Adding Plate Types to the Plate Type Library

Plate definitions are the files that define the geometry of the labware to the MANTIS. Having a correct plate definition can be an important factor influencing the outcome of a dispense. Four plate definitions (including one for a circular plate) come pre-installed with the MANTIS software for your convenience, however, depending on the types of plates you use you may need to add new plate definitions or modify existing plate types. You must have at least one plate defined in MANTIS software before you can design a dispense.

If you want to add a new plate to the plate library, please follow the instructions below under Adding a New Plate Type.

If you want to modify an existing plate type in the plate library, please follow the instructions under Modifying an Existing Plate Type.

If you are defining or modifying the definition of a circular plate, please see Adding Circular Plates to the Plate Type Library.

Adding a New Plate Type

Prerequisites

You have prepared a reagent for the test drop.
You have attached the tube input adapter on the chip. Ignore this prerequisite if you are using a pipette tip.
You have attached a chip to the MANTIS hand.

Note: You can use the keyboard keys to control the MANTIS arms motion when adding or modifying plate types.
W: The key moves the MANTIS arms backward along the Y Axis.
S: The key moves the MANTIS arms forward along the Y Axis.
A: The key moves the MANTIS arms left along the X Axis.
D: The key moves the MANTIS arms right along the X Axis.
R: The key moves the MANTIS arms upward along the Z Axis.
F: The key moves the MANTIS arms downward along the Z Axis.

To add a new microplate to your plate library:

On the Tools menu, click Plate Type Editor.

Go to the File menu, select New, and then select Rectangular Plate. This will start the new plate type wizard.

Note: To add a circular plate, see Adding Circular Plates to the Plate Type Library.
On the wizard, select the Number of Wells from the list of typical SBS well numbers or if you want to add a custom plate, select Custom and set the number of rows and columns.

Plate Type Editor Wizard
Place your new plate on the plate holder.
MANTIS needs to pick up a chip in order to proceed with the plate tuning procedure. The reagent assigned to that chip can optionally be used to dispense test drops while tuning your plate. Choose one of the following options:
- Select a reagent from the Select Reagent list to use that chip for the plate tuning procedure. MANTIS will automatically attach the assigned chip to the MANTIS hand.
- Select Unassigned Reagent if you want to use a reagent that has not been assigned to a particular chip. When you use an unassigned reagent, you must manually attach the desired chip to the MANTIS hand. Make sure you have prepared a bottle or pipette tip containing the desired reagent if you want to dispense test drops during the procedure.
  
  Note: When you select the Unassigned Reagent, a warning icon will appear in the A1 Offset tab under Dispense Location settings to remind you to assign the chip manually.
Click and hold the prime buttonto prime the chip and then click Next.
Set the top-left well position by clicking the arrows, or use keyboard keys to control the MANTIS hand to aim the nozzle tip at the top-left well. Then click the Dispense button to dispense the test drop. If you are satisfied with the position, click Next.

Note: For best results leave approximately 2 mm clearance between the top of the plate and the chip nozzle.

Top-Left Position Settings
Set the bottom-left well position by clicking the arrows or use keyboard keys to control the MANTIS hand to aim the nozzle tip at the bottom-left well. Then click the Dispense button to dispense the test drop. If you are satisfied with the position, click Next.
Set the top-right well position by clicking the arrows or use the keyboard keys to control the MANTIS hand to aim the nozzle tip at the top-right well. Then click the Dispense button to dispense the test drop. If you are satisfied with the position, click Next.

Set the bottom-right well position by clicking the arrows or use the keyboard keys to control the MANTIS hand to aim the nozzle tip at the bottom-right well. Then click the Dispense button to dispense the test drop. If you are satisfied with the position, click Next.
Type the name of your plate and click Finish to complete the wizard and proceed to the Plate type Editor for fine-tuning. Click Cancel to dismiss your changes.

New Plate Name
Check the MANTIS dispense location settings: Click the Generated Well Map tab, and then click on any of the blue underlined text location links. The MANTIS will move its arms to the selected location (corner wells are the most indicative of any errors).

Generated Well Map Tab
OPTIONAL: If you find that the geometry parameters determined by the wizard require further adjustment, please follow the steps below:
1. Click the A1 Offset tab.
2. Click the Move To A1 Position button . The MANTIS will go to the A1 well location.
3. Use the Motion Control Pad at the lower right of the Plate Type Editor to modify the A1 well position. Use the arrow keys to maneuver the MANTIS hand to the A1 location of your plate. View the plate from both the side and the front to ensure your center location is correct.
4. Click the Test Dispense button to dispense a test drop to the A1 well. The drop should be in the A1 well.
5. OPTIONAL: Modify the Row Pitch and Column Pitch values on the Advanced Options if the other well positions are not accurate.
A1 Offset Tab Options
OPTIONAL: Modify the Z-Drop and Min SD Pump next to the plate settings:
- Z-Drop determines the distance you would like MANTIS to move down into each well before dispensing (default is zero).
- Min SD Pump determines the minimum enforced number of Small Diaphragm pumps (default is zero). This forces the MANTIS to use the Small Diaphragm for a larger portion of the dispense, if possible.
  
  Note: This feature is useful for preventing splashing that can occur when dispensing into round or conical bottomed plates. If splashing occurs on your plate, setting this number to 5 or higher will greatly reduce or eliminate the splashing altogether.
OPTIONAL: You can modify the advanced options by clicking the Show Advanced Options menu.
- Row Pitch determines the distance between one well center point to another in an adjacent row.
- Column Pitch determines the distance between one well center point to another in an adjacent column.
- Velocity limits the arm movement speed to the specified percentage of the maximum velocity. Default is 100%, which is recommended for most plate types. 80% is recommended if you find that your 1536 well plate dispenses causes the MANTIS arms to wobble.
- Height determines the height of the plate.
Advanced Options
OPTIONAL: If you want to add coordinates for a drop well location on the plate (useful for crystallography-type plates), follow the instructions below:
1. Go to the A1 Offset tab.
2. OPTIONAL: Click and hold the Manual Prime button until the chip begins dispensing drops.
3. Click the Move To A1 Position button . The MANTIS will go to the A1 well location.
4. Click the Add Drop Location button.
5. Use the Motion Control Pad at the lower right of the Plate Type Editor to modify the drop position. View the plate from both the side and the front to ensure your center location is correct.
6. Click the Test Dispense buttonto dispense a test drop. The drop should be in the new drop location.
Go to the File menu in the Plate Type Editor wizard, click Save As, type a name for your plate, and click Save.

OR

Go to the File menu in the Plate Type Editor wizard, and, click Save (Ctrl+S) to save your changes.

You have successfully added a new plate type in the Plate Type Editor. To modify the plate settings, go to the Modifying an Existing Plate Type section.

Modifying an Existing Plate Type

Occasionally, you might want to modify the settings on an existing plate type in MANTIS plate type library. You will need to follow the following steps if, for example, you find that the drop location is inaccurate or when you want to adjust the row pitch and column pitch values.

Prerequisites

You have an existing plate type settings.

To modify an existing plate type:

Open the Tools menu, click Plate Type Editor.
Go to the File menu, click Open, then select a plate type and click Open again. The details for the plate you chose populate the Plate Type Editor.

Open the Existing Plate Option
Modify the Z-Drop and Min SD Pump next to the plate settings:
- Z-Drop determines the distance you would like MANTIS to move down into each well before dispensing (default is zero).
- Min SD Pump determines the minimum enforced number of Small Diaphragm pumps (default is zero). This forces the MANTIS to use the Small Diaphragm for a larger portion of the dispense, if possible.
  
  Note: This feature is useful for preventing splashing that can occur when dispensing into round or conical bottomed plates. If splashing occurs on your plate, setting this number to 5 or higher will greatly reduce or eliminate the splashing altogether.
Modify the necessary parameters by clicking the Show Advanced Options menu.
- Row Pitch determines the distance between one well center point to another in an adjacent row.
- Column Pitch determines the distance between one well center point to another in an adjacent column.
- Velocity limits the arm movement speed to the specified percentage of the maximum velocity. Default is 100%, which is recommended for most plate types. 80% is recommended if you find that your 1536 well plate dispenses causes the MANTIS arms to wobble.
- Height determines the height of the plate.
Advanced Options
To modify the A1 dispense location:
1. MANTIS needs to pick up a chip in order to proceed with the plate tuning procedure. The reagent assigned to that chip can optionally be used to dispense test drops while tuning your plate. Choose one of the following options:
  - Select a reagent from the Select Reagent list to use that chip for the plate tuning procedure. MANTIS will automatically attach the assigned chip to the MANTIS hand.
  - Select Unassigned Reagent if you want to use a reagent that has not been assigned to a particular chip. When you use an unassigned reagent, you must manually attach the desired chip to the MANTIS hand. Make sure you have prepared a bottle or pipette tip containing the desired reagent if you want to dispense test drops during the procedure.
    
    Note: When you select the Unassigned Reagent, a warning icon will appear in the A1 Offset tab under Dispense Location settings to remind you to assign the chip manually.
2. On the A1 Offset tab, click and hold the Manual Prime buttonuntil the chip begins dispensing drops.
3. Click the Move To A1 Position button. The MANTIS will go to the A1 well location.
4. Use the Motion Control Pad at the lower right of the Plate Type Editor to modify the A1 well position. Use the arrow keys to maneuver the MANTIS hand to the A1 location of your plate. View the plate from both the side and the front to ensure your center location is correct.
5. Click the Test Dispense buttonto dispense a test drop to the A1 well. The drop should be in the A1 well.
A1 Offset Tab Options
Check the MANTIS dispense location settings: Click the Generated Well Map tab, and then click on any of the blue underlined text location links. The MANTIS will move its arms to the selected location (corner wells are the most indicative of any errors).

Generated Well Map Options
If you want to add coordinates for a drop location on the plate (useful for crystallography-type plates), go back to the A1 Offset tab, click the Add Drop Location button. Then repeat the steps you took to define the A1 well location.
Go to the File menu in the Plate Type Editor wizard, click Save As, type a name for your plate, and click Save.

OR

Go to the File menu in the Plate Type Editor wizard, and, click Save (Ctrl+S) to save your changes.

Adding Plate Types to the Plate Type Library

Prerequisites

To add a new microplate to your plate library:

Prerequisites

To modify an existing plate type:

Related Topics