above address by post. From: Bruno.Becker@SPAMFOIL.hassle.se.astra.com Subject: Biosafety and sterility on robotic systems Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 11:23:33 +0200 Hi everyone, We are currently planning to rebuild robotic labs and I would, therefore, like to know what solutions colleagues have come up with for minimizing biological hazards (e.g. aerosol generation during pipetting) and preventing contamination of cell cultures during screening. We plan to use a Beckman SAIGAN robot also for cell based screenings, and will perhaps have to make some plexi-glass enclosure around the system, but perhaps there are better solutions out there. Thanks for your help! Regards, Bruno Becker Bruno Becker, Ph. D. Research Scientist - Lead Discovery Group Dept. Cell Biology & Biochemistry AstraZeneca, S-431 83 M闤ndal, Sweden Tel.: +46-31-776-1002 e-mail: bruno.becker@SPAMFOIL.hassle.se.astra.com From: Ken Bunn Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Pre-bar-coded microtitre plates Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 06:49:08 -0400 Contact Nunc for bar-coded MicroWell plates. Let us know the Code regiment, number of characters and to which plate format you wish to the barcode fixed to. Send inquires to Kathleen Williamson at kwilliam@SPAMFOIL.nalgenunc.com or phone (800) 416-6862 X2539. Ken Bunn -----Original Message----- From: Richard Martin [SMTP:rmartin@SPAMFOIL.celltech.co.uk] Sent: Thursday, August 05, 1999 3:14 AM To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Pre-barcoded microtitre plates --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- I have been trying to source pre-barcoded microtitre plates and have had difficulty. Are they available? Richard Martin Research Scientist Celltech plc. The information contained in this email is intended for the personal and confidential use of the addressee only. It may also be privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient then you are hereby notified that you have received this document in error and that any review, distribution or copying of this document is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify Celltech immediately on (+44)(0)1753 534655, or email 'is@SPAMFOIL.celltech.co.uk' Celltech Therapeutics Ltd. 216 Bath Road, Slough, SL1 4EN, Berkshire, UK. Registered Office as above. Registered in England No. 1472269 --- Lab-Robotics Discussion To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. From: "Stein Roaldset" Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Robot Friendly CO2 Incubator Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 08:08:26 -0700 Tomtec Inc. (www.tomtec.com) provides an incubator specifically designed for robot access and with a capacity of 96 plates. CO2, humidity and shaking. Regards Stein A. Roaldset VP Technical Sales Tomtec Inc. -----Original Message----- From: Chance Elliott To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Date: Wednesday, August 04, 1999 5:30 PM Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Robot Friendly CO2 Incubator >--------------------- >Lab-Robotics Discussion >--------------------- >Hi everyone, we are looking for an off the shelf robot friendly CO2 incubator. >The only one I know of is from Beckman, does anyone know of any others? We would >prefer to stay away from customized solutions. Thanks for your help! > >Chance Elliott >Research Automation Engineer >Molecumetics LTD >chance@SPAMFOIL.molecumetics.com > >--- Lab-Robotics Discussion >To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to >discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. > > From: "Kevin Olsen" Subject: Ink Jet Lables for Microplates Date: Fri, 06 Aug 1999 08:29:45 -0400 Dear Colleagues, There are a number of issues with direct ink-jet printing on microplates that are as yet unresolved. The advantage of direct ink jet technology is that it only has one moving part, the print head. There is no need to buy labels and ribbon. The technology is also more reliable because the labeling apparatus does not get gummed up with adhesives from the label. The biggest disadvantage, at least for now, is that the bar and space characters are not as sharp as with conventional thermal printers. Then there the problem of the ink adhering to the plate. Polypropylene is extremely resistant to both inks and many types of glue. (Laboratory labelers use an adhesive formulated for polypropylene.) In industrial settings polypropylene is either heat treated or wiped with toluene prior to printing or painting. For best results, microplates that have a white marking area will have to be used. The white marking areas consist of a pigment and adhesive that is permanently fused to the plastic when the plate is manufactured. I have been unable to interest a vendor in building a prototype plate holder that can move the plate past the print head at an uniform speed and thus get a good print. (Alas, this is the chicken and egg question, there is no money in my budget for unproven technology, and there is no prototype to prove the technology without money in the budget.) There are DMSO resistant inks on the market and I will be happy to share what I know about them privately. Kevin Olsen Robotics & Automation Dept. Wyeth Ayerst Research Pearl River, NY, 10965 914-732-3392 From: "Sheldon, Adrian" Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Pre-barcoded microtitre plates Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 08:29:25 -0400 Nunc is one source that can provide pre-labelled MTPs. Adrian Sheldon ArQule > ---------- > From: Richard Martin[SMTP:rmartin@SPAMFOIL.celltech.co.uk] > Reply To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org > Sent: Thursday, August 05, 1999 3:14 AM > To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org > Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Pre-barcoded microtitre plates > > --------------------- > Lab-Robotics Discussion > --------------------- > I have been trying to source pre-barcoded microtitre plates and have had > difficulty. Are they available? > > Richard Martin > Research Scientist > Celltech plc. > > The information contained in this email is intended for the personal > and confidential use of the addressee only. It may also be privileged > information. If you are not the intended recipient then you are hereby > notified that you have received this document in error and that any > review, > distribution or copying of this document is strictly prohibited. If you > have received > this communication in error, please notify Celltech immediately on > > (+44)(0)1753 534655, or email 'is@SPAMFOIL.celltech.co.uk' > > Celltech Therapeutics Ltd. > 216 Bath Road, > Slough, > SL1 4EN, > Berkshire, > UK. > > Registered Office as above. > Registered in England No. 1472269 > > --- Lab-Robotics Discussion > To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to > discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. > From: "OBPW" Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Pre-barcoded microtitre plates Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 09:11:02 -0400 Richard, Corning has been supplying pre-barcoded plates to some of our customers. Ask for David Whitehouse in the US if the UK Corning people are not familiar with this. Patrick Gaillard Oyster Bay Pump Works, Inc. prodinfo@SPAMFOIL.obpw.com 516-933-4500 -----Original Message----- From: Richard Martin To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Date: Thursday, August 05, 1999 4:50 PM Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Pre-barcoded microtitre plates >--------------------- >Lab-Robotics Discussion >--------------------- >I have been trying to source pre-barcoded microtitre plates and have had >difficulty. Are they available? > >Richard Martin >Research Scientist >Celltech plc. > > >(+44)(0)1753 534655, or email 'is@SPAMFOIL.celltech.co.uk' > >Celltech Therapeutics Ltd. >216 Bath Road, >Slough, >SL1 4EN, >Berkshire, >UK. From: Michael Girardi Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Pre-barcoded microtitre plates Date: Thu, 05 Aug 1999 21:19:26 -0400 Richard, REMP has this product available in traditional 384 and in REMP Mini-Tube formats. Michael Girardi President REMP USA, Inc. michael.girardi@SPAMFOIL.remp-ch.com 800-460-7367 Richard Martin wrote: > --------------------- > Lab-Robotics Discussion > --------------------- > I have been trying to source pre-barcoded microtitre plates and have had > difficulty. Are they available? > > Richard Martin > Research Scientist > Celltech plc. > > The information contained in this email is intended for the personal > and confidential use of the addressee only. It may also be privileged > information. If you are not the intended recipient then you are hereby > notified that you have received this document in error and that any review, > distribution or copying of this document is strictly prohibited. If you have received > this communication in error, please notify Celltech immediately on > > (+44)(0)1753 534655, or email 'is@SPAMFOIL.celltech.co.uk' > > Celltech Therapeutics Ltd. > 216 Bath Road, > Slough, > SL1 4EN, > Berkshire, > UK. > > Registered Office as above. > Registered in England No. 1472269 > > --- Lab-Robotics Discussion > To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to > discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. -- REMP USA, Inc. Westborough Office Park 1700 West Park Drive, Westboro, MA 01581 office: 800-460-REMP(7367) mobile: 508-410-REMP(7367) fax: 508-435-2534 website: www.remp-ch.com From: "BODE, Donald C." Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Pre-barcoded microtitre plates Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1999 16:25:53 -0400 Becton-Dickinson has them. Website: www.bd.com/labware. I only have "800" numbers for them, which I think only work in the U.S. (e.g., 800-343-2035 for Technical Support). > ---------- > From: Richard Martin[SMTP:rmartin@SPAMFOIL.celltech.co.uk] > Sent: Thursday, August 05, 1999 3:14 AM > To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org > Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Pre-barcoded microtitre plates > > --------------------- > Lab-Robotics Discussion > --------------------- > I have been trying to source pre-barcoded microtitre plates and have had > difficulty. Are they available? > > Richard Martin > Research Scientist > Celltech plc. > > The information contained in this email is intended for the personal > and confidential use of the addressee only. It may also be privileged > information. If you are not the intended recipient then you are hereby > notified that you have received this document in error and that any > review, > distribution or copying of this document is strictly prohibited. If you > have received > this communication in error, please notify Celltech immediately on > > (+44)(0)1753 534655, or email 'is@SPAMFOIL.celltech.co.uk' > > Celltech Therapeutics Ltd. > 216 Bath Road, > Slough, > SL1 4EN, > Berkshire, > UK. > > Registered Office as above. > Registered in England No. 1472269 > > --- Lab-Robotics Discussion > To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to > discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. > From: "PATURZO, JENNIFER [AG/2165]" Subject: Reservoirs Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 10:32:54 -0500 Does anyone know of a vendor that supplies 12 column reagent reservoirs? Currently we use a Marsh reservoir (non-disposable). However, we would like to move to something that is disposable. Does anyone know of anything available???? Thanks, Jennifer L. Paturzo Assoc. Engineer Cereon Genomics 45 Sidney St. Cambridge, MA 02139 Phone: (617) 551-8229 Fax: (617) 551-1960 From: "OBPW" Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Ink Jet Lables for Microplates Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 20:38:52 -0400 In reply to Kevin re inkjet: If you have DMSO & polypro issues covered, we may have rest for you. We have been integrating ink jet printers into microplate processing machines for many years and have been doing so for both text and bar code printing on the sides and tops of plates. We can offer you plate movement past the print head as well as the inverse (print head movement past a stationery plate) at uniform speed. We can also integrate an encoder so that print quality is just as good in spite of nonuniform product or head speed. The printers take an encoder input for the purpose of controlling timing of drop placement. Inkjet print quality is far from being as good as thermal printing but it has improved greatly recently and is certainly adequate for reliable bar codes. New printers are offering very high resolution compared to what was available in the recent past. Regards, Patrick Gaillard Oyster Bay Pump Works, Inc. 516-933-4500 x 200 prodinfo@SPAMFOIL.obpw.com -----Original Message----- From: Kevin Olsen To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Date: Friday, August 06, 1999 11:04 PM Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Ink Jet Lables for Microplates >--------------------- >Lab-Robotics Discussion >--------------------- >Dear Colleagues, > >There are a number of issues with direct ink-jet printing on microplates that are as yet unresolved. The advantage of direct ink jet technology is that it only has one moving part, the print head. There is no need to buy labels and ribbon. The technology is also more reliable because the labeling apparatus does not get gummed up with adhesives from the label. > >The biggest disadvantage, at least for now, is that the bar and space characters are not as sharp as with conventional thermal printers. Then there the problem of the ink adhering to the plate. Polypropylene is extremely resistant to both inks and many types of glue. (Laboratory labelers use an adhesive formulated for polypropylene.) In industrial settings polypropylene is either heat treated or wiped with toluene prior to printing or painting. For best results, microplates that have a white marking area will have to be used. The white marking areas consist of a pigment and adhesive that is permanently fused to the plastic when the plate is manufactured. > >I have been unable to interest a vendor in building a prototype plate holder that can move the plate past the print head at an uniform speed and thus get a good print. (Alas, this is the chicken and egg question, there is no money in my budget for unproven technology, and there is no prototype to prove the technology without money in the budget.) > >There are DMSO resistant inks on the market and I will be happy to share what I know about them privately. > >Kevin Olsen >Robotics & Automation Dept. >Wyeth Ayerst Research >Pearl River, NY, 10965 > >914-732-3392 > >--- Lab-Robotics Discussion >To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to >discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. From: "David Allen" Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Reservoirs Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 22:39:47 -0400 > --------------------- > Lab-Robotics Discussion > --------------------- > Does anyone know of a vendor that supplies 12 column reagent > reservoirs? > Currently we use a Marsh reservoir (non-disposable). > However, we would > like to move to something that is disposable. Does anyone > know of anything > available???? > Whatman/Polyfiltronics may have something. they were talking about a series of plate formats at PittCon. da From: gledson@SPAMFOIL.whatman.com Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Reservoirs Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 08:36:14 -0400 We at Whatman Polyfiltronics can offer you a 24 well , 10 mL per well, round bottomed wells that are suitable for this type of application. This 24 well microplate conforms to SBS standard dimensions and is made from clear polypropylene. Please call me at 1 800 434 7659 x 214 for more details. "PATURZO, JENNIFER [AG/2165]" on 08/09/99 11:32:54 AM Please respond to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org (Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List) cc: (bcc: Grahame Ledson/Whatman) Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Reservoirs --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- Does anyone know of a vendor that supplies 12 column reagent reservoirs? Currently we use a Marsh reservoir (non-disposable). However, we would like to move to something that is disposable. Does anyone know of anything available???? Thanks, Jennifer L. Paturzo Assoc. Engineer Cereon Genomics 45 Sidney St. Cambridge, MA 02139 Phone: (617) 551-8229 Fax: (617) 551-1960 --- Lab-Robotics Discussion To subscribe to this list, please send an e-mail message to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just SUBSCRIBE as the subject. Hi Folks, Could someone please direct me to a resource that provides information on commercially available scheduling engines for laboratory automation systems. thank you dinesh From: BobKays@SPAMFOIL.aol.com Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Reservoirs Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 19:49:55 EDT Nichiryo has a four-position holder for their 12 column disposable reservoirs that fits their NSP 7000. The holder has the same footprint as a microtiter plate. Nichiryo America, Inc. http://www.nichiryo.co.jp/e/index.html ph# 973-927-4001 Bob Kays Sr Research Assoc. LabCorp RTP, NC In a message dated 8/9/99, 10:30:49 PM, discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org writes: <> it depends on the type of scheduling you want to do. you should be able to embed ActiveX enabled schedulers like MS Project, SciTech has a good dedicated scheduling program oriented specifically for lab automation, and VBExtras has component libraries for inclusion in Visual Basic programs. da Could someone please direct me to a resource that provides information on commercially available scheduling engines for laboratory automation systems. From: "Miguel Maccio" Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 07:32:22 -0400 Dinesh, Look at SAMI, SAMI NT, SILAS from Beckman. http://www.beckman-coulter.com/beckman/biorsrch/prodinfo/. They are development platforms that include a scheduler. POLARA from CRS, is also a development platform with a scheduler for CRS robotic arms/systems. http://www.crsrobotics.com Also, CLARA, is a scheduler made by a swiss company I can't remember its name. I looked at the above products for my application. SAMI was the most promising but its licensing fees are out of my budget. If you find others would you let me know? Thank you. Miguel >>> Dinesh Thakur 08/10 10:55 AM >>> Hi Folks, Could someone please direct me to a resource that provides information on commercially available scheduling engines for laboratory automation systems. thank you dinesh HI Miguel, Thank you for your response. I have looked both at SILAS and POLARA. I have also considerable experience with PCS and limited experience with CLARA as well. Here is the trouble with many of these products. They are very closely tied to the architecture supported by the particular vendor. PCS for example, supports Zymate Architecture and from my limited discussions with the development team at Sagian, the impression I got is that SILAS scheduler is modeled to support ROME (or SILAS, I can't keep track of the changing product names). Scheduling in POLARA was very poor the last time I checked. Vendor literature does not provide detailed enough specifications for each product in order to let me compare apples to apples. The purpose of my question was to ascertain if there was any literature out there that compared functionality via specification and extendibility of these products. I am pursuing a product from an automation company that promises extendibility, however I wanted to make sure I looked at alternatives before I committed myself. I will let you know once I make my decision. regards dinesh -----Original Message----- From: Miguel Maccio [mailto:Macciom@SPAMFOIL.war.wyeth.com] Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 1999 7:32 AM To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- Dinesh, Look at SAMI, SAMI NT, SILAS from Beckman. http://www.beckman-coulter.com/beckman/biorsrch/prodinfo/. They are development platforms that include a scheduler. POLARA from CRS, is also a development platform with a scheduler for CRS robotic arms/systems. http://www.crsrobotics.com Also, CLARA, is a scheduler made by a swiss company I can't remember its name. I looked at the above products for my application. SAMI was the most promising but its licensing fees are out of my budget. If you find others would you let me know? Thank you. Miguel >>> Dinesh Thakur 08/10 10:55 AM >>> Hi Folks, Could someone please direct me to a resource that provides information on commercially available scheduling engines for laboratory automation systems. thank you dinesh --- Lab-Robotics Discussion The Laboratory Robotics Interest Group is a rapidly growing special interest group focused on robotics applications in the laboratory. Our membership consists of over 4,600 scientists and engineers worldwide. We are a non-profit organization run by unpaid volunteers so if you would like to help out with the group please contact one of the officers in your region. From: "Monnet, Pierre" Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 17:38:53 -0400 Dinesh, As some people mentioned, there are some solutions available on the market, but knowing exactly your objectives as well as the strong/weak points of these solutions is necessary to make the right choice. Server solution : - CLARA (Alpha/OpenVMS or PC/Win NT) from Scitec Science & Technology (http://www.scitec-robotics.com). This supervision software is very powerful, can accommodate multiple systems through the network (using DEC Message Queue, shifting to Windows Messaging Service). The investment (hardware, software and training) is only justified for large projects. Contact : Jean-Louis Rufener (President) +41 21 / 624 20 16. - Timension from Odysis (http://www.odysis.com). This tool is a real-time scheduling engine, to be integrated into a supervision software with your own GUI. This company was created by two of the main three developers of CLARA (OpenVMS version) written in ADA. I do not know if this system has ever been implemented in a Lab Automation environment yet. Contact : Jorge Carmona (President) +41 79 / 206 73 69. Workstation solution : - Win CLARA (PC/Win NT) from Scitec Science & Technology (http://www.scitec-robotics.com). This supervision software is powerful and more flexible than his big brother. The investment (hardware, software and training) is justified for mono-systems projects. Device Drivers can be developed by any WinNT language (Delphi is a reference in its case) using COM/DCOM (OCX) controls. Contact : Jean-Marc Haab (R&D Manager) (302) 998-2280. - Polara from CRS Automation Solutions (http://www.crsrobotics.com). The new version (v2.x) which should be released early next year should comply to the ASTM LECIS recommendations (http://www.lecis.org) (Contact : Torsten Staab ), becoming easier to implement for in-house integration. This version of the supervision software should come with a SDK for device driver development, as well as a set of existing drivers (options). Contact : Marion Karasiuk (Product Manager) (800) 365-7587. - SAMI NT with SILAS from Beckman-Coulter Sagian (http://www.beckmancoulter.com). This supervision software was the first one on PC to propose the Drag & Drop GUI, which is now a standard. The NT release with the SDK (w. or w/o. templates) enables the in-house integration. SILAS SDK, based on COM/DCOM (OCX) using Windows Messaging Service, provide a great flexibility for custom systems. Contact : M. Williams (Project Manager) (317) 328-3588. - PCS from Zymark (http://www.zymark.com). This supervision software (dedicated to the Zymark architecture) can be utilized as a predictive scheduler, without the traditional Zymate architecture (even if it is not easy, nor practical). - FACTS from Tecan (http://www.tecan.com). This supervision software was specifically designed for the Genesis RSP Workstation (Liquid Handler). A FACTS Generic SDK is available to developers, enabling to utilize the scheduler for other devices. This might be possible but tricky (I never did tried it with my demo version). - There were other software in the past but I think they are not available any more : ISRA (Germany) purchased by CRS had a software under Unix. Robocon might have a software, but I doubt that access to their SDK is possible. Plus some Lab Automation groups within Life Science Companies developed their own supervision sotwares, with or without scheduling features (real-time or predictive). An important aspect of this kind of software is the exception (error and anomaly) treatment, as well as the logging and tracking features. If anyone has some experience of any other commercially available product, please let us (and me) know about it. Cordialement, Pierre B. Monnet ********************************************************** Pierre B. Monnet Manager, Research Automation Rh獼e-Poulenc Ag Company PO Box 12014 2 TW Alexander drive Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 USA Tel : (919) 549 2225 Fax : (919) 549 0054 e-mail : PMonnet@SPAMFOIL.rp-agro.com ********************************************************** > ---------- > From: Dinesh Thakur[SMTP:ThakurD@SPAMFOIL.nexin.pri.bms.com] > Reply To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org > Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 1999 10:55 AM > To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org > Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines > Importance: High > > Hi Folks, > > Could someone please direct me to a resource that provides information on > commercially available scheduling engines for laboratory automation > systems. > > thank you > > dinesh > > > > > > From: Laboratory Robotics Interest Group Subject: SBS Microplate Specification Discussion Group meeting Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 16:15:31 -0400 The Society for Biomolecular Screening Microplate Specification Discussion Group will be meeting in Boston on Tuesday August 17 from 9-5. The location will be the Constitution room of the Seaport Hotel, Boston. We will break from 12:30 - 2:30 so people can attend the vendor show at Drug Discovery 99. The current plan is to discuss the current version of the standard point by point. Two important issues that have already come up are: 1-Agree on dimensions for footprint in standard one. 2-Decide on single tolerance for footprint of all microplates or different tolerances depending on well format. Please be prepared to discuss these issues. If you are a manufacturer of plates or instruments, please come prepared with the dimensions and tolerances that you current meet or require. Room size is limited to 30-40 people. Please RSVP to Marc Feiglin, marc_feiglin@SPAMFOIL.merck.com, if you wish to attend. Future meetings will also be held at the SBS meeting in Edinburgh in September (most likely Sept 14 from 12-2, but this is subject to change) and at Islar in Boston in October (Sometime during Oct 17-20) See http://sbsonline.com/sbs006.htm for more information on the SBS Microplate Specification Discussion Group. From: Peter Niggemann Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 20:56:42 -0700 At 02:38 PM 8/12/99 , Monnet, Pierre wrote: >An important aspect of this kind of software is the exception (error and >anomaly) treatment, as well as the logging and tracking features. > Pierre, I think we all would appreciate if you could elaborate on your experiences with the error recovery. I am only familiar with two of these products. I know what the Tecan FACTS does for errors. It just sits there and does not appear to allow you to recover if you miss the time window (very frustrating). The Zymark PCS Scheduler does allow for error recovery if the underlying Easylab code has been written correctly. I am especially interested in the error recovery for the Scitec products and SAMI from Beckman. I looked into the SAMI and it appeared to be capable but price puts it out of range for the small jobs I had in mind for it. Thanks <> SAMI NT is the scheduler...SILAS is the "router underpining" that allows for control of a product (outgoing information) and data (incoming information). SILAS is totally "manufacturer free". A SILAS module can be written for any automation hardware, whether Beckman manufacturers it or not. Beckman also offers a software developer's kit and classes to allow any programmer to write a SILAS module for any hardware or software. If you think about the old days of computers, Wordperfect (that ran under DOS) had to have printer drivers for every different printer. If you bought a new printer, you had to find or create a new printer driver. Then when you bought Lotus 123, it too had to have printer drivers for every printer and the ones for Wordperfect were useless for 123. Every application had to have it's own printer drivers. When Windows came along, it supplied the printer support for all software making things MUCH simpler and reliable (at least for printing :-) ) This was the current state of hardware and software for large robot systems until SILAS came along. SILAS is the operating system/router that makes hardware and software work together smoothly. SILAS was designed as open architecture to allow easy interchangeability of integrated hardware and software regardless of manufacturer. It is an attempt to establish a standard for hardware and software. Beckman SAMI NT (the scheduling software) operates transparently with SILAS. If another scheduler incorporated a SILAS module, it would too. Dinesh Thakur on 08/12/99 12:15:00 PM Please respond to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org (Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List) cc: (bcc: Jeff Schneider/Remote/BII) Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines HI Miguel, Thank you for your response. I have looked both at SILAS and POLARA. I have also considerable experience with PCS and limited experience with CLARA as well. Here is the trouble with many of these products. They are very closely tied to the architecture supported by the particular vendor. PCS for example, supports Zymate Architecture and from my limited discussions with the development team at Sagian, the impression I got is that SILAS scheduler is modeled to support ROME (or SILAS, I can't keep track of the changing product names). Scheduling in POLARA was very poor the last time I checked. Vendor literature does not provide detailed enough specifications for each product in order to let me compare apples to apples. The purpose of my question was to ascertain if there was any literature out there that compared functionality via specification and extendibility of these products. I am pursuing a product from an automation company that promises extendibility, however I wanted to make sure I looked at alternatives before I committed myself. I will let you know once I make my decision. regards dinesh -----Original Message----- From: Miguel Maccio [mailto:Macciom@SPAMFOIL.war.wyeth.com] Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 1999 7:32 AM To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- Dinesh, Look at SAMI, SAMI NT, SILAS from Beckman. http://www.beckman-coulter.com/beckman/biorsrch/prodinfo/. They are development platforms that include a scheduler. POLARA from CRS, is also a development platform with a scheduler for CRS robotic arms/systems. http://www.crsrobotics.com Also, CLARA, is a scheduler made by a swiss company I can't remember its name. I looked at the above products for my application. SAMI was the most promising but its licensing fees are out of my budget. If you find others would you let me know? Thank you. Miguel >>> Dinesh Thakur 08/10 10:55 AM >>> Hi Folks, Could someone please direct me to a resource that provides information on commercially available scheduling engines for laboratory automation systems. thank you dinesh --- Lab-Robotics Discussion The Laboratory Robotics Interest Group is a rapidly growing special interest group focused on robotics applications in the laboratory. Our membership consists of over 4,600 scientists and engineers worldwide. We are a non-profit organization run by unpaid volunteers so if you would like to help out with the group please contact one of the officers in your region. [] att-1.htm <<- SAMI NT with SILAS from Beckman-Coulter Sagian (http://www.beckmancoulter.com). This supervision software was the first one on PC to propose the Drag & Drop GUI, which is now a standard. The NT release with the SDK (w. or w/o. templates) enables the in-house integration. SILAS SDK, based on COM/DCOM (OCX) using Windows Messaging Service, provide a great flexibility for custom systems.>> The best contact number for information on SAMI NT and SILAS in North America is (800) 742-2345 and have the customer service representative route you to the robotic technical sales consultant. "Monnet, Pierre" on 08/12/99 04:38:53 PM Please respond to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org (Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List) cc: (bcc: Jeff Schneider/Remote/BII) Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- Dinesh, As some people mentioned, there are some solutions available on the market, but knowing exactly your objectives as well as the strong/weak points of these solutions is necessary to make the right choice. Server solution : - CLARA (Alpha/OpenVMS or PC/Win NT) from Scitec Science & Technology (http://www.scitec-robotics.com). This supervision software is very powerful, can accommodate multiple systems through the network (using DEC Message Queue, shifting to Windows Messaging Service). The investment (hardware, software and training) is only justified for large projects. Contact : Jean-Louis Rufener (President) +41 21 / 624 20 16. - Timension from Odysis (http://www.odysis.com). This tool is a real-time scheduling engine, to be integrated into a supervision software with your own GUI. This company was created by two of the main three developers of CLARA (OpenVMS version) written in ADA. I do not know if this system has ever been implemented in a Lab Automation environment yet. Contact : Jorge Carmona (President) +41 79 / 206 73 69. Workstation solution : - Win CLARA (PC/Win NT) from Scitec Science & Technology (http://www.scitec-robotics.com). This supervision software is powerful and more flexible than his big brother. The investment (hardware, software and training) is justified for mono-systems projects. Device Drivers can be developed by any WinNT language (Delphi is a reference in its case) using COM/DCOM (OCX) controls. Contact : Jean-Marc Haab (R&D Manager) (302) 998-2280. - Polara from CRS Automation Solutions (http://www.crsrobotics.com). The new version (v2.x) which should be released early next year should comply to the ASTM LECIS recommendations (http://www.lecis.org) (Contact : Torsten Staab ), becoming easier to implement for in-house integration. This version of the supervision software should come with a SDK for device driver development, as well as a set of existing drivers (options). Contact : Marion Karasiuk (Product Manager) (800) 365-7587. - SAMI NT with SILAS from Beckman-Coulter Sagian (http://www.beckmancoulter.com). This supervision software was the first one on PC to propose the Drag & Drop GUI, which is now a standard. The NT release with the SDK (w. or w/o. templates) enables the in-house integration. SILAS SDK, based on COM/DCOM (OCX) using Windows Messaging Service, provide a great flexibility for custom systems. Contact : M. Williams (Project Manager) (317) 328-3588. - PCS from Zymark (http://www.zymark.com). This supervision software (dedicated to the Zymark architecture) can be utilized as a predictive scheduler, without the traditional Zymate architecture (even if it is not easy, nor practical). - FACTS from Tecan (http://www.tecan.com). This supervision software was specifically designed for the Genesis RSP Workstation (Liquid Handler). A FACTS Generic SDK is available to developers, enabling to utilize the scheduler for other devices. This might be possible but tricky (I never did tried it with my demo version). - There were other software in the past but I think they are not available any more : ISRA (Germany) purchased by CRS had a software under Unix. Robocon might have a software, but I doubt that access to their SDK is possible. Plus some Lab Automation groups within Life Science Companies developed their own supervision sotwares, with or without scheduling features (real-time or predictive). An important aspect of this kind of software is the exception (error and anomaly) treatment, as well as the logging and tracking features. If anyone has some experience of any other commercially available product, please let us (and me) know about it. Cordialement, Pierre B. Monnet ********************************************************** Pierre B. Monnet Manager, Research Automation Rh 獼e-Poulenc Ag Company PO Box 12014 2 TW Alexander drive Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 USA Tel : (919) 549 2225 Fax : (919) 549 0054 e-mail : PMonnet@SPAMFOIL.rp-agro.com ********************************************************** > ---------- > From: Dinesh Thakur[SMTP:ThakurD@SPAMFOIL.nexin.pri.bms.com] > Reply To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org > Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 1999 10:55 AM > To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org > Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines > Importance: High > > Hi Folks, > > Could someone please direct me to a resource that provides information on > commercially available scheduling engines for laboratory automation > systems. > > thank you > > dinesh > > > > > > --- Lab-Robotics Discussion To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. From: Jeff Hrush Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 09:48:33 -0400 Does the "SILAS" router communicate to devices over a network? Workstation Product Manager Tecan US (800)352-5128 Ext.547 E-Mail: jeff.hrush@SPAMFOIL.tecan-us.com -----Original Message----- From: Jeff Schneider [mailto:jschneider@SPAMFOIL.beckman.com] Sent: Thursday, August 12, 1999 8:58 PM To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines <> SAMI NT is the scheduler...SILAS is the "router underpining" that allows for control of a product (outgoing information) and data (incoming information). SILAS is totally "manufacturer free". A SILAS module can be written for any automation hardware, whether Beckman manufacturers it or not. Beckman also offers a software developer's kit and classes to allow any programmer to write a SILAS module for any hardware or software. If you think about the old days of computers, Wordperfect (that ran under DOS) had to have printer drivers for every different printer. If you bought a new printer, you had to find or create a new printer driver. Then when you bought Lotus 123, it too had to have printer drivers for every printer and the ones for Wordperfect were useless for 123. Every application had to have it's own printer drivers. When Windows came along, it supplied the printer support for all software making things MUCH simpler and reliable (at least for printing :-) ) This was the current state of hardware and software for large robot systems until SILAS came along. SILAS is the operating system/router that makes hardware and software work together smoothly. SILAS was designed as open architecture to allow easy interchangeability of integrated hardware and software regardless of manufacturer. It is an attempt to establish a standard for hardware and software. Beckman SAMI NT (the scheduling software) operates transparently with SILAS. If another scheduler incorporated a SILAS module, it would too. Dinesh Thakur on 08/12/99 12:15:00 PM Please respond to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org (Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List) cc: (bcc: Jeff Schneider/Remote/BII) Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines HI Miguel, Thank you for your response. I have looked both at SILAS and POLARA. I have also considerable experience with PCS and limited experience with CLARA as well. Here is the trouble with many of these products. They are very closely tied to the architecture supported by the particular vendor. PCS for example, supports Zymate Architecture and from my limited discussions with the development team at Sagian, the impression I got is that SILAS scheduler is modeled to support ROME (or SILAS, I can't keep track of the changing product names). Scheduling in POLARA was very poor the last time I checked. Vendor literature does not provide detailed enough specifications for each product in order to let me compare apples to apples. The purpose of my question was to ascertain if there was any literature out there that compared functionality via specification and extendibility of these products. I am pursuing a product from an automation company that promises extendibility, however I wanted to make sure I looked at alternatives before I committed myself. I will let you know once I make my decision. regards dinesh -----Original Message----- From: Miguel Maccio [mailto:Macciom@SPAMFOIL.war.wyeth.com] Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 1999 7:32 AM To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- Dinesh, Look at SAMI, SAMI NT, SILAS from Beckman. http://www.beckman-coulter.com/beckman/biorsrch/prodinfo/. They are development platforms that include a scheduler. POLARA from CRS, is also a development platform with a scheduler for CRS robotic arms/systems. http://www.crsrobotics.com Also, CLARA, is a scheduler made by a swiss company I can't remember its name. I looked at the above products for my application. SAMI was the most promising but its licensing fees are out of my budget. If you find others would you let me know? Thank you. Miguel >>> Dinesh Thakur 08/10 10:55 AM >>> Hi Folks, Could someone please direct me to a resource that provides information on commercially available scheduling engines for laboratory automation systems. thank you dinesh --- Lab-Robotics Discussion The Laboratory Robotics Interest Group is a rapidly growing special interest group focused on robotics applications in the laboratory. Our membership consists of over 4,600 scientists and engineers worldwide. We are a non-profit organization run by unpaid volunteers so if you would like to help out with the group please contact one of the officers in your region. From: David Anderson Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 17:22:57 +0100 Dinesh, Depending on your requirements, you may be interested in our new laboratory automation workflow and scheduling suite, ACE. ACE is hardware independent, based-upon distributed components, and the SDK includes source examples for common equipment types. The scheduler at the heart of the system is a state-of-the-art real-time constraint solver. This provides both predictive scheduling and real-time dynamic re-scheduling as events unfold. It can handle complex workloads including conditionals and mixtures of non-linear workflows, e.g. divergent operations such as separation and convergent multi-stage syntheses. Standard scheduling constraints include such things as time-constraints between specific activites. ACE is underpinned by an Oracle-based planning and tracking engine. Workflows are created on an experiment planning client, which itself can be used as a component in a custom application. Specific application components exist , or are under-development, for: * compound storage, dispensary and dissolution * synthesis, analysis and workup * screening David ----------------------------------------------------------------- David Anderson The Technology Partnership Cambridge, England Tel +44 1763 262626 Fax +44 1763 261582 ----------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Feiglin, Marc" Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 19:53:41 -0400 Dinesh (& Others), I have found many of these messages very interesting. It seems that a number of vendors are responding about how great their software packages are. I wonder how many packages they have used in a day to day basis to get their impressions? In our group at Merck, we currently use three different packages from three different vendors: Beckamn's SamiNT, Scitec's WinClara, and Tecan's Facts. We have had training or significant time to play around with four other scheduler packages. What we have found is that there is no one universal solution. The package you should choose is based on the type of system you plan to build and the requirements it has for scheduling, error handling etc. There are pluses and minuses to each of the packages I've mentioned. We've used WinClara for years. It was one of the first schedulers available and was very easy to learn to use. It is very limited in its functionality though. Sami probably has one of the best GUIs out there and is probably one of the widest sold schedulers today. But it is primarily designed around Beckman's needs for its core systems (However, in one of the early training classes for SILAS, a number of us were successful at getting Sami to control a CRS and a Mitsubishi robot in addition to the Orca). If you want to start doing different things that Beckman doesn't do in its core systems, you may start to see its limitations. I also think that some Beckman sales reps can be misleading about the 'openness' of SILAS. SILAS is just the communication protocol that Beckman uses to communicate between software components on it's system. Every scheduler has to have some way to do this. WinClara uses DDE, Clara uses Dec Message Queue, and Facts uses COM. If you understand how these interfaces work, you can build your drivers for any manufactuers hardware, this ability is not unique to Sami. Sami does have the advantage that a number of vendors other then Beckman have agreed to put Silas functionality right into their software (at Lab Automation last year, BMG advertised Silas compatability). Beckman's comparison of SILAS to printer drivers is also a little misconstrued. If you buy a printer and it only comes with a Macintosh driver but you need a Windows driver, you would have to write your own driver in order to use the printer. Most automation hardware you buy today will not have a Silas driver already. It is more likely that the software will support COM or DDE, so you would still have to write a SILAS driver to use it with SAMI. Also, Of the various communication protocols, SAMI and Clara are using 'broadcast' type messaging. This means that any software component can receive and send any message. This can be very useful for creating logging and data handling applications. Beckman has a nifty demo of this in their Silas developer's kit. WinClara and Facts use 'point-to-point' messaging. This means messages are private only to between the sender and intended receiver. The former can have advantages. Beckman also mentions that any scheduler that uses SILAS can run a core system. This is true, but it can be said of any of the schedulers. If Sami supported the Facts COM interface, it could control a Tecan system. Regarding my own experience in our labs....for ease of use, Sami is a preferred way to go. For more flexibility, we prefer Facts (It supports multi-level scheduling, cross network communication, multiple robot systems, among others). The bottom line is to decide which issues are important to you and to choose a scheduler based on your needs. Although many of the schedulers are technically 'open', you are basically tied to the system that is provided by the vendor unless you are willing to od a lot of work yourself. By the way, we plan on presenting a poster at SBS next month with discusses our evaluation of schedulers for a complex 5 robot system. Marc -----Original Message----- From: Jeff Hrush [mailto:jeff.hrush@SPAMFOIL.tecan-us.com] Sent: Friday, August 13, 1999 9:49 AM To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- Does the "SILAS" router communicate to devices over a network? Workstation Product Manager Tecan US (800)352-5128 Ext.547 E-Mail: jeff.hrush@SPAMFOIL.tecan-us.com -----Original Message----- From: Jeff Schneider [mailto:jschneider@SPAMFOIL.beckman.com] Sent: Thursday, August 12, 1999 8:58 PM To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines <> SAMI NT is the scheduler...SILAS is the "router underpining" that allows for control of a product (outgoing information) and data (incoming information). SILAS is totally "manufacturer free". A SILAS module can be written for any automation hardware, whether Beckman manufacturers it or not. Beckman also offers a software developer's kit and classes to allow any programmer to write a SILAS module for any hardware or software. If you think about the old days of computers, Wordperfect (that ran under DOS) had to have printer drivers for every different printer. If you bought a new printer, you had to find or create a new printer driver. Then when you bought Lotus 123, it too had to have printer drivers for every printer and the ones for Wordperfect were useless for 123. Every application had to have it's own printer drivers. When Windows came along, it supplied the printer support for all software making things MUCH simpler and reliable (at least for printing :-) ) This was the current state of hardware and software for large robot systems until SILAS came along. SILAS is the operating system/router that makes hardware and software work together smoothly. SILAS was designed as open architecture to allow easy interchangeability of integrated hardware and software regardless of manufacturer. It is an attempt to establish a standard for hardware and software. Beckman SAMI NT (the scheduling software) operates transparently with SILAS. If another scheduler incorporated a SILAS module, it would too. Dinesh Thakur on 08/12/99 12:15:00 PM Please respond to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org (Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List) cc: (bcc: Jeff Schneider/Remote/BII) Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines HI Miguel, Thank you for your response. I have looked both at SILAS and POLARA. I have also considerable experience with PCS and limited experience with CLARA as well. Here is the trouble with many of these products. They are very closely tied to the architecture supported by the particular vendor. PCS for example, supports Zymate Architecture and from my limited discussions with the development team at Sagian, the impression I got is that SILAS scheduler is modeled to support ROME (or SILAS, I can't keep track of the changing product names). Scheduling in POLARA was very poor the last time I checked. Vendor literature does not provide detailed enough specifications for each product in order to let me compare apples to apples. The purpose of my question was to ascertain if there was any literature out there that compared functionality via specification and extendibility of these products. I am pursuing a product from an automation company that promises extendibility, however I wanted to make sure I looked at alternatives before I committed myself. I will let you know once I make my decision. regards dinesh -----Original Message----- From: Miguel Maccio [mailto:Macciom@SPAMFOIL.war.wyeth.com] Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 1999 7:32 AM To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- Dinesh, Look at SAMI, SAMI NT, SILAS from Beckman. http://www.beckman-coulter.com/beckman/biorsrch/prodinfo/. They are development platforms that include a scheduler. POLARA from CRS, is also a development platform with a scheduler for CRS robotic arms/systems. http://www.crsrobotics.com Also, CLARA, is a scheduler made by a swiss company I can't remember its name. I looked at the above products for my application. SAMI was the most promising but its licensing fees are out of my budget. If you find others would you let me know? Thank you. Miguel >>> Dinesh Thakur 08/10 10:55 AM >>> Hi Folks, Could someone please direct me to a resource that provides information on commercially available scheduling engines for laboratory automation systems. thank you dinesh Thank you for the information on SILAS. It is very evident that I have my terminology mixed up as far as your product is concerned. (BTW, can you really blame your customers if every company changes the product name every couple of years ? What happened to ROME ?). Since the discussion is about scheduling engines and not about the architecture (messaging, event handling, logging, task sequencing, persistence etc.) that supports any particular scheduling engine, the information about SILAS being "manufacturer free" does not help me any. Believe me, this may come as a surprise to you, but many of your customers are knowledgeable about system architectures and the pros and cons of each. I am totally behind the standardization effort in this industry and that is the reason why I support LECIS as a unbaised alternative (http://www.lecis.org). I am glad to know that your SAMI NT scheduler is transparent to the SILAS architecture. However, in order for it to interoperate with other architectures, it would need to publish an interface that will be implemented by the components of the other architecture. For example, a "Dispatcher" would need to know how to coordinate the execute commands issued by SAMI NT for each module it schedules. I wonder if it would be possible for all the laboratory automation vendors to who sell a scheduling engine to publish their specifications. This would allow people like me to compare apples to apples and make my decisions. regards, dinesh Bristol-Myers Squibb Company ___________________________________ -----Original Message----- From: Jeff Schneider [mailto:jschneider@SPAMFOIL.beckman.com] Sent: Thursday, August 12, 1999 8:58 PM To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines <> SAMI NT is the scheduler...SILAS is the "router underpining" that allows for control of a product (outgoing information) and data (incoming information). SILAS is totally "manufacturer free". A SILAS module can be written for any automation hardware, whether Beckman manufacturers it or not. Beckman also offers a software developer's kit and classes to allow any programmer to write a SILAS module for any hardware or software. If you think about the old days of computers, Wordperfect (that ran under DOS) had to have printer drivers for every different printer. If you bought a new printer, you had to find or create a new printer driver. Then when you bought Lotus 123, it too had to have printer drivers for every printer and the ones for Wordperfect were useless for 123. Every application had to have it's own printer drivers. When Windows came along, it supplied the printer support for all software making things MUCH simpler and reliable (at least for printing :-) ) This was the current state of hardware and software for large robot systems until SILAS came along. SILAS is the operating system/router that makes hardware and software work together smoothly. SILAS was designed as open architecture to allow easy interchangeability of integrated hardware and software regardless of manufacturer. It is an attempt to establish a standard for hardware and software. Beckman SAMI NT (the scheduling software) operates transparently with SILAS. If another scheduler incorporated a SILAS module, it would too. From: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org (Lab-Robotics Discussion) Subject: Thank you for subscribing to Lab-Robotics Discussion Date: Sun, 15 Aug 1999 18:53:38 -0500 Thank you for subscribing to the Lab-Robotics Discussion mailing list. This message is sent once every 30 days to remind you of the commands which Arrow (our mailing list software) understands. To unsubscribe from the list, send a message to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. To change to digest mode and receive messages once a day send a message with DIGEST-1 as the subject. To receive a digest once a week, send a message with a subject of DIGEST-7. To change from digest mode back to individual messages, send a message with DIGEST-OFF as the subject. For help with these and other Arrow commands, send a message to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just HELP as the subject. Note: All Arrow commands are a single word (with no spaces) and are sent in the subject of the message to the list. Andy Zaayenga Moderator, The Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List mailto:andy.zaayenga@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org web site: https://www.lab-robotics.org --- Age of List in Days 322 Number of Subscribers 742 Total Number of Messages Posted to List 829 Average Number of Messages Posted Per Day 2 From: "Dinesh S. Thakur" Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines Date: Sat, 14 Aug 1999 20:37:44 -0400 Hi Marc, I appreciate your insight into the current situation with scheduling engines. In fact, I have found your message contains references to several important factors that are paramount in the choice of a scheduling engine. I agree with you that there is no universal solution to all problems. SamiNT and FACTS, for example have their strengths and weak points just from the point of schedule optimization. However, I think there needs to be an objective evaluation of the functionality supported by all commercially available scheduling engines so that folks in the industry can pick that applies to their situation the best. I appreciate your observations about SAMI NT being closer to SILAS architecture. Your comments about messaging architecture (point-to-point vs. broadcast) are also very relevant. This does play an important role in the choice of the scheduling engine provided one has already made up their mind about a particular architecture (which is my case; I am interested in objectively looking at the functionality of the scheduling engine and its interface with the rest of the components in a distributed automation system). If one wants to stay with a particular solution, for example, SILAS or POLARA or FACTS, so be it. Unfortunately, as I am sure you will concur, the specifications for the scheduling engine are often obscured by the product literature of the entire architecture. Ease of use is an important factor to consider, however, in my case it is not relevant. We have our own framework that provides application level services such as configuration management, event and communication management, logging, persistence, lightweight interfaces for both stand-alone and automation mode etc. My interest is to evaluate 1) what type of optimization a particular scheduling engine provides 2) What type of error recovery mechanisms does it support and 3) how easy is it to extend it out of the particular vendor architecture so that I may use its functionality effectively. I look forward to your poster and conclusions. regards dinesh Bristol-Myers Squibb Company -----Original Message----- From: Feiglin, Marc To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Date: Saturday, August 14, 1999 3:51 PM Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- Dinesh (& Others), I have found many of these messages very interesting. It seems that a number of vendors are responding about how great their software packages are. I wonder how many packages they have used in a day to day basis to get their impressions? In our group at Merck, we currently use three different packages from three different vendors: Beckamn's SamiNT, Scitec's WinClara, and Tecan's Facts. We have had training or significant time to play around with four other scheduler packages. What we have found is that there is no one universal solution. The package you should choose is based on the type of system you plan to build and the requirements it has for scheduling, error handling etc. There are pluses and minuses to each of the packages I've mentioned. We've used WinClara for years. It was one of the first schedulers available and was very easy to learn to use. It is very limited in its functionality though. Sami probably has one of the best GUIs out there and is probably one of the widest sold schedulers today. But it is primarily designed around Beckman's needs for its core systems (However, in one of the early training classes for SILAS, a number of us were successful at getting Sami to control a CRS and a Mitsubishi robot in addition to the Orca). If you want to start doing different things that Beckman doesn't do in its core systems, you may start to see its limitations. I also think that some Beckman sales reps can be misleading about the 'openness' of SILAS. SILAS is just the communication protocol that Beckman uses to communicate between software components on it's system. Every scheduler has to have some way to do this. WinClara uses DDE, Clara uses Dec Message Queue, and Facts uses COM. If you understand how these interfaces work, you can build your drivers for any manufactuers hardware, this ability is not unique to Sami. Sami does have the advantage that a number of vendors other then Beckman have agreed to put Silas functionality right into their software (at Lab Automation last year, BMG advertised Silas compatability). Beckman's comparison of SILAS to printer drivers is also a little misconstrued. If you buy a printer and it only comes with a Macintosh driver but you need a Windows driver, you would have to write your own driver in order to use the printer. Most automation hardware you buy today will not have a Silas driver already. It is more likely that the software will support COM or DDE, so you would still have to write a SILAS driver to use it with SAMI. Also, Of the various communication protocols, SAMI and Clara are using 'broadcast' type messaging. This means that any software component can receive and send any message. This can be very useful for creating logging and data handling applications. Beckman has a nifty demo of this in their Silas developer's kit. WinClara and Facts use 'point-to-point' messaging. This means messages are private only to between the sender and intended receiver. The former can have advantages. Beckman also mentions that any scheduler that uses SILAS can run a core system. This is true, but it can be said of any of the schedulers. If Sami supported the Facts COM interface, it could control a Tecan system. Regarding my own experience in our labs....for ease of use, Sami is a preferred way to go. For more flexibility, we prefer Facts (It supports multi-level scheduling, cross network communication, multiple robot systems, among others). The bottom line is to decide which issues are important to you and to choose a scheduler based on your needs. Although many of the schedulers are technically 'open', you are basically tied to the system that is provided by the vendor unless you are willing to od a lot of work yourself. By the way, we plan on presenting a poster at SBS next month with discusses our evaluation of schedulers for a complex 5 robot system. Marc -----Original Message----- From: Jeff Hrush [mailto:jeff.hrush@SPAMFOIL.tecan-us.com] Sent: Friday, August 13, 1999 9:49 AM To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- Does the "SILAS" router communicate to devices over a network? Workstation Product Manager Tecan US (800)352-5128 Ext.547 E-Mail: jeff.hrush@SPAMFOIL.tecan-us.com -----Original Message----- From: Jeff Schneider [mailto:jschneider@SPAMFOIL.beckman.com] Sent: Thursday, August 12, 1999 8:58 PM To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines <> SAMI NT is the scheduler...SILAS is the "router underpining" that allows for control of a product (outgoing information) and data (incoming information). SILAS is totally "manufacturer free". A SILAS module can be written for any automation hardware, whether Beckman manufacturers it or not. Beckman also offers a software developer's kit and classes to allow any programmer to write a SILAS module for any hardware or software. If you think about the old days of computers, Wordperfect (that ran under DOS) had to have printer drivers for every different printer. If you bought a new printer, you had to find or create a new printer driver. Then when you bought Lotus 123, it too had to have printer drivers for every printer and the ones for Wordperfect were useless for 123. Every application had to have it's own printer drivers. When Windows came along, it supplied the printer support for all software making things MUCH simpler and reliable (at least for printing :-) ) This was the current state of hardware and software for large robot systems until SILAS came along. SILAS is the operating system/router that makes hardware and software work together smoothly. SILAS was designed as open architecture to allow easy interchangeability of integrated hardware and software regardless of manufacturer. It is an attempt to establish a standard for hardware and software. Beckman SAMI NT (the scheduling software) operates transparently with SILAS. If another scheduler incorporated a SILAS module, it would too. Dinesh Thakur on 08/12/99 12:15:00 PM Please respond to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org (Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List) cc: (bcc: Jeff Schneider/Remote/BII) Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines HI Miguel, Thank you for your response. I have looked both at SILAS and POLARA. I have also considerable experience with PCS and limited experience with CLARA as well. Here is the trouble with many of these products. They are very closely tied to the architecture supported by the particular vendor. PCS for example, supports Zymate Architecture and from my limited discussions with the development team at Sagian, the impression I got is that SILAS scheduler is modeled to support ROME (or SILAS, I can't keep track of the changing product names). Scheduling in POLARA was very poor the last time I checked. Vendor literature does not provide detailed enough specifications for each product in order to let me compare apples to apples. The purpose of my question was to ascertain if there was any literature out there that compared functionality via specification and extendibility of these products. I am pursuing a product from an automation company that promises extendibility, however I wanted to make sure I looked at alternatives before I committed myself. I will let you know once I make my decision. regards dinesh -----Original Message----- From: Miguel Maccio [mailto:Macciom@SPAMFOIL.war.wyeth.com] Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 1999 7:32 AM To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- Dinesh, Look at SAMI, SAMI NT, SILAS from Beckman. http://www.beckman-coulter.com/beckman/biorsrch/prodinfo/. They are development platforms that include a scheduler. POLARA from CRS, is also a development platform with a scheduler for CRS robotic arms/systems. http://www.crsrobotics.com Also, CLARA, is a scheduler made by a swiss company I can't remember its name. I looked at the above products for my application. SAMI was the most promising but its licensing fees are out of my budget. If you find others would you let me know? Thank you. Miguel >>> Dinesh Thakur 08/10 10:55 AM >>> Hi Folks, Could someone please direct me to a resource that provides information on commercially available scheduling engines for laboratory automation systems. thank you dinesh --- Lab-Robotics Discussion To retrieve a help file on this list, send an e-mail message to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just HELP as the subject. From: Jeff Hrush Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 19:20:39 -0400 Peter, TECAN strongly adheres to the recommendation that this forum should be for customer and user comments, not sales presentations. The following information is offered as clarification of scheduling software error recovery, a current topic. FACTS scheduling software has two error states, 'Loss of Sample' and 'Loss of Peripheral.' A 'Loss of Sample' error is specific to errors that correspond to individual plates, so if a plate is dropped the software will "waste" that plate. However, the software will continue with the next plate in the sequence. If a plate is lost when it is placed on a device that has multiple positions, like a transfer station or a pipetting station, FACTS will "waste" the specific plate in that specific device and be able to continue at another site on that device, without user-intervention. A 'Loss of Peripheral' error occurs if a single input device (reader, washer, etc.) on the system fails for a mechanical error. If this occurs, and there is an exact duplicate device (two of the same reader or washer), the process continues with the secondary device. If there is only the primary device, the software continues to process all of the objects, which have already passed the broken device. It switches any objects already in process that have not reached the broken device to a manual status so they can still be saved by processing them externally. And, it does not start any new objects that would have to be processed by the broken device. As an example, one customer had more than 100 plates in a CO2 incubator for 10 hours. During the night their pipetter well ran out of liquid. FACTS continued processing the plates and when they came in the next morning, although they had lost the use of that device, their 100+ plates were processed. This customer tells us they know of no other scheduling software on the market, which provides as powerful error handling capabilities as FACTS. The issue regarding the overrun of the time window can be simply overcome by increasing the duration of a specific window during the early stages of system implementation. With the time-fit functionality, FACTS is a self-learning system. The efficiency and system performance of FACTS is improved simply by using it. As soon as a specific step is finished, the process is rescheduled, meaning it chops off any additional time allowed in the time window and the next step in the process begins. All scheduling software (all software for that matter) has strengths and weaknesses. For different applications, there are often good reasons to choose one over another. We encourage users to define their criteria carefully and look at all products before making a decision. TECAN also offers regular FACTS training classes at TECAN facilities worldwide, as well as customer sites. Best Regards, Jeff Hrush Workstation Product Manager Tecan US (800)352-5128 Ext.547 E-Mail: jeff.hrush@SPAMFOIL.tecan-us.com -----Original Message----- From: Peter Niggemann [ mailto:peter.niggemann@SPAMFOIL.bigfoot.com ] Sent: Thursday, August 12, 1999 11:57 PM To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Scheduling Engines --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- At 02:38 PM 8/12/99 , Monnet, Pierre wrote: >An important aspect of this kind of software is the exception (error and >anomaly) treatment, as well as the logging and tracking features. > Pierre, I think we all would appreciate if you could elaborate on your experiences with the error recovery. I am only familiar with two of these products. I know what the Tecan FACTS does for errors. It just sits there and does not appear to allow you to recover if you miss the time window (very frustrating). The Zymark PCS Scheduler does allow for error recovery if the underlying Easylab code has been written correctly. I am especially interested in the error recovery for the Scitec products and SAMI from Beckman. I looked into the SAMI and it appeared to be capable but price puts it out of range for the small jobs I had in mind for it. Thanks --- Lab-Robotics Discussion To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. From: "SMICKER, Matthew" Subject: 384 round bottom polypropylene plate Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 10:56:11 -0400 Can anyone recommend a 384 well round bottom polypropylene plate that holds at least 70ul? Matt Smicker RPR HTS From: "Richard Hammitt" Subject: 384 well quantitation Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 11:15:20 -0500 We presently use microtiter plate reader for DNA quantitation (254 nm). We'd like to move to a 384 well plate reader, so can anyone recommend one? What experiences have anyone else had with them? Has anyone seen one integrated into a liquid handling system? Richard Hammitt Sigma-Genosys Biotechnologies From: Mike Cianci Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 384 round bottom polypropylene plate Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 13:11:56 -0400 I believe that LabSystems makes such a plate although I do not know if it can accommodate a working volume of 70 ul. Mike Cianci Tecan US -----Original Message----- From: SMICKER, Matthew [mailto:Matthew.Smicker@SPAMFOIL.rp-rorer.com] Sent: Monday, August 23, 1999 10:56 AM To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 384 round bottom polypropylene plate --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- Can anyone recommend a 384 well round bottom polypropylene plate that holds at least 70ul? Matt Smicker RPR HTS --- Lab-Robotics Discussion A digest is a single MIME-encoded message containing the contents of all the messages posted to the mailing list during the digest period. If you send the DIGEST-xx (xx is a number) command to the list, you will no longer receive individual messages. Instead you will receive digest messages at the specified interval. From: Paul Henkel Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 384 round bottom polypropylene plate Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 13:34:05 -0400 http://www.bd.com/labware/platesample/ You might try Becton Dickenson They show a 400 uL round bottom PP plate. PS - If you need to print your own bar code labels, please contact me. Paul Henkel paul@SPAMFOIL.eiminc.com Electronic Imaging Materials Inc (603) 357 1459 International (800) 535 6987 USA -----Original Message----- From: SMICKER, Matthew [mailto:Matthew.Smicker@SPAMFOIL.rp-rorer.com] Sent: Monday, August 23, 1999 10:56 AM To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 384 round bottom polypropylene plate --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- Can anyone recommend a 384 well round bottom polypropylene plate that holds at least 70ul? Matt Smicker RPR HTS --- Lab-Robotics Discussion To retrieve a help file on this list, send an e-mail message to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just HELP as the subject. Matt, Nalgene/Nunc makes a good one that is available in a variety of different colors. Whatman Polyfiltronics has one available. Marsh Scientific sells one that has a V-bottom and has a small channel between each well, which is really nice if you are worried about cross-contamination of samples. They seal very nicely too. I believe Falcon has one now too, a round well, round bottom. You can send me a separate email for more information. Jeff Dahlen jdahlen@SPAMFOIL.biosite.com -----Original Message----- From: SMICKER, Matthew [mailto:Matthew.Smicker@SPAMFOIL.rp-rorer.com] Sent: Monday, August 23, 1999 7:56 AM To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 384 round bottom polypropylene plate --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- Can anyone recommend a 384 well round bottom polypropylene plate that holds at least 70ul? Matt Smicker RPR HTS --- Lab-Robotics Discussion A digest is a single MIME-encoded message containing the contents of all the messages posted to the mailing list during the digest period. If you send the DIGEST-xx (xx is a number) command to the list, you will no longer receive individual messages. Instead you will receive digest messages at the specified interval. From: Ken Bunn Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 384 round bottom polypropylene plate Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 16:16:14 -0400 Nunc has a 384 well PP with a maximum volume of 120ul. Just respond via e-mail for samples and I will be happy to forward them to you for your evaluation. Ken Bunn -----Original Message----- From: SMICKER, Matthew [SMTP:Matthew.Smicker@SPAMFOIL.rp-rorer.com] Sent: Monday, August 23, 1999 10:56 AM To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 384 round bottom polypropylene plate --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- Can anyone recommend a 384 well round bottom polypropylene plate that holds at least 70ul? Matt Smicker RPR HTS --- Lab-Robotics Discussion To retrieve a help file on this list, send an e-mail message to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just HELP as the subject. From: "Raymond Reilly" Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 384 well quantitation Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 16:32:35 -0400 CRS Automation Solutions is currently building a automated DNA Quantitation system which includes liquid handling and reading of 384 well plates. Please contact us if you would like additional information. Regards, Ray Reilly Eastern Regional Manager CRS Automation Solutions email: RFReilly@SPAMFOIL.worldnet.att.net Tele: 908-665-7757 Fax: 908-665-0225 ----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Hammitt To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Sent: Monday, August 23, 1999 12:15 PM Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 384 well quantitation > --------------------- > Lab-Robotics Discussion > --------------------- > > We presently use microtiter plate reader for DNA quantitation (254 nm). > We'd like to move to a 384 well plate reader, so can anyone recommend one? > What experiences have anyone else had with them? Has anyone seen one > integrated into a liquid handling system? > > Richard Hammitt > Sigma-Genosys Biotechnologies > > --- Lab-Robotics Discussion > To review archived messages from this list, send an e-mail message to > discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just RESEND-xx (xx is a number) as the > subject. You will get a single digest message for the last xx days of > messages. > > From: "Michelle Briggs" Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 384 round bottom polypropylene plate Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 20:08:38 -0400 Greiner makes a great plate that hold about 140ul. its part # 781-270. PGC Scientifics sells the plate. 1800 424 3300 -----Original Message----- From: SMICKER, Matthew To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Date: Monday, August 23, 1999 11:53 AM Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 384 round bottom polypropylene plate >--------------------- >Lab-Robotics Discussion >--------------------- >Can anyone recommend a 384 well round bottom polypropylene plate that holds >at least 70ul? > >Matt Smicker >RPR >HTS > From: "Neal T. Holtzman" Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 384 round bottom polypropyleneplate Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 20:07:13 -0400 ABgene offers a polypropylene 384 well plate with square wells and V-shaped bottoms. The maximum well volume is 120 ul. These plates are excellent with automation! They are distributed in the USA by Marsh Biomedical Products. Neal T. Holtzman ABgene US Sales and Marketing Office Phone: 888-870-8268 Fax: 716-271-6146 E-mail: neal@SPAMFOIL.abgene.com Web: www.abgene.com ABgene is a registered trademark of Advanced Biotechnologies Ltd. We need some help with a problem: We have samples submitted to our laboratory in a standard 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube. We need to access the sample with an automated liquid handling system and so, need to remove the lids from the tubes. Does anyone out there have a simple solution (without changing the tube type)??? Yours in anticipation, Andy Hopwood Andy, Are these the tapered bottom plastic tubes with a snap top on a plastic hinge? Also, does the opening need to be integrated with the sampling or are looking to open a batch and then run them through the liquid handler? Hoping to help, John Petracca jPi, Inc. jpi_inc@SPAMFOIL.yahoo.com -----Original Message----- From: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org [mailto:discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org]On Behalf Of andy_hopwood Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 1999 7:49 AM To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: De-capping of microfuge tubes We need some help with a problem: We have samples submitted to our laboratory in a standard 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube. We need to access the sample with an automated liquid handling system and so, need to remove the lids from the tubes. Does anyone out there have a simple solution (without changing the tube type)??? Yours in anticipation, Andy Hopwood From: "Samir M. Dandekar" Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: De-capping of microfuge tubes Date: Tue, 24 Aug 1999 11:10:59 -0500 Do you need to your de-capping to be automated ? If not, a this simple manual method may work. One of our customers rigged a motorized screwdriver to unscrew the caps from sample tubes. Samir Dandekar The Technology Integration Group http://www.ttig.com 919-461-2357 On Tuesday, August 24, 1999 6:49 AM, andy_hopwood [SMTP:andy_hopwood@SPAMFOIL.newscientist.net] wrote: > We need some help with a problem: > We have samples submitted to our laboratory in a standard 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube. We need to access the sample with an automated liquid handling system and so, need to remove the lids from the tubes. > Does anyone out there have a simple solution (without changing the tube type)??? > > Yours in anticipation, > > Andy Hopwood > << File: ATT00001.html >> Sorry for the lack of detail. The tube is a standard polypropylene microcentrifuge tube commonly known as an "Eppendorf" though ours are supplied by sarstedt in the UK. The tube lid is a snap shut type rather than a screw cap. The tubes will be assembled in a 96 well format in an as yet unspecified rack - the rack is likely to be custom made. It would be nice if the tubes are opened in some way on the pipetting station but not necessary. We could open the batch prior to manually placing them on to the pipetting station. I am willing to consider any solution to this problem. I wondered if we could melt our way throuh the tube lid, or perhaps cut our way through with some kind of a tubular blade??? Any contributions to the resolution of this problem are welcomed. Thanks in advance for your help Andy -----Original Message----- From: John Petracca To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Date: Wednesday, August 25, 1999 5:04 AM Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: De-capping of microfuge tubes Andy, Are these the tapered bottom plastic tubes with a snap top on a plastic hinge? Also, does the opening need to be integrated with the sampling or are looking to open a batch and then run them through the liquid handler? Hoping to help, John Petracca jPi, Inc. jpi_inc@SPAMFOIL.yahoo.com -----Original Message----- From: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org [mailto:discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org]On Behalf Of andy_hopwood Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 1999 7:49 AM To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: De-capping of microfuge tubes We need some help with a problem: We have samples submitted to our laboratory in a standard 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube. We need to access the sample with an automated liquid handling system and so, need to remove the lids from the tubes. Does anyone out there have a simple solution (without changing the tube type)??? Yours in anticipation, Andy Hopwood From: "Brunk,Donald H" Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: De-capping of microfuge tubes Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 10:21:59 -0400 Andy, We at Qualicon have developed and patented a simple tool for manually decapping strips of 8 tubes. It works sort of like a bottle cap opener. We supply it to customers using our BAX(R) pathogen detection system. I have several times wondered if the tool could be manipulated by a machine to automatically do the job, since we have several customers using large numbers of our kits. I'd be happy to share details of the tool with you or others interested in solving this problem. Don -----Original Message----- From: andy_hopwood [mailto:andy_hopwood@SPAMFOIL.newscientist.net] Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 1999 5:24 AM To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: De-capping of microfuge tubes Sorry for the lack of detail. The tube is a standard polypropylene microcentrifuge tube commonly known as an "Eppendorf" though ours are supplied by sarstedt in the UK. The tube lid is a snap shut type rather than a screw cap. The tubes will be assembled in a 96 well format in an as yet unspecified rack - the rack is likely to be custom made. It would be nice if the tubes are opened in some way on the pipetting station but not necessary. We could open the batch prior to manually placing them on to the pipetting station. I am willing to consider any solution to this problem. I wondered if we could melt our way throuh the tube lid, or perhaps cut our way through with some kind of a tubular blade??? Any contributions to the resolution of this problem are welcomed. Thanks in advance for your help Andy -----Original Message----- From: John Petracca < jpetracca@SPAMFOIL.msn.com > To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List < discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org > Date: Wednesday, August 25, 1999 5:04 AM Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: De-capping of microfuge tubes Andy, Are these the tapered bottom plastic tubes with a snap top on a plastic hinge? Also, does the opening need to be integrated with the sampling or are looking to open a batch and then run them through the liquid handler? Hoping to help, John Petracca jPi, Inc. jpi_inc@SPAMFOIL.yahoo.com -----Original Message----- From: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org [mailto:discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org]On Behalf Of andy_hopwood Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 1999 7:49 AM To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: De-capping of microfuge tubes We need some help with a problem: We have samples submitted to our laboratory in a standard 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube. We need to access the sample with an automated liquid handling system and so, need to remove the lids from the tubes. Does anyone out there have a simple solution (without changing the tube type)??? Yours in anticipation, Andy Hopwood Dear Andy/group What is commonly known as the "Eppendorf tube" is a 1.5 ml thing, and has a diameter of >9 mm, and thus cannot be placed in in the common 96 well format (8x12, 9 mm centre distance). Niklas Tyrefors, PhD Senior Scientist, Mass Spectrometry Quintiles AB _______________________________ The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. "andy_hopwood" on 99-08-25 11:23:35 Please respond to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org (Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List) cc: (bcc: Niklas Tyrefors/QUPP/Quintiles) Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: De-capping of microfuge tubes Sorry for the lack of detail. The tube is a standard polypropylene microcentrifuge tube commonly known as an "Eppendorf" though ours are supplied by sarstedt in the UK. The tube lid is a snap shut type rather than a screw cap. The tubes will be assembled in a 96 well format in an as yet unspecified rack - the rack is likely to be custom made. It would be nice if the tubes are opened in some way on the pipetting station but not necessary. We could open the batch prior to manually placing them on to the pipetting station. I am willing to consider any solution to this problem. I wondered if we could melt our way throuh the tube lid, or perhaps cut our way through with some kind of a tubular blade??? Any contributions to the resolution of this problem are welcomed. Thanks in advance for your help Andy -----Original Message----- From: John Petracca To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Date: Wednesday, August 25, 1999 5:04 AM Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: De-capping of microfuge tubes Andy, Are these the tapered bottom plastic tubes with a snap top on a plastic hinge? Also, does the opening need to be integrated with the sampling or are looking to open a batch and then run them through the liquid handler? Hoping to help, John Petracca jPi, Inc. jpi_inc@SPAMFOIL.yahoo.com -----Original Message----- From: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org [mailto:discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org]On Behalf Of andy_hopwood Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 1999 7:49 AM To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: De-capping of microfuge tubes We need some help with a problem: We have samples submitted to our laboratory in a standard 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube. We need to access the sample with an automated liquid handling system and so, need to remove the lids from the tubes. Does anyone out there have a simple solution (without changing the tube type)??? Yours in anticipation, Andy Hopwood [] att1.htm Andy, One option would be to completely decap the tubes by cutting off the lids. This would eliminate any interfence of the caps to adjacent open tubes. Once the batch is complete, place new push in caps on the open tubes to reclose. Push in caps for microtubes are commonly available in addition to 96 position microtube racks. The microtube racks do not have the SBS standard spacing or footprint but could be utilized depending on the flexibility of your robotic system. I hope this helps. Feel free to contact me if I can be of service, Chad Jenkins E&K Scientific Products, Inc. (800) 934-8114 ext 105 http://www.eandkscientific.com andy_hopwood wrote: Sorry for the lack of detail. The tube is a standard polypropylene microcentrifuge tube commonly known as an "Eppendorf" though ours are supplied by sarstedt in the UK. The tube lid is a snap shut type rather than a screw cap. The tubes will be assembled in a 96 well format in an as yet unspecified rack - the rack is likely to be custom made. It would be nice if the tubes are opened in some way on the pipetting station but not necessary. We could open the batch prior to manually placing them on to the pipetting station. I am willing to consider any solution to this problem. I wondered if we could melt our way throuh the tube lid, or perhaps cut our way through with some kind of a tubular blade??? Any contributions to the resolution of this problem are welcomed. Thanks in advance for your help Andy -----Original Message----- From: John Petracca To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Date: Wednesday, August 25, 1999 5:04 AM Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: De-capping of microfuge tubes Andy,Are these the tapered bottom plastic tubes with a snap top on a plastic hinge? Also, does the opening need to be integrated with the sampling or are looking to open a batch and then run them through the liquid handler?Hoping to help,John PetraccajPi, Inc.jpi_inc@SPAMFOIL.yahoo.com -----Original Message----- From: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org [mailto:discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org]On Behalf Of andy_hopwood Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 1999 7:49 AM To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: De-capping of microfuge tubes We need some help with a problem:We have samples submitted to our laboratory in a standard 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube. We need to access the sample with an automated liquid handling system and so, need to remove the lids from the tubes.Does anyone out there have a simple solution (without changing the tube type)??? Yours in anticipation, Andy Hopwood From: "Young, Owen" Subject: Filtering/centrifuging Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 10:27:23 +1200 I want to measure the glucose concentration in a meat slurry made from ~ 1 g raw meat and ~ 7 ml of acetate buffer, at roughly 40蚓. (Exact conditions are negotiable.) To date we have been using diabetic meters, in particular the Esprit meter from Bayer. This meter work OK in the lab but at around 50c a shot, it is too expensive for our application, one a minute 18 hours a day for each industrial site. Moreover, the precision is not quite as good as we would like and too often the connective tissue (collagen) in the slurry prevents clean capillary action into the little wells. After all, these one-shot sensors are designed for human blood, which is normally not chunky! YSI-type glucose meters have been proposed but the main problem here is that they demand a homogeneous aliquot. My slurries are anything but that. This has led us to search for dippable sensors that can be rinsed between samples and periodically recalibrated. Fine, although such sensors are not thick on the ground. An alternative approach is to filter or centrifuge the slurry so that established glucose measuring technologies can be applied to a homogeneous solution. I probably need only 500 ?l at most. That's the mission. Any clues? Owen Young From: "David Allen" Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Filtering/centrifuging Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 22:36:50 -0400 > --------------------- > I want to measure the glucose concentration in a meat slurry > made from ~ 1 g > raw meat and ~ 7 ml of acetate buffer, at roughly 40蚓. > (Exact conditions > are negotiable.) what kind of accuracy and precision are your looking for? will a calorimetric strip work? they could be read automatically will work with "chunky" samples. you might also checkout some of the chemfet sensors. da From: "John Petracca" Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Filtering/centrifuging Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 23:16:14 -0400 Owen, I am an automation systems integrator NOT an analytical chemist so please forgive any ignorance of your real problem. However, in doing a system for a large corporation in the food industry (fruit NOT meat) a problem arose in reading BRIX value. BRIX is somehow sugar, so is glucose - any connection? More for automation purposes than any other reason, we wanted a flow through or "dippable" type probe to read BRIX on a fruit slurry. We found a company out of Blacksburg, VA called F&S who said the following in a follow up letter to us: "Also enclosed in the brochure is information on F&S' patented long period grating(LPG)-based bio/chem sensors. The LPG sensing platform shows excellent potential for addressing process monitoring requirements with the ability to measure BRIX in non-homogeneous matrices." I'd love to discuss your filtering and centrifuging needs but it sounds like if there is a simple method of reading the slurry directly then this requirement goes away. I hope this has been of some help. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you would like more info on F&S or if you feel I could help in any way. Sincere regards, John Petracca President, jPi, Inc. jpi_inc@SPAMFOIL.yahoo.com 978-365-7487 -----Original Message----- From: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org [mailto:discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org]On Behalf Of Young, Owen Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 1999 6:27 PM To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Filtering/centrifuging --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- I want to measure the glucose concentration in a meat slurry made from ~ 1 g raw meat and ~ 7 ml of acetate buffer, at roughly 40蚓. (Exact conditions are negotiable.) To date we have been using diabetic meters, in particular the Esprit meter from Bayer. This meter work OK in the lab but at around 50c a shot, it is too expensive for our application, one a minute 18 hours a day for each industrial site. Moreover, the precision is not quite as good as we would like and too often the connective tissue (collagen) in the slurry prevents clean capillary action into the little wells. After all, these one-shot sensors are designed for human blood, which is normally not chunky! YSI-type glucose meters have been proposed but the main problem here is that they demand a homogeneous aliquot. My slurries are anything but that. This has led us to search for dippable sensors that can be rinsed between samples and periodically recalibrated. Fine, although such sensors are not thick on the ground. An alternative approach is to filter or centrifuge the slurry so that established glucose measuring technologies can be applied to a homogeneous solution. I probably need only 500 ?l at most. That's the mission. Any clues? Owen Young --- Lab-Robotics Discussion To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. Hello Owen, For filtering the meat slurry I suggest syringe filters with incorporated prefilter to prevent blocking of the 0.45 痠 membrane. For difficult to filter samples S&S offers several special filters, a simple test can help you to find the best solution. If you like to get detailed information or to run a test, contact me by e-mail rolf_preuss@SPAMFOIL.s-und-s.de http://www.s-und-s.de/Pages-NEU-eng/UB3/Filtration/UB3-MF-RTU.html "Young, Owen" on 26.08.99 00.27.23 Bitte antworten an discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org An: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org (Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List) Kopie: (Blindkopie: Rolf Preuss/Schleicher und Schuell/DE) Thema: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Filtering/centrifuging --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- I want to measure the glucose concentration in a meat slurry made from ~ 1 g raw meat and ~ 7 ml of acetate buffer, at roughly 40 蚓. (Exact conditions are negotiable.) To date we have been using diabetic meters, in particular the Esprit meter from Bayer. This meter work OK in the lab but at around 50c a shot, it is too expensive for our application, one a minute 18 hours a day for each industrial site. Moreover, the precision is not quite as good as we would like and too often the connective tissue (collagen) in the slurry prevents clean capillary action into the little wells. After all, these one-shot sensors are designed for human blood, which is normally not chunky! YSI-type glucose meters have been proposed but the main problem here is that they demand a homogeneous aliquot. My slurries are anything but that. This has led us to search for dippable sensors that can be rinsed between samples and periodically recalibrated. Fine, although such sensors are not thick on the ground. An alternative approach is to filter or centrifuge the slurry so that established glucose measuring technologies can be applied to a homogeneous solution. I probably need only 500 ?l at most. That's the mission. Any clues? Owen Young --- Lab-Robotics Discussion To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. From: Annette Jabson Wheelock Subject: Heat Sealer Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 11:09:14 -0700 I was wondering if anyone has come across any great automated heat-sealers for microtiter plates. We currently have a Marsh ALPS-100, but it is prone to a lot of breakdowns. Does anyone know of a very reliable one that could be integrated with a twister arm? Thanks - Annette Jabson Wheelock Alanex Corporation From: Mike Lafferty Subject: 1536 Well Dispensers Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 17:32:16 -0700 I am looking for a dispenser for 1536 well (Greiner) plates. The device must be robot (ORCA) compatible and able to fill a plate with media @SPAMFOIL.8ul/well in 1 to 2 minutes without any splashing/contamination between wells or bubbles. I am aware of the PixSys from Cartesian Technologies, but would like an alternative. Mike Lafferty Principal Engineer Diversa Corp. mlafferty@SPAMFOIL.diversa.com From: "David Allen" Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Heat Sealer Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 22:51:25 -0400 > --------------------- > I was wondering if anyone has come across any great automated > heat-sealers for microtiter plates. We currently have a > Marsh ALPS-100, > but it is prone to a lot of breakdowns. Does anyone know of a very > reliable one that could be integrated with a twister arm? > doesn't Zymark have a sealer? I thought I saw one with a Twister at last year's ISLR. da From: "David Allen" Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Antwort: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Filtering/centrifuging Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 22:54:09 -0400 > > For filtering the meat slurry I suggest syringe filters with > incorporated > prefilter to prevent blocking of the 0.45 actually, for small volumes (<2cc) you might want to check out Whatman's UniPrep system. it'd be much easier to load than a syringe and their processor can be setup to provide the appropriate pressure for squeezing the slurry. da From: Peter Niggemann Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: De-capping of microfuge tubes Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 02:27:41 -0700 Andy, The simple solutions are the best. If you can leave the tubes open you are better off doing this. If these are the microfuge type tube with the hinged cap attached then there are additional complications as the rack must hold the cap in place. Justin Webster of Hypertask has such a rack for the Tecan. See www.hypertask.com for the contact info. As for burning or drilling through a cap I would suggest this is too complex a solution for the problem and will likely be a source of failure. If the tubes must remain capped then you should concentrate your efforts on a capping method that will have either a pierceble foil element or a septum seal. One way to accomplished this is to sandwich a septum between a metal plate with chamfered cannula guides and the uncapped tubes in a rack. This arrangement allows the cannula to cleanly pierce the septum and withdraw or dispense in to the tubes. If designed properly you will be able to reuse the septum many times so the cost per assay should be low. Another alternative is to change the tube type. Microtubes in 96 well racks centrifuge great and give you the added advantage of probably fitting all of your dispensing and pipetting tools as is. They also have a variety of cap mats some of which are pierceble. Take Care. At 02:23 AM 8/25/99 , > > andy_hopwood wrote: > > Sorry for the lack of detail. The tube is a standard polypropylene > microcentrifuge tube commonly known as an "Eppendorf" though ours are > supplied by sarstedt in the UK. The tube lid is a snap shut type rather > than a screw cap. The tubes will be assembled in a 96 well format in an > as yet unspecified rack - the rack is likely to be custom made. It would > be nice if the tubes are opened in some way on the pipetting station but > not necessary. We could open the batch prior to manually placing them on > to the pipetting station. I am willing to consider any solution to this > problem. > > I wondered if we could melt our way throuh the tube lid, or perhaps cut > our way through with some kind of a tubular blade??? > > Any contributions to the resolution of this problem are welcomed. > > Thanks in advance for your help > > Andy >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: John Petracca <jpetracca@SPAMFOIL.msn.com> >> To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List >> <discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org> >> Date: Wednesday, August 25, 1999 5:04 AM >> Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: De-capping of microfuge tubes >> >> Andy, >> >> Are these the tapered bottom plastic tubes with a snap top on a plastic >> hinge? Also, does the opening need to be integrated with the sampling or >> are looking to open a batch and then run them through the liquid >> handler? >> >> Hoping to help, >> >> John Petracca >> jPi, Inc. >> jpi_inc@SPAMFOIL.yahoo.com >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org [mailto:discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org]On >>> Behalf Of andy_hopwood >>> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 1999 7:49 AM >>> To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List >>> Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: De-capping of microfuge tubes >>> >>> We need some help with a problem: >>> We have samples submitted to our laboratory in a standard 1.5 ml >>> microcentrifuge tube. We need to access the sample with an automated >>> liquid handling system and so, need to remove the lids from the tubes. >>> Does anyone out there have a simple solution (without changing the tube >>> type)??? >>> >>> Yours in anticipation, >>> >>> Andy Hopwood >> > > From: "Dr. Jens Weyen" Subject: Automated DFLC analysis and automated plant tissue handling Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 10:14:23 +0200 Dear colleagues, this is our first mail to the discussion group. Some plant tissue culture aspects and questions! Is there anybody with experience in preparation of plant tissue for flowcytometric analysis (DFLC) of ploidy level. We are so far using razor blades to set the cell cernels free. We would like to move on to an automated robot supported macerating/filtering system?! Is there anybody with experience in automated plant tissue handling in vitro. Transfer of calli from in vitro dishes to other dishes under sterile conditions or in vitro containers by a robot!? Automated sampling of plant tissue will be very important in the future in plant breeding companies. So far we take the samples by hand/manually. Is there another automated sytem existing?? Thank you very much in advance. -- Dr. Jens Weyen SAATEN-UNION Resistenzlabor GmbH Hovedisser Str. 92 D - 33818 Leopoldshoehe fon: + 49 5208 950492 fax: + 49 5208 950494 e-mail: weyen@SPAMFOIL.sulab.kunden.de From: "Gail M. Lachs" Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 1536 Well Dispensers Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 08:18:06 EST Dear Mike, Matrix Technologies offers two "PlateMate" systems suitable for dispensing into 1536 well greiner plates. We have a 96 channel system available that is capable of accessing 96, 384, 864 and 1536 well plates, available in two volume ranges: 1-25ul and 2-250 ul. In addition, we offer a 384 channel system that is capable of accessing 384 and 1536 well plates with a volume range of 0.1-10ul. Feel free to contact me if you would like any additional information or check out our web page at www.matrixtechcorp.com. Thanks! Kind regards, Gail Lachs Automation Sales Coordinator Matrix Technologies Corp (800) 345-0206 ext 151 glachs@SPAMFOIL.matrixtechcorp.com > From: Mike Lafferty > To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org (Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List) > Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 1536 Well Dispensers > Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 17:32:16 -0700 > Reply-to: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org > --------------------- > Lab-Robotics Discussion > --------------------- > I am looking for a dispenser for 1536 well (Greiner) plates. The device must > be robot (ORCA) compatible and able to fill a plate with media @SPAMFOIL.8ul/well in > 1 to 2 minutes without any splashing/contamination between wells or bubbles. > I am aware of the PixSys from Cartesian Technologies, but would like an > alternative. > > Mike Lafferty > Principal Engineer > Diversa Corp. > mlafferty@SPAMFOIL.diversa.com > > --- Lab-Robotics Discussion > To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to > discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. > > From: ccardella@SPAMFOIL.packardinstrument.com Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 1536 Well Dispensers Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 00:27:58 -0400 Mike, CCS Packard has a 384 disposable tip head (P30 tips) on it's PlateTrak/MiniTrak that is capable of pipetting into 1536 well plates. I imagine it can be made ORCA compatible by integrating the arm with the 'diving board' at the end of the instrument conveyor. If you would like more information, please feel free to contact CCS Packard or myself. Best Regards, Craig Cardella ccardella@SPAMFOIL.packardinstrument.com 1-800-323-1891 Mike Lafferty on 08/26/99 08:32:16 PM Please respond to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org (Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List) cc: (bcc: Craig Cardella/PI/US/PBC) Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 1536 Well Dispensers --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- I am looking for a dispenser for 1536 well (Greiner) plates. The device must be robot (ORCA) compatible and able to fill a plate with media @SPAMFOIL.8ul/well in 1 to 2 minutes without any splashing/contamination between wells or bubbles. I am aware of the PixSys from Cartesian Technologies, but would like an alternative. Mike Lafferty Principal Engineer Diversa Corp. mlafferty@SPAMFOIL.diversa.com --- Lab-Robotics Discussion To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. Dear Mike Lafferty Oyster Bay Pump Works offers such systems. Various make to order configurations are available. Please contact us to discuss details. Regards, Patrick Gaillard Oyster Bay Pump Works, Inc. 78 Midland Avenue, P.O. Box 725 Hicksville, New York 11802-0725 USA Tel: 516-933-4500 (x 200) Fax: 516-933-4501 www.obpw.com prodinfo@SPAMFOIL.obpw.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Mike Lafferty To: Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List Sent: Thursday, August 26, 1999 8:32 PM Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 1536 Well Dispensers --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- I am looking for a dispenser for 1536 well (Greiner) plates. The device must be robot (ORCA) compatible and able to fill a plate with media @SPAMFOIL.8ul/well in 1 to 2 minutes without any splashing/contamination between wells or bubbles. I am aware of the PixSys from Cartesian Technologies, but would like an alternative. Mike Lafferty Principal Engineer Diversa Corp. mlafferty@SPAMFOIL.diversa.com --- Lab-Robotics Discussion To be removed from this list, please send an e-mail message to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just UNSUBSCRIBE as the subject. From: Steven_M_Kubala@SPAMFOIL.sbphrd.com Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Heat Sealer Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 11:23:54 -0400 Annette, I have just ordered the Marsh ALPS sealer. What kind of problems are you having with it? Steve Kubala ajw@SPAMFOIL.alacrim.alanex.com on 26-Aug-1999 14:09 Please respond to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org To: discussion cc: (bcc: Steven M Kubala/RES/PHRD/SB_PLC) Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Heat Sealer --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- I was wondering if anyone has come across any great automated heat-sealers for microtiter plates. We currently have a Marsh ALPS-100, but it is prone to a lot of breakdowns. Does anyone know of a very reliable one that could be integrated with a twister arm? Thanks - Annette Jabson Wheelock Alanex Corporation --- Lab-Robotics Discussion To review archived messages from this list, send an e-mail message to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just RESEND-xx (xx is a number) as the subject. You will get a single digest message for the last xx days of messages. From: Laboratory Robotics Interest Group Subject: Announcing the Lab-Robotics Careers Mailing List Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 13:43:39 -0400 Announcing the Lab-Robotics Careers Mailing List: The Lab-Robotics Careers Mailing List is for posting your curriculum vitae or career opportunities in Laboratory Automation. If you subscribe, you will receive messages posted to the list by other subscribers and you will be able to post messages or enter replies to messages which will be seen by the other subscribers. To subscribe to the list, send a message to careers@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just "Subscribe" (no quotes) in the subject. To post a message to the list, send e-mail to careers@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org The mailing list is moderated. SPAM, flames, or inappropriate messages will be filtered out before they are sent to your email address. You do not have to be a member of the LRIG to participate in the Lab-Robotics Careers Mailing List. Andy Zaayenga Moderator, The Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List mailto:andy.zaayenga@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org web site: https://www.lab-robotics.org Andy, Beckman's Biomek 2000 has tube racks with adaptors for 1.5ml MCT's which allow the lid to be folded back & tucked in to be out of the way of the robot - yet remain associated with the tube for recapping. Susan Ballard Automated Solutions Consultant BeckmanCoulter stballard@SPAMFOIL.beckman.com "andy_hopwood" on 08/24/99 03:49:28 AM Please respond to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org (Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List) cc: (bcc: Susan T Ballard/SALES/BII) Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: De-capping of microfuge tubes We need some help with a problem: We have samples submitted to our laboratory in a standard 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube. We need to access the sample with an automated liquid handling system and so, need to remove the lids from the tubes. Does anyone out there have a simple solution (without changing the tube type)??? Yours in anticipation, Andy Hopwood [] att11.htm From: "Feiglin, Marc" Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 384 well quantitation Date: Sun, 29 Aug 1999 16:00:54 -0400 Richard, There are a number of readers that are available that read in the UV range. The one we have the most experience with that would meet your needs is the Tecan SpectraFluor Plus. It reads from 250 to 800 nm and can read any plate upto 1536 well. It's main drawback is that it only reads one well at a time. Ot costs in the mid 30,000 dollar range Tecan sells it integrated into their Genesis pipetting station (we have one set up this way to0.) But, you could just as easily integrate it into another pipetting station, or use another reader on the Tecan Genesis. Marc > ---------- > From: Richard Hammitt[SMTP:rhammitt@SPAMFOIL.sial.com] > Sent: Monday, August 23, 1999 12:15 PM > To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org > Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 384 well quantitation > > --------------------- > Lab-Robotics Discussion > --------------------- > > We presently use microtiter plate reader for DNA quantitation (254 > nm). > We'd like to move to a 384 well plate reader, so can anyone recommend one? > What experiences have anyone else had with them? Has anyone seen one > integrated into a liquid handling system? > > Richard Hammitt > Sigma-Genosys Biotechnologies > > --- Lab-Robotics Discussion > To temporarily suspend messages from this list, send an e-mail message to > discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just SUSPEND-xx (xx is a number) as the > subject. This will suspend your account for xx days or until you send a > RESUME > > command. > From: "Feiglin, Marc" Subject: RE: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Heat Sealer Date: Sun, 29 Aug 1999 16:20:03 -0400 Zymark's sealer is an adhesive sealer not heat-sealer. > ---------- > From: David Allen[SMTP:dr-allen@SPAMFOIL.mediaone.net] > Sent: Thursday, August 26, 1999 10:51 PM > To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org > Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Heat Sealer > > --------------------- > Lab-Robotics Discussion > --------------------- > > > --------------------- > > I was wondering if anyone has come across any great automated > > heat-sealers for microtiter plates. We currently have a > > Marsh ALPS-100, > > but it is prone to a lot of breakdowns. Does anyone know of a very > > reliable one that could be integrated with a twister arm? > > > > doesn't Zymark have a sealer? I thought I saw one with a Twister at > last year's ISLR. > > da > > --- Lab-Robotics Discussion > The Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List is a feature of the Laboratory > Robotics Interest Group, www.lab-robotics.org. > From: Stuart_Gibb@SPAMFOIL.bd.com Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Heat Sealer Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 16:52:07 -0400 Annette Just went to a recent LRIG meeting in Boston and I know plate sealing is a problem. A company called TekCel has come up with a great method for automated sealing of plates. I have copied your message to Andy Zaayenga as per abve email address they will probably be able to tell you more about their system. Regards Stuart Annette Jabson Wheelock on 08/26/99 02:09:14 PM Please respond to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org (Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List) cc: (bcc: Stuart Gibb/FLKS/BDX) Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: Heat Sealer --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- I was wondering if anyone has come across any great automated heat-sealers for microtiter plates. We currently have a Marsh ALPS-100, but it is prone to a lot of breakdowns. Does anyone know of a very reliable one that could be integrated with a twister arm? Thanks - Annette Jabson Wheelock Alanex Corporation --- Lab-Robotics Discussion To subscribe to this list, please send an e-mail message to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org with just SUBSCRIBE as the subject. From: gledson@SPAMFOIL.whatman.com Subject: Re: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 384 round bottom polypropylene plate Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1999 10:44:51 -0400 Hi Matt, Whatman Polyfiltronics offers a 384 well, round to vee bottom PP plate with well volume of 80 ul. Catalog # 7701-5101 Call 1 800 434 7659 "SMICKER, Matthew" on 08/23/99 10:56:11 AM Please respond to discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org To: discussion@SPAMFOIL.lab-robotics.org (Lab-Robotics Discussion Mailing List) cc: (bcc: Grahame Ledson/Whatman) Subject: Lab-Robotics Discussion: 384 round bottom polypropylene plate --------------------- Lab-Robotics Discussion --------------------- Can anyone recommend a 384 well round bottom polypropylene plate that holds at least 70ul? Matt Smicker RPR HTS