STACKLINK LABLINX USER MANUAL 10 Stern Avenue, Springfield, NJ 07081 Tel: 973-376-7400 Fax: 973-376-8265
Contents CHAPTER 1-Introduction................................................................................................. 1 Overview .................................................................................................................................... 1 Computer Requirements .......................................................................................................... 2 External Air Requirements ................................................................................
CHAPTER 7-Maintenance .............................................................................................. 19 Maintenance ............................................................................................................................ 19 Cleaning the StackLink .......................................................................................................... 19 Change the Fuse(s) ....................................................................................................
WARNING- - This product may be used only in the manner described in this manual. When used other than as specified, the safety protections provided by the equipment may be impaired. TABLE OF SYMBOLS: The following symbols are to alert your attention to important information or warnings that may present some hazards. These symbols may not appear in the manual or on the product. WARNING Possible hazardous situation could result in serious injury.
CHAPTER 1-Introduction Overview The StackLink (Figure 1) is an automated microplate stacker, which also drives a high speed, modular and expandable track system that delivers lab ware to multiple laboratory instruments. A part of LabLinx track system, the StackLink is capable of handling up to 120 (60 x 2 stacks) 96-well, 384-well or 1536-well standard microliter plates.
Tracklink StopLink Figure 2 Figure 3 StackLink w/ TrackLink and StopLink options Figure 4 Computer Requirements The following are recommended for proper operation of the PlateCrane EX and Softlinx: Operating System: Windows XP SP3, Windows XP x64, Windows Vista 32, Windows Vista 64, Windows 7 32, Windows 7 64 2.5GHz Quad Core Pentium processor or faster, 4GB RAM or higher, CDRom drive, 2 available USB Ports 3GB MB of free disk space available .NET Framework 4.
The Computer has the recommended number of working serial ports (You can Purchase USB-to-serial convertors from Hudson Robotics If NeededPlease contact your local Sales Manager) Power and communication cables for third party devices being connected have been verified External Air Requirements 60 PSI compressed air StackLink User Manual Hudson Robotics, Inc.
Chapter 2-Installation Unpacking the StackLink WARNING- - Power switch must be turned OFF during entire installation procedure DO NOT loosen or tighten any screws or touch parts not specified in the instructions Never force any component to fit The StackLink weighs 30 lbs. and should be handled with care to avoid mishaps Overview: 1. Remove StackLink from carton (Once you have a firm grasp on the unit gently lift the unit straight up out of the carton.
DO NOT DISCARD the StackLink carton. This carton has been specially created for this product and must be used for any additional shipping of the instrument to prevent damage.
Setting up the StackLink Remove the StackLink from the carton and carefully remove the protective plastic covering. Un-wrap any TrackLinks and/or StopLinks included. Remove the Stacks from the carton, then remove the stack from the packaging Install the supplied Stacks on the StackLink securely. Setting up the TrackLink(s) Position the TrackLink into either side of the StackLink and insert the track so the groves match and fit into place (Figure 7).
Setting Up StopLink(s) Position the StopLink in the desired location on the track and secure its position with the supplied Phillips head screws. (Figure 12) Connect modular plugs of the black coiled cable into both the StopLink and the desired port on the side of the StackLink (Figure 9/10). Adjustments may be needed depending on the size and type of plates used. Place a plate on the track in front of the StopLink sensor to activate the fingers.
StopLink Positions 7-10 Figure 10 Clamp Bars securing tracks Figure 11 StackLink User Manual Hudson Robotics, Inc.
Figure 12 Phillips Head screws positioning Connect Power Cord & Communication Cable: Note: Power switch must be turned OFF Remove power cord and communication cable from StackLink carton. On the rear side of the base unit housing connect one end of the 9-pin to 9-pin serial cable (see Figure 7), and attach the other end into COM1 port on Host Computer. Plug power cable into the StackLink's AC inlet located on rear side of the base unit housing (see Figure 7).
CHAPTER 3-StackLink Software Brief Description of Software Hudson's standard StackLink application software (SoftLinx) can be found on one (1) installation CD. This CD can be loaded onto any PC running Microsoft's Windows 98 SE, NT 4.0. w\ service pack 6, 2000, or XP. This software provides a complete set of utilities to run the StackLink and any instruments purchased by the end user.
Configuring a Workcell Click on the Configure Workcell icon on the screen. Click and drag the corresponding icon for each instrument into the workcell and select the communication port the instrument is assigned to. Click the Return to Run View icon (same as Configure Workcell) and you will be prompted to save the workcell you have just created. StackLink User Manual Hudson Robotics, Inc.
Click the Setup button under the StackLink icon. Stack 1 Stack 2 Select each StopLink position(s) with the corresponding side of the TrackLink you have secured the StopLink to. StackLink User Manual Hudson Robotics, Inc.
NOTE: Be sure to match the correct instrument nest name from the pull down menu or errors will occur when attempting to run methods. HINT: Clicking on the Test Button will allow you to test the operation of LabLinx by allowing you to dispense, return, and shift plates.
Click on the ‘Edit Plate’ button to change the parameters of a previously defined plate, or click on ‘New Plate’ to create a new plate definition. Then, the following form will be displayed: Figure 14 HINT: The only parameter value important to the StackLink is: StackLink Delay (msec) The delay time (in milliseconds) it takes the Plate Seats to close after the stack elevator begins to descend. This is used when using microplates with special extrusions that may interfere with dispensing.
CHAPTER 5-StackLink Components DriveLink System The StackLink’s elevator and plate handling components use mostly pneumatic contols to function. The LabLinx system uses a variety of sensors to feedback the plates positioning to the unit’s computer controller. The StackLink also uses a powerful bidirectional belt and pulley system driven by a reversible 110 VAC motor to shift plates along the LabLinx track. Stacks The standard StackLink includes two extruded aluminum stacks.
Instrument alignment bases – Enables the instruments to be locked to the TrackLink so they will not shift. DriveLink: A separate instrument that provides the additional power needed to drive the TrackLink system if additional lengths of track are required. StackLink User Manual Hudson Robotics, Inc.
CHAPTER 6-Hardware Specifications General Note: Specifications are subject to change without notice. Plate Capacity: Plate Storage Device: Housing Material: Gripper Material: DriveLink length: Standard-- Up to 30 plates without lids or 25 plates with lids. Additional-- Up to 120 plates without lids or up to 100 plates with lids. 2 removable stacks (Double Stacks available) Painted steel covering cast aluminum housing. Black anodized aluminum; textured neoprene rubber inserts.
Internal Air Tubing: Stack Present: Plate Sensor: Seat Opener: Plate Stops: Parflex Polyurethane tubing 1/16” ID, 1/8” OD Parflex Polyurethane tubing 2.4mm ID, 4.00mm OD Proximity switch Type MH photoelectric sensor Double rod air cylinder, 10mm x 10mm 4 – (pneumatic firing) extruding pins Dimensions Height: Weight: 26.25” (incl. extruded stack) 30 lbs.
CHAPTER 7-Maintenance Maintenance WARNING- - Qualified personnel can perform all maintenance procedures in this manual. Only Hudson representatives should perform any maintenance not discussed in this manual. Gloves should be worn during any cleaning procedure. Cleaning the StackLink Note: DO NOT use/spray abrasive cleaners onto the StackLink. Clean the outside surfaces of StackLink and/or TrackLink using cloth or sponge dampened with alcohol, water, or mild glass cleaner.
Using a small flat head screwdriver, gently pry the fuse holder tray away from its housing to access the fuses. The Fuse holder door swings down. Remove the blown fuse. Replace it with the spare fuse. Slide the fuse holder tray back into the AC inlet until it clicks. Make sure when reinstalling the holder the AC line voltage reads the correct way on the inlet Reconnect the power cord to the StackLink and reconnect all other cables previously disconnected.
Appendix A: Hudson's LabLinx Communications and Command Set Version 1.0 Hudson's LabLinx System is designed to respond to a simplified set of ASCII commands to allow any user program capable of reading/writing via an RS-232 port or TCP/IP connection to exercise all the features of the LabLinx Units. Protocol Description For RS-232 communication, a single RS-232 port is used to communicate to each LabLinx device attached to the system.
currently unspecified. There is currently no message indicating that the command queue has been overloaded. The following example would send the DISPENSE command, with an argument indicating to dispense from Stack 1. DISPENSE 1<13><10> Command Responses The controller will echo every byte of the command back to the sender as it is received. Upon detecting the two bytes <13><10>, the controller will execute the command. Upon completing execution, the controller will respond in one of two ways: 1.
StackLink Command Set The StackLink Unit recognizes the following commands: 1. ACKNOWLEDGESEND The ACKNOWLEDGESEND command is used to indicate that a plate transfer between two conveyor-based LabLinx units has been completed, and that the recipient of the command should turn off the conveyor. See the RECEIVEPLATE and SENDPLATE commands for more information. Example: Command: Response: ACKNOWLEDGESEND<13><10> 0000 Success<13><10> 2.
dispense double-flanged or otherwise oddly shaped plates. This time is set using the SETDISPENSEDELAY command. This time should be 0 for most plates. Example: Command: Response: GETDISPENSEDELAY <13><10> 0<13><10> 5. GETIP GETIP returns the current IP address of the unit. Example: Command: Response: GETIP<13><10> 10.1.1.5<13><10> 6. GETMOVETIME GETMOVETIME returns the current number of seconds the StackLink waits for labware to arrive at a location before returning a failure to move the labware.
8. GETPOSNUM {Position Name} GETPOSNUM will return the position value associated with the specified position name. Example: Command: Response: GETPOSNUM Stack1<13><10> 5<13><10> 9. GETSTOPDELAY GETSTOPDELAY will return the number of milliseconds before the stops will capture a plate when the plate is placed on the track by another instrument. Example: Command: Response: GETSTOPDELAY<13><10> 300<13><10> 10.
12. NAMEPOS {Position Number}, {Position Name} The NAMEPOS command assigns the indicated name to the indicated position number. Example: Command: Response: NAMEPOS 7, MyWasher<13><10> 0000 Success<13><10> 13. READINPUT {Card Number}, {Input Number} READINPUT returns the current state of the input located at the indicated I/O card number and input number. A 0 indicates the input is not active, a 1 indicates that the input is active. Example: Command: Response: READINPUT 0,0<13><10> 0<13><10> 14.
16. RETURN [Stacks] RETURN will place plates located under the indicated stacks into the stacks. The Stacks parameter is a bit mask indicating the stacks to return to. Omitting the Stacks parameter causes the StackLink to return any plates under both stacks. Plates under stacks not specified in the mask will remain at their current location. Example: Command: Response: RETURN 1<13><10> 0000 Success<13><10> 17.
20. SETIP {IP Address} SETIP will set the IP address of the unit. This change is immediate and may cause loss of communication if used during a TCP/IP session. Example: Command: Response: SETIP 10.1.1.5 0000 Success <13><10> 21. SETMOVETIME {Timeout} SETMOVETIME sets the number of seconds the StackLink waits for a plate to arrive at its destination before returning an error. Example: Command: Response: SETMOVETIME 30<13><10> 0000 Success<13><10> 22.
23. SHIFT {Direction}, [Positions], [Receive] The SHIFT command will move plates one position in the indicated direction. A Direction of 1 indicates forward motion. A Direction of 0 indicates reverse motion. If the Positions parameter is included, only the plates at the indicated positions will be shifted. If the Positions parameter is omitted, all plates will be shifted.
Error Code Description The PlateCrane controller will report one of the following response codes at the completion of each command: General Errors: 00 Success 01 Unrecognized Command 02 Invalid Parameter 03 Bad Echo From Unit StackLink Errors: 0100 Path is blocked.
