ROCK MAKER^® Crystallization Software Integration View

Next to the Task List view is the ROCK MAKER (RM) Integration view that allows you to import and run an experiment as defined in ROCK MAKER. This view is only enabled if you use ROCK MAKER as your Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS). Please contact support@formulatrix.com to enable NT8 integration with ROCK MAKER.

ROCK MAKER Integration View

ROCK MAKER Integration consists of two areas: Plate Stations and the ROCK MAKER Experiment Property panel.

Note

Enabling the ROCK MAKER Integration settings through Options in the Tools menu will only allow access to the ROCK MAKER Integration view in the NT8 interface. For your ROCK MAKER and NT8 programs to be integrated, FORMULATRIX support will need to modify some of the SQL settings on your computer. Please contact support@formulatrix.com for more information.

For further information on how to create an experiment in ROCK MAKER, please see the Experiment Design section of the ROCK MAKER help file.

Plate Stations

The Plate Stations in the ROCK MAKER Integration View

Each Plate Station has an Enter barcode field in which you can type in your experiment barcode number as defined in ROCK MAKER. You can make use of the three available Plate Stations on the NT8 deck to load up to three different barcodes from ROCK MAKER at the same time, provided each experiment requires the use of the same plate type.

Note

If you make any changes to the dispense design after this step in the NT8 software, ROCK MAKER will not mark the experiment as dispensed. The original design is preserved in ROCK MAKER unless you edit the experiment in ROCK MAKER.

ROCK MAKER Experiment Properties Panel

ROCK MAKER experiment information appears in the ROCK MAKER Experiment Properties panel after your experiment barcode is validated. It comprises four tabs:

Barcode History

Barcode History Tab in the ROCK MAKER Integration View

The Barcode History tab helps you track the experiment that you have conducted. It displays the barcodes, experiment names, dates dispensed, and the statuses of your experiments: Success, Failed, or Canceled.

By default, the Barcode History tab displays 15 of the most recent experiments. However, you have the option to show up to 25 experiments. If you want to explore the older experiments, use the navigation arrows.

Checklist Tab

Checklist Tab in the ROCK MAKER Integration View

Once the experiment’s barcode is validated, a list of experiment instructions will populate the Checklist tab. If you load more than one experiment’s barcodes, instructions for all experiments will appear there. You are required to follow the instructions for hardware setup in order to execute the experiment. As you fulfill each instruction, you must select the checkboxes next to each instruction to confirm that you have completed them.

Loading Three Barcodes in ROCK MAKER Integration

Note

You can unload the barcodes and clear all instructions from the Checklist tab by clicking the I Want to Start Over button.

All the Required Instructions Have Been Completed

Canvas Tab

Next to the Checklist tab is the Canvas tab which provides information about the content of the experiment’s plate(s). The Canvas tab has three different sections: Barcode List, Experiment Panel, and Plate View, as shown below.

The Canvas Tab

Barcode List

The Barcode List shows all the barcodes being loaded in the ROCK MAKER Integration. Click the desired barcode to see the content of the plate. Each barcode will change to green to indicate that the experiment has been dispensed, as seen below.

Green Barcodes Indicates the Experiment Is Complete

Experiment Panel

Item	Configurable?	Description
Stock Name	N/A	The stock name.
Type	N/A	The experiment layer type as defined in ROCK MAKER.
Target	N/A	The dispense target as defined in ROCK MAKER.
Liquid Class	N/A	Shows you the liquid class of the protein and well solutions used.
Status	N/A	Tells you the current stock’s status as the experiment is being executed.

Plate View

The plate graphic below represents the plate in use, providing the selected stock/protein volume information as defined in ROCK MAKER. While an experiment is running, each column will turn orange which indicates the aspirate/dispense process is taking place, then it turns green when it’s complete.

The Plate Graphic Shows the Aspirate and Dispense Progress

Experiment Info Tab

The Experiment Info tab shows properties of your experiment that you defined in ROCK MAKER. Click the Edit button to modify the experiment info as needed before running it. However, the modified info will only be valid as you open your experiment in the ROCK MAKER Integration page. The changes will not be saved and will be removed after you exit the NT8 software.

Note

ROCK MAKER Integration only allows you to edit dispense-related information. The modified information will not affect the experiment you made in ROCK MAKER.

Experiment Info Tab

Item	Configurable in RM?	Description
Barcode	N/A	Shows the experiment barcode number.
Name	N/A	Shows the experiment name as defined in ROCK MAKER
Plate Name	N/A	Shows the plate name as defined in ROCK MAKER.
Dispense Type	N/A	Displays the dispense type. The dispense type will change accordingly, depending on the Plate Name that you choose.
LCP predispense Volume (nL)	N/A	Displays the LCP pre-dispense volume (only available for LCP dispense). You can change the volume accordingly from the ROCK MAKER software.
LCP predispense Cycle	N/A	Provides the information about how many pre-dispense cycles will be done (only available for LCP dispense). You can change the number of pre-dispense cycles as needed through the ROCK MAKER software.
RM Experiment ID	N/A	Tells the ROCK MAKER experiment ID number.
RM Plate ID	N/A	Informs the ROCK MAKER plate ID number.
Dispense Protocol		Provides various dispense protocols for the NT8, as follows: Protein & Well Together: Use this option to aspirate protein from the protein block and well solution from the plate before dispensing the mixture to the plate’s drop locations. Well then Protein: Use this option to aspirate solution from the well, dispense the well solution into the drop location, then aspirate protein from the protein block and dispense it into the drop location. This action will repeat column-by-column. All Protein First then Well: Use this option to first aspirate protein and dispense it to every drop location on the plate, then aspirate well solution and dispense it to all drop locations on the plate. Protein then Well: Use this option to aspirate protein from the protein block, dispense the protein into the drop location, then aspirate well solution from the well and dispense it into the drop location. This action will repeat column-by-column.
Seeding Protocol*		These options provide various seeding experiment protocols in the NT8 software. Each option’s behavior is determined by the components defined in Dispense Protocol. Options include: No Seed: Use this option if you do not want to incorporate seed in your experiment. First: Use this option to dispense the seed before dispensing the first component defined in the dispense protocol. For example, if you choose the Protein then Well option in the Dispense Protocol, the NT8 will first aspirate the seed from the protein block, dispense it into the drop location, and then aspirate protein from the protein block and dispense it to the drop location. After that, the NT8 will aspirate well solution from the well and dispense it into the drop location. Important Seeding Protocol First can’t be used with Dispense Protocol All Protein FIrst Then Well due to an inconsistent dispense order. With First: Use this option to dispense the seed at the same time as the first component defined in the dispense protocol. For example, if you choose the Protein then Well option in the Dispense Protocol, the seed will be aspirated and dispensed along with the protein. Then, the NT8 will aspirate and dispense the well solution separately. Second: Use this option to dispense the seed after dispensing the first component defined in the dispense protocol. For example, if you choose Protein then Well option in the Dispense Protocol, the NT8 will first aspirate the protein from the protein block and dispense it into the drop location. The seed will then be aspirated and dispensed from the protein block right after the protein. Finally, the well solution will be dispensed into the drop location. With Second: Use this option to dispense the seed along with the second component defined in the dispense protocol. For example, if you choose Protein then Well option in the Dispense Protocol, the NT8 will first aspirate and dispense the protein from the protein block into the drop location. Then, the seed will be aspirated and dispensed along with the well solution. Last: Use this option to dispense the seed after all of the other components defined in the dispense protocol. For example, if you choose Protein then Well option in the Dispense Protocol, the NT8 will first aspirate and dispense the protein, then the well solution, before finally aspirating and dispensing the seed.
Aspirate Seed Together Option*		This option determines which component will be aspirated first when you select either With First or With Second in the Seeding Protocol field. Seed After: Use this option to instruct the NT8 to aspirate the seed after the component (well solution or protein) defined in the dispense protocol. For example, if you choose Protein then Well option in the Dispense Protocol, then select With First in the Seeding Protocol options, the NT8 will aspirate the protein before the seed. Seed Before: Use this option to instruct the NT8 to aspirate the seed before the component (well solution or protein) defined in the dispense protocol. For example, if you choose Protein then Well option in the Dispense Protocol, then select With Second in the Seeding Protocol options, the NT8 will aspirate the seed before the well solution.
Seed Aliquoting*		If you select this option, the NT8 will aspirate and dispense the total seed volume for one plate at once. For example, if you have 12 columns and the volume of each column is 25 nL, then the NT8 will directly aspirate and dispense all 300 nL. This option works only if you select First or Second of the Seeding Protocol options. Important Seeding Protocol has specific restrictions on the dispensing order, which depend on the Seeding Protocol and Dispensing Protocol chosen. Incorrect combinations may lead to inconsistent and unreliable experimental results. Seed Aliquoting is compatible with the following Seeding and Dispense Protocol combinations: Seeding Protocol First with either Protein then Well, Well then Protein, or Protein & Well Together. Seeding Protocol Second is only allowed when using All Protein First then Well.
Mix Seed*		Select this option to instruct the NT8 to mix the seed in the protein source block location before aspirating. Mixing is performed by aspirating and dispensing the seed a set number of times.
Seed Mixing Cycle*		This option determines how many times the NT8 will mix the seed. Enter the desired number of mixing cycle(s) in the option box. This option only appears if you select the Mix Seed option.
Dispense Mixing Cycle*		This option determines for how many cycle(s) the NT8 will mix all of the ingredients together, after they have been dispensed. Enter the desired number of cycle(s) in the option box.
Change Tips		This is where you instruct the NT8 when to wash the LV tips. Options include: After Each Plate: Selecting this option enables the NT8 to change the LV tips after dispensing to one plate is complete. When Switching Ingredients: Selecting this option enables the NT8 to change the LV tips after dispensing a particular ingredient is complete. After Every Dispense: Selecting this option enables the NT8 to change the LV tips after the dispense is complete.
Should Dispense Screen	N/A	This property is only available for systems with the Plate Copy feature. You can select whether you want to dispense to a screen by using the Plate Copy or not in ROCK MAKER.
Status	N/A	Tells you the current experiment status. If you have run the dispensing process the status will be marked as “Dispensed”, otherwise it will be blank.

The seeding option is available only for ROCK MAKER 3.10 or newer.

Related Topics

• Seeding Experiments

• Liquid Class Guidelines