SBS Registration Feature

     
 


The VP 581A SBS Registration block has the same foot print as a micro-plate (127.7 mm by 85.5 mm and stands 18 mm tall) and is made from polypropylene.  Pre-drilled and taped (8-32) holes in the block provide a simple way to mount/register many accessories to a robot platform deck tile location.

The VP 581B is identical to the VP 581A except it is 12.5 mm tall

The VP 581B-PTFE identical to the VP 581B except it is constructed from PTFE.  It is used in applications where high temperatures are encountered such as mounting 200C heat blocks (VP 741BW) to a deck tile.

 

 

 
 


The VP 581A registration blocks have many applications.  The plate registration features on the deck tiles of some robotic platforms interfere with the inlet or outlet nipples on the VP 549ETOH or VP 549H2O spillway reservoirs.  We have solved this problem by placing 4 alignment holes in the bottom of the reservoirs (arrows).  The photo to the right illustrates the bottom view of the reservoir and the top view of a VP 581A SBS locating block.  The alignment holes register to 4 set screws in our VP 581A.  Thus we are able to stack the reservoir on top of the SBS locating block and elevate the reservoir above any obstruction.

 
 
 
The photo to the right illustrates the reservoir stacked on top of the SBS locating block.
 

 
 


Modification of Bubble Paddle Reservoirs to Attach the SBS Footprint

 
 


All of our Bubble Paddle Reservoirs can be mounted on a polypropylene block with SBS microplate dimensions (VP 581B).  Mounting is done by drilling and tapping holes in the bottom of the reservoir.  When ordering your reservoir also order VP 581B with modification and your reservoir will be attached to a VP 581B SBS feature.  This will allow your Bubble Paddle Reservoir to be placed in the portrait position of the following Tumble Stirrers VP 710C-1, VP 710C1-7, VP 710G6, VP 710MXL7T, VP 710MXM7T

The advantages of the SBS feature on the bottom of the reservoir is two fold: 

1. It will the position the reservoir so a robotic pipettor will be able to place the pipet tips in the correct locations between the bubble paddles. 

 

2.  The reservoir can be taken off the deck and replaced in exactly the same position.

 
 


  Orbital Shakers with VP 581B-1536

     
 


We offer 1,536 microplate (VP 326) H+P orbital shakers for use on Robot decks. 
The VP 581B-1536 is screwed onto the base of the orbital shaker and used attach the .  

 
 

  Heating Block with VP 581A-PTFE

     
 


Designed to meet the high temperature requirements of scientists to heat plates on a robot deck.
  The "cut away" low profile design allows the robot plate handler to move the plates around the deck between multiple heating stations and cooling stations.  To accommodate the 200C heat  of the VP 741BW we recommend the VP 581A-PTFE because  PTFE is able to accommodate higher temperatures than Polypropylene. 

 
 
 
The photo on the right illustrates a VP 581A adaptor being used to fixture a 100 C VP 741 heating block to an FXALP-PM.
 
 


  96/384 Plate Reformattor with VP 581B

     
 


VP 381O
is simple registration device that allows the researcher to reformat plates from 96 to 384 or the reverse using a 96 Pin Tool.  The reformattor has a VP 581B SBS footprint on the bottom that fits into a deck station on a robot deck.   When a 384 well microplate is placed on 1 of the 4 positions of the Reformattor, the 96 pin tool or pipetor will be aligned to the same relative quadrant of the microplate.  The entire 384 well microplate is addressed when the 384 well microplate is manually moved between the 4 positions

 
 
 


One of the problems working with PCR Plates is that often they are warped.  This is especially true after they have been through many heating cycles in a thermocycler. Warped plates present several practical problems for pipetting or pin tool applications as corner wells are higher than center wells and well center to center spacing is also affected.  Warped PCR plates can also cause disastrous crashes of automated liquid handling robots.

A customer sent us some  PCR plates that were warped and asked if we could solve the problem.  The VP 581 Plate Flattener and the VP 581A Adapter Block are simple but effective solutions.

 
 


  VP 581

     
 
The VP 581 is designed with a groove in 3 sides that capture the lip of a PCR plate.  Simply slide the plate in the groove from the open (4th) side and the plate is flattened.  The VP 581 Plate Flattener can be attached to the robot deck via 3 screw holes that are drilled on 50.8 mm centers.  This is the same spacing as on the PerkinElmer Multi Probe deck shown in the photo.  

An alternative to screwing the Plate Flattener into the deck is to attach it to the VP 581A Adaptor Block using the same 3 screw holes.   It's dimensions are 127.7 mm long by 85.54 mm wide and 18. mm tall.

The photo to the right illustrates how the VP 581 is attached to a VP 581A Adaptor Block and then  fits onto a Multi Probe microplate holder.  By using this simple Adaptor Block you can locate the flattened PCR plate any where on the robot deck that has a plate holder.  This system is also compatible with many robot plate handlers.

The VP 581 was designed to flatten the Robbins Scientific CyclePlate® -384DW Thin Wall PCR plates which have a 3.16 mm thick lip.  PCR plates with thicker or thinner lips can also be accommodated with some simple modifications.  Send us a sample plate and we will provide a custom solution for you.

Another application for the VP 581 is to provide a very precise registration for 1536 well microplates.  With these plates there is no place for "wiggle room". 

 

 
 
The VP 581A adapter can also be used to mount and locate Bubble Paddle Stirrers to workstation plate holders.  Follow this link to see another example.
 



 


VP 581MP

     
     
 
     
 
     
 


VP 581-MIT

     
     
 
     
 
     
 


VP 581R

 
 


The VP 581R is a polypropylene locating block with a SBS footprint.

 
 
 


Photo to the right shows the VP 581R with a VP 549ETOH on top.

 
 
 


The photo to the right shows the VP 581R aligned on a robotic deck.

 
 


VP 581R-AL

     
 


 

 
 
     
 


VP 581-VPREP

     
 


 

 

 


  Modification of Bubble Paddle Reservoirs to Attach the SBS Footprint

 
 


All of our Bubble Paddle Reservoirs can be mounted on a polypropylene block with SBS microplate dimensions (VP 581B).  Mounting is done by drilling and tapping holes in the bottom of the reservoir.  When ordering your reservoir also order VP 581B-1 and your reservoir will be attached to a VP 581B SBS feature.  This will allow your Bubble Paddle Reservoir to be placed in the portrait position of the following Tumble Stirrers VP 710C-1, VP 710C1-7, VP 710G6, VP 710MXL7T, VP 710MXM7T

The advantages of the SBS feature on the bottom of the reservoir is two fold: 

1. It will the position the reservoir so a robotic pipettor will be able to place the pipet tips in the correct locations between the bubble paddles. 

 

2.  The reservoir can be taken off the deck and replaced in exactly the same position.

 
 


  CUSTOMER E-MAIL/COMMENTARY

     
 


Patrick:

I saw the Robbin's 384 well plate holder on the VP site.  I hope you sell a lot of them!  They have worked fantastic for us!  They hold a lot of plates not just the Robbins.  And even non-warped plates are positioned much more precisely than they would be otherwise.  I imagine they would be useful for 1536 and higher plates for which the positioning tolerances are very low!!

Tony Long
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Steinhaus Hall
University of California at Irvine
Irvine, CA
92697-2525

     
   

SBS Registration Blocks & Accessories

Robbins Scientific CyclePlate® -384DW Thin Wall PCR plate Flattener VP 581
Polypropylene Registration Block with SBS footprint 18 mm tall VP 581A
Polypropylene Registration Block with SBS footprint 12.5 mm tall VP 581B
PTFE Registration Block with SBS footprint 12.5 mm tall VP 581B-PTFE
 
         

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