Adding Commands to the Task List

1. Right-click on the HV Tip Caddy or LV Tip Caddy station.

2. Select Configure HV Tip Caddy or Configure LV Tip Caddy.

3. Select the appropriate column numbers on the tip caddy setup dialog box.

   

   HV Tip Caddy Setup Dialog Box

   

   LV Tip Caddy Setup Dialog Box

   Important: The selected columns are indicated with a blue color. The column numbers on the Tip Caddy Setup dialog box represent the actual column number of the tip caddy.

4. Click OK.

5. Double-click the HV Tip Caddy or LV Tip Caddy station to add the Pick Tip command to the Task List.

   Note: If you run out of tips, you can quickly reload the tip caddy by selecting New Tip Caddy from the right-click menu.

Important: : Only the LV tips are washable and must be washed at least once before use.

1. Double-click the Wash Station to add a wash tip command to the task list.

2. Double-click the Wash Tip command on the Task List and type a new value into the corresponding field, or click the up or down arrows to increase or decrease the wash time.

   

   Wash Tip Task Details

1. Select the desired microplate from the Select Plate Type dropdown list located on each microplate station.

2. Double-click the microplate to show the Task Details window.

   

   Adding an Aspirate Command

3. From the SELECT TARGET field, select the desired aspirate location. Your selection will be highlighted in yellow.

4. Select Aspirate next to Action.

5. To select multiple columns, click the first desired column, then hold the Shift key and click the last desired column.

   Note: To select multiple columns, you need to have already added a repeat command to the task list and add this command between the Repeat and End Repeat commands.

6. Select a liquid class from the Liquid Class list. You can apply the liquid class to individual well columns if the Repeat command on the Task List is selected.

7. Enter the volume to be dispensed in the Volume box.

8. Next to Pre-Dispense, set the additional volume to be dispensed after aspirating the targeted volume.

9. Click Add to add the command to the task list, or select Add More to add additional commands for the same microplate.

When you use low volume protein block, you can tell the NT8 to fill the protein tray using LCP heads, which always provide a highly precise dispense. Follow this tutorial to add a dispense task for your protein tray.

1. Right-click the Protein Source Station icon and select Aspirate/Dispense.

   OR

   Double-click the Protein Source Station icon.

2. Next to Action select Dispense, as shown in the image below.

   

   Creating a Dispense Task for the Protein Tray

3. Next to Column, select which columns in the protein tray you want to dispense the protein sample into.

4. Set the Volume field with the total volume of protein you want to dispense into the protein tray.

5. Next to Z-Offset, choose the distance from the tray you want the tip of the syringe to dispense from. The default value is 0.1 mm.

6. Click Add to save the changes.

   OR

   Select Add More if you want to add more Dispense commands and set up additional dispense volumes.

1. Next to Action, select Dispense.

   

   Setting the Lipidic Cubic Phase (LCP) Dispense Volume

   

   Setting the Low Volume (LV) Tips Dispense Volume

   

   Setting the High Volume (HV) Tips Volume

2. OPTIONAL: If you are performing an LCP experiment, you must select the LCP head from the SELECT HEAD field first before configuring the dispense details.

   Note: NT8 can dispense different volumes to different columns on a plate with any of the heads. To do so, you need to create a second dispense task with the second desired volume. For example, you can dispense 50 nL of monoolein to columns 1-6, and 80 nL to columns 7-12.

3. Select the columns that you want to dispense to. In the example above we have selected the first well columns, 1-12.

4. OPTIONAL: Click on the long arrow below the dispense radio button to reverse the dispense direction. This step is required for hanging drop experiments.

   Note: The drop image will vary depending on the microplate type in use.

5. Select the desired target drop located in the lower-left of the dialog by clicking on any of the circles. The top circle represents drop 1 and the bottom circle represents drop 2. The selected drop is highlighted in yellow.

6. Select a liquid class from the Liquid Class list. You can apply the liquid class to individual well columns if the Repeat command on the Task List is selected.

7. Set the volume field with the total actual drop volume of solution.

8. You now have two options: Click Add to confirm and exit the Task Details dialog box, or select Add More if you want to add more Dispense commands and set up additional dispense volumes.

   Note: An asterisk indicates the liquid class that was selected when you created the Aspirate command.

To add the LV Dispose Tip command, take the following step:

• Double-click the Waste Station to add the Dispose Tip command to the Task List

   

To add the HV Dispose Tip command, take the following steps:

1. Make sure that the HV Pick Tip command appears in the Tasks Lists panel.

2. Double-click the HV Tip Caddy Station to add the Dispose Tip command to the Task List.