FAQs¶
Q: Do I need to purchase software maintenance for the NT8 Control Software to work?
A: When you purchase the NT8 you get a perpetual copy of the software. This means the software license is yours to keep and run for life. No maintenance is required. Software maintenance provides you with all the most advanced updates to the NT8 Control Software and access to FORMULATRIX’s world-class support if you ever have any questions, but it is not a requirement.
Q: After my software maintenance contract runs out, will I still be able to use my NT8 Control Software?
A: Yes, of course. Your software license is a perpetual license for you to use for however long you would like. It is yours for life.
Q: How many low volume tips does it typically take to dispense one protein drop per well on a 96-well plate?
A: The NT8 provides the flexibility for you to choose. The tips are washable and can be reused throughout a single dispense protocol, for a maximum of three plates due to the size of the NT8 deck. If your research requires strict cross-contamination guidelines, then you can use a new tip for each well for a total of 96 tips. Most users fall somewhere in between, typically using one set of 8 tips to dispense their protein drops across their 96- well plate.
Q: What is the minimum volume that the NT8 can reliably aspirate and dispense?
A: The NT8 can reliably aspirate and dispense 50 nL volumes with an average CV of under 5%. For dispensing tasks where volumetric accuracy is less important, such as seeding, the NT8 can be configured to dispense volumes as low as 10 nL into dry plates.
Q: How much volume can the protein tray hold?
A: If you have the LV protein block, the maximum volume is 3 μL per well (8 wells per column, 3 columns total, for a total of 72 μL).
NT8 now comes with a standard protein block that can hold up to 13 μL per well (8 wells per column, 3 columns total, for a total of 312 μL). We also introduced a special protein block that fits into Microplate Station 3, which holds the equivalent of 4 HV protein blocks, or 1248 μL.
Q: What types of drop dispensing can the NT8 perform?
A: The system can set up hanging drop, sitting drop, microbatch, in meso LCP drops, and seeding dispenses.
Q: Can the NT8 set up seeding experiments?
A: Absolutely! Seed stock drops as small as 10 nL can be dispensed. Just add your seed stock to one of the three columns of the protein tray and run your protocol as if you are dispensing any other protein.
Q: How long does it take the NT8 to reach a relative humidity of 85%?
A: With its 3 powerful humidifiers, the NT8 can go from an ambient humidity of 35% up to 85% in just 35 seconds.
Q: What is the humidity variance within the NT8’s chamber?
A: The NT8 has tight control of the humidity with a variance of only +/- 2.5%.
Q: Does humidification come standard or is it an additional option?
A: All NT8 systems come with the humidification feature at no additional cost.
Q: How often do you have to refill the NT8 humidification tank?
A: There’s no need to refill the humidification tank, as the chambers are filled automatically from the shared external water tank that is also used for tip washing. This keeps the humidifier easy to use.
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