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Using the Options Menu

To access the TEMPEST Options menu, go to the Tools menu and select Options.

You will notice that there are three tabs: Dispense Options Tab, Chip Configuration Tab, and Advanced Options Tab. Advanced Options should be used by support technicians only. Please do not alter the options under the Advanced tab unless you are under guidance of a FORMULATRIX support person.

 

Options

The tutorial covers the following sections:

 

Dispense Options Tab

To access Dispense Options settings, go to the Tools menu, select Options and click on the Dispense Options tab.

You can browse and locate the data configuration files by changing the root path location in the User Data Location box of the Dispense Options tab. Click the browse button , and select the folder you desire or click the Make New Folder button to create a new storage. The current protocol name will then be displayed in Protocol name.

User Data Location and Protocol Name

Browse For Folder Window

 

The Dispense Options tab consists of four group of settings which contain various options: Prime and Dispense, Recovery and Wash, Recirculate, and Scan Barcode and Dispense.

 

ClosedPrime and Dispense Settings

Prime and Dispense Settings

Option Default Setting Description
Prime Volume (µL) 600 Determines the reagent(s) volume (in microliters) used to prime the chip before dispensing, ensuring there is no air in the chip.
Nozzle Prime Volume (µL) 2.3 Determines the reagent(s) volume (in microliters) to be used in nozzle priming process.
Pipette Tip Prime Volume (µL) 70.0 Determines the reagent(s) volume (in microliters) to be used to prime to pipette tip.
Pre-dispense volume (µL) 0.4 Determines the reagent(s) volume (in microliters) that will prime to waste before each plate. This should be one pulse of each diaphragm for best CV's (1.2 µL for LV and 6 µL for HV).
Use Min SD Pumps Parameter in Pre-dispense No Enables you to use the minimum small diaphragm pumps parameter during pre-dispense.
Pull Air Gap None Enables you to retract the remaining reagent from the nozzle.
Pull Air Gap on Idle Timeout (minutes) 0.0 Determines a specific idle timeout needed before pulling air gap.
Use Plate Stacker* No Determines whether or not plate stackers are available.
Dispense All Plates* No Dispenses all plates automatically until the stacker is empty.
Number of Plates to Dispense* 1 Determines the number of plates to be dispensed by the Tempest after you click the Run button.
Plate Orientation Default Determines whether the plates have been rotated for devices integrated with TEMPEST.
Always Prime Before Dispense No Primes the chip automatically before each new dispensing process.
Plate Loading Location Stage Port 1 Determines a particular plate load location from the list. You may choose Stage Port 1 or Stage Port 2. Stage Port 1 is located on the left, and Stage Port 2 is on the right.
Plate Unloading Location Stage Port 2 Determines particular plate unload location from the list. You may select Stage Port 1 or Stage Port 2. The Stage Port 1 is located on the left, and the Stage Port 2 is on the right.

Note: Load and unload locations should not be the same when using stackers.
First Dispense Diaphragm Small Determines whether small or large diaphragm will dispense first.
Ignore Pressure/Vacuum Drop No Used for running the TEMPEST without pressure vacuum or pumpbox.

Note: This option is usually for the TEMPEST demo.

*Available only for TEMPEST with plate stackers.

 

ClosedRecovery and Wash Settings

Recovery and Wash Settings

Option Default Setting Description
Pre-Wash Recovery Volume (µL) 0.0 Determines the recovery volume used before the washing process.
Wash Station 1 Water Determines the liquid used for Wash Station 1. You may choose either Water or Wash solution.
Wash Station 2 None Determines the liquid used for Wash Station 2. You may choose either Water or Wash solution. For best results, use water in Wash Station 2.

Note: Some TEMPEST hardware V1 builds may not support dual column wash stations.
Wash Volume 1 (µL) 800.0 Determines the wash volume (in microliters) for Wash Station 1 to be used during the washing process.
Wash Volume 2 (µL) 800.0 Determines the wash volume (in microliters) for Wash Station 2 to be used during the washing process.
3-Step wash (Water-Wash Solution-Water)   Determines whether or not the TEMPEST washes its liquid lines with water, then wash solution, then again with water.
Wash Volume 3-Water (µL) * 0.0 Determines the volume used for the final water wash for the 3-step wash process.
Post-Wash Recovery Volume 1000.0 Determines the recovery volume used after the washing process.
Manual Recovery Volume 1000.0 Determines the recovery volume (in microliters) to be used for the manual reagent recovery process.

*Select 3-step Wash option to enable the feature.

ClosedRecirculate Settings

Recirculate Settings

 

Option Default Setting Description
Recirculate Enable No Controls whether or not the TEMPEST recirculates reagents during an inactive period, in order to ensure reagent integrity.
Prime Between Plates* No Enables reagents priming before the pre-dispense and dispense processes in each plate, to prevent air bubbles and to maintain dispense volume accuracy.
Recirculate Timeout (minutes)* 1 Determines the amount of idle time before the TEMPEST will recycle the reagents using the prime function.
Timing Based on ...* Machine Idle Determines whether recirculation timing will be based on machine idle or input idle. If Machine Idle is selected, the timer will reset when system goes idle. If Input Idle is selected, the timer will reset when the selected input goes idle.
Recirculate Type* Recirculate Prime Determines whether reagents are recycled into the tube: Recirculate Prime, or into the waste station: Prime to Waste.
Recirculate When Plate On Hand* No Determines whether or not the TEMPEST recirculates reagents when there's a plate on the hand.
Prime to Waste when Idle No Determines whether or not the TEMPEST runs the priming process to the waste station while idle.

*Hidden unless Recirculate Enable is set to Yes.

ClosedScan Barcode and Dispense Settings

Scan Barcode and Dispense Settings

Option Default Setting Description
Time Between Dispense (s) 0 Determines the time interval (in seconds) the TEMPEST will wait after a dispense has finished before the next one begins.

Note: The Time Between Dispense (s) option is available to TEMPEST with plate stackers only.

Batch Plate Type   Determines the plate type to be used in your experiment. Note that this option is only used when your plates have barcodes and you are using plate stackers.
Email (Separated by comma)   Determines the email address to which the dispensing report will be sent after the dispensing process is finished or aborted.
Prompt wash after dispense No Determines whether TEMPEST will prompt you to wash all of the inputs after the scan and dispense process completes, eliminating the need to manually execute the Wash All inputs function.
Use Barcode No Determines whether or not the barcode scanner is active on the TEMPEST.

Note: The Use Barcode option is only available for TEMPEST instruments with barcode scanners.
Barcode Action* Load Dispense List Determines how the TEMPEST interprets a barcode. If "Load Dispense List" is selected, the TEMPEST will open the dispense list associated with the barcode. If "Log Barcode" is selected, the TEMPEST will record barcodes in the dispense log file.
Barcode Dispense List Directory*   Determines the file path the TEMPEST should look in when attempting to load dispense lists based on the barcode reading result.
Action If Barcode Failed* Skip Determines the action to be performed by the TEMPEST when a scanning error occurs. The TEMPEST can either skip to the next plate in the stacker or abort the scanning process.
Num of Tries Barcode Scanner* 3 Determines how many times the barcode scanner will attempt to read a barcode label before announcing an error.

*Hidden unless Use Barcode is set to Yes.


Chip Configuration Tab

To access Chip Configuration settings, go to the Tools menu, select Options and click on the Chip Configuration tab.

You must input the chips’ information, such as serial number, installation date, and chip type in the Chip Configuration tab. You can view the Small Diaphragm, Large Diaphragm, Output Cycles, Prime Cycles, and Dispense Cycles information that are automatically updated after dispense.

Chip Configuration Tab

In this tab, you can also view the chip(s) usage information in the Chip History tab. The history information include the chip(s)’ Purge Cycles, Fill Cycles, Small Diaphragm Cycles, Large Diaphragm Cycles, and Output Cycles.

Chip History Window

 

Advanced Options Tab

 

Important: Advanced Options should be used by support technicians and advanced users only. Please do not alter the options under the Advanced tab unless you are under guidance of a FORMULATRIX support person.

To access advanced settings, go to the Tools menu, select Options and click on the Advanced tab.

Advanced Tab

Click the topics below to see more detailed explanations.

ClosedDevice Settings
Option Description
Pressure Alarm Determines the pressure limit value. If the current pressure value is less than the default limit value, the TEMPEST will sound an alarm and abort the dispensing process.
Vacuum Alarm Determines the vacuum limit value. If the current vacuum value is less than the default limit value, the TEMPEST will sound an alarm and abort the dispensing process.
Is Pressure Vacuum Alarm Enable Determines whether the pressure and vacuum alarms are enabled or disabled. Set into True to enable the alarms.
Min Travel in X Axis Determines the minimum travel value of the X axis.
Max Travel in X Axis Determines the maximum travel value of the X axis.
Min Travel in Y Axis Determines the minimum travel value of the Y axis.
Max Travel in Y Axis Determines the maximum travel value of the Y axis.
Min Travel in Z Axis Determines the minimum travel value of the Z axis.
Max Travel in Z Axis Determines the maximum travel value along the Z axis.
Wash Station Position Determines the wash station position in the first column. This position is configurable depending on the wash station type (single or double column) and can be set by entering necessary numbers into each axis field. The list provides Get the current position and Move to position options.
Waste Station Position Determines the waste position in the first input column. The waste station is used to hold the pre-dispense, nozzle prime, and prime to nozzle (if a pipette tip is used) waste volume.
Wash Station Z Drop Determines the height clearance necessary for the wash inputs to safely move to the next input column. This will ensure that the TEMPEST will properly wash the chips.
Port 1 Position Determines the position of the plate holder when it is at stage port 1. StagePort1 is located on the left.
Port 2 Position Determines the position of the plate holder when it is at stage port 2. StagePort2 is located on the right.
Plate Stacker 1 Position* Determines the position of the plate stacker 1 position. Stacker 1 is located on the left.

Note: Available only for TEMPEST with plate stackers.
Plate Stacker 2 Position* Determines the position of the plate stacker 1 position. Stacker 2 is located on the right.

Note: Available only for TEMPEST with plate stackers.
ClosedDispense Settings
Option Description
Prime Volume µL (prime to nozzle) Determines the reagent(s) volume (in microliters) to be used to prime to nozzle.
Stacker Loading Location Determines where the TEMPEST picks up a plate from the defined stacker. To define the plate load position, click Stacker Loading Location and select the desired stage port from the list.
Update Sequence Editor During Dispense Controls the software user interface when running sequences. Select “True” if you want to view each sequence process. Select “False” if you want to hide the process.
ClosedDispense Summary

To enable dispense summary:

  1. Go to the Tools menu, click Options.

  2. Choose Advanced.

  3. On the Dispense Summary option, select True to enable the feature.

  4. Click Save.

To open the dispense summary folder:

  1. Go to the Tools menu.

  2. Click to open the Dispense Summaries Folder.

Open Dispense Summary Folder

ClosedIntegration Service (IS)
Option Description
Integration Service Base Address

The API Service host address.

Define the Integration Service Base Address by manually changing the port number on your computer.
Service Remote Start

Determines the setting for the integration service to run as a background process. The default setting is Deny.

  • Allow — Allows the TEMPEST IS to be remotely started or stopped from different computers.
  • Deny — Denies remote access to the TEMPEST IS.
  • Ask — Asks you to allow or deny remote access to the TEMPEST IS.
ClosedSecurity
Option Description
Password protected settings Determines whether the security mode will be activated.
Password Determines the security password used.
Backup Email Address Determines the email address for the security backup.
ClosedSupport Settings
Option Description
MailTo Determines the email address to which error notifications will be sent.
MailFrom Determines you to fill in the field with your email address. The system will use the specified email address to send Scan and Dispense log.
IsNotifyImmediately Determines whether the system will automatically send an email notification to FORMULATRIX team support, in the event of an error.
SMTPServer Determines the SMTP server associated with your email address.
SMTPPort Determines the SMTP port number associated with your email address.
SMTPUserName Determines the SMTP user name associated with your email address.
SMTPPassword Determines the SMTP password used.
SMTPEnableSSL Enables you to choose if your SMTP server supports SSL.
AttachLogFile Enables the system to send zipped log files via email.
ShowSMTPWarning Shows the SMTP warning in the event of an error.
ClosedTime Estimation
Option Description
Infinite Time Threshold (ms) Displays the time limit (in milliseconds) used when running an infinite dispense test.

 

Note: Click Save when you are finished managing your data configuration setting on the Options menu.

Related Topics
TEC-V311R018

 

 

 

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