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Instrument Overview

Before setting up the FLO i8 instrument, you’ll need to know components names and where each component is located in the system.

Front View

FLO i8 Front View

LED Indicator

The LED indicator glows various colors, each indicating a different instrument status:

Color	Description
Blue	Initializing, this may take a minute or two.
Multi-color	System is idle.
Green	Busy or running a protocol.
Yellow	Paused during protocol execution.
Red	An error has occurred.

Ventilation Fan

The ventilation fan removes excess heat from the FLO i8 instrument.

Door

The transparent door keeps the deck and labware safe. You can easily see through the door to monitor what is happening on the deck.

Note: For safety reasons, the FLO i8 system will automatically pause when the door is open. Before pausing, FLO i8 will finish any ongoing task, after which the deck will be automatically moved toward the user. The protocol will not resume until you close the door.

Pipetting Channels

There are 8 Pipetting Channels which handle the aspiration and dispense of liquids. The nozzle at the end of each channel interfaces with the disposable pipette tips, maintaining an airtight seal. Channels number 0 and number 7 are each equipped with a camera.

There are also three sensors attached to each channel: the Pressure, Resistance, and Collision Sensors.

Pressure Sensor — Allows the pipetting algorithm to adjust the parameters in real-time based on the liquid properties, such as viscosity. Pressure sensors also detect the liquid level and are used to assess any possible errors in the pipetting process.
Resistance Sensor — In conjunction with the Next Level Tips, detects the liquid surface and change in liquid level as the volume increases or decreases in the plate well during aspirate and dispense.
Collision Sensor — Ensures that the pipette tip does not collide with the well when aspirating or dispensing stocks.

Next Level Tips®

There are two types of FLO i8 Next Level Tips pipette tips:

F20 with 0.5 to 20 µL of volume range
F200 with 5 to 200 µL of volume range

Pipette tips come with filters and are PCR-Grade (RNAse-free, DNAse-free, and DNA free).


F20 Pipette Tip	F200 Pipette Tip

The Next Level Tips come in a tip box that holds 96 pipette tips.

Deck

The FLO i8 deck contains everything you need to run an experiment, including labware, and tips. The deck consists of 10 slots that will securely hold the tip box and plates that you want to use, with a maximum height of 140 mm. Each slot is compatible with almost all Society for Biomolecular Screening (SBS) standardized labware types. The FLO i8 also provides 3 adaptor racks for 1.5, 15, and 50 mL conical tubes.

Waste Tray

The waste tray is where the FLO i8 disposes of used tips.

Power Button

The power button turns the FLO i8 instrument on and off. This button glows various colors, each indicating different status:

Color	Description
Red (Blinking)	The power cable has been plugged in the power port, but the instrument is not ready to be turned on. Please wait until the power button turns solid red.
Red (Solid)	The FLO i8 instrument is off, but still connected to the power.
Green (Blinking)	The FLO i8 instrument is shutting down, or initializing (this may take a few seconds until the FLO i8 software is connected).
Green (Solid)	Instrument is active and connected to the software.

Power Port

The power port is where you plug in the power cable. See also, Electrical Requirements.

Back View

FLO i8 Back View

HEPA Filter

The HEPA filter removes contaminants from the air entering the system.

Condensation Drain

Some condensation might occur in the pressure and vacuum reservoirs inside the FLO i8 instrument during operation. The condensation drain will collect it and then it will drain and evaporate when the instrument is powered off.