opentrons Flex Liquid Handling Robot User Guide
- June 13, 2024
- opentrons
Table of Contents
opentrons Flex Liquid Handling Robot
Product and Manufacturer Description
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Opentrons Flex is a liquid-handling robot designed for high throughput and
complex workflows. The Flex robot is the base of a modular system that
includes pipettes, a labware gripper, on-deck modules, and labware — all of
which you can swap out yourself. Flex is designed with a touchscreen so you
can work with it directly at the lab bench, or you can control it from across
your lab with the Opentrons App or our open-source APIs.
MANUFACTURER DESCRIPTION
Opentrons Labworks Inc
45-18 Ct Square W
Long Island City, NY 11101
Product Elements
Product Elements
Shipping weight (crate, robot, parts) : 148 kg (326 lbs)
Robot weight : 88 kg (195 lbs)
Dimensions: 87 cm W x 69 cm D x 84 cm H (about 34” x 27” x 33”)
Operating space:
Flex needs 20 cm (8”) of side and back clearance. Do not place the sides or
back flush against a wall or another surface.
CRATE CONTENTS
The Flex ships with the following items. Other instruments and modules are
packaged separately, even if you purchased them together as a workstation.
-
- Opentrons Flex robot
-
(1) Emergency Stop Pendant
-
(1) USB cable
-
(1) Ethernet cable
-
(1) Power cable
-
(1) Deck slot with labware clips
-
(4) Spare labware clips
-
(1) Pipette calibration probe
-
(4) Carrying handles and caps
-
(1) Top window panel
-
(4) Side window panels
-
(1) 2.5 mm hex screwdriver
-
(1) 19 mm wrench
-
(16 + spares) Window screws (M4x8 mm flat head)
-
(10) Spare deck slot screws (M4x10 mm socket head)
-
(12) Spare deck clip screws (M3x6 mm socket head)
-
(5) L-keys (12 mm hex, 1.5 mm hex, 2.5 mm hex, 3 mm hex, T10 Torx)
Unboxing
Working with a partner, unboxing and assembly takes about 30 minutes to an hour. See the Installation and Relocation chapter in the Flex Instruction Manual for more information.
Note : The Flex requires two people to lift it properly.
Also, lifting and carrying the Flex by its handles is the best way to move the
robot.
You can reuse the crate and internal shipping components. We recommend keeping
the crate panels and the internal shipping items in case you need to transport
your Flex in the future.
DISASSEMBLE CRATE AND REMOVE ROBOT
Unlock the latches holding the top to the sides, and remove the top panel.
Cut open the blue shipping bag, remove these items from the padding, and set them aside:
- User Kit
- Power, Ethernet, and USB cables
- Emergency Stop Pendant
Remove the top piece of foam padding to expose the window panels. Remove the window panels and set them aside. You’ll attach these later.
Unlock the remaining latches holding the side panels to each other and the base of the crate. Remove the side panels and set them aside.
Using the 19 mm wrench from the User Kit, unbolt the brackets from the crate bottom.
Pull or roll the shipping bag all the way down to expose the entire robot.
With help from your lab partner, grab the handholds in the orange shipping frames on either side of the robot’s base, lift the Flex off the crate base, and set it down on the floor.
Using the 12 mm hex L-key from the User Kit, remove the four bolts holding the shipping frames to the Flex.
Remove the four aluminum handles from the User Kit. Screw the handles into the same locations that held the 12 mm shipping frame bolts.
With help from your lab partner, lift the Flex by its carrying handles and move it to a workbench for final assembly.
FINAL ASSEMBLY AND POWER ON
After moving the robot, remove the carrying handles and replace them with the finishing caps. The caps close the handle openings in the frame and give the robot a clean appearance. Return the handles to the User Kit for storage.
Retrieve the top and side panels from the packing foam you set aside after removing the crate top.
Fit the window panels to the Flex by following the labeling information on the front protective film. Then remove the protective film.
Using the beveled window screws and the 2.5 mm screwdriver from the User Kit, attach the window panels to the Flex. Make sure the beveled (V-shaped) holes in the window panels are facing out (towards you). This allows the screws to fit flush with the surface of the window.
Warning: Incorrectly orienting the panels can lead to damage. Excessive
screw torque can crack the panels.
Hand tighten the screws until the window panels are reasonably secure. This is
not a trial of strength.
Using the 2.5 mm screwdriver from the User Kit, remove the locking screws from the gantry. These screws prevent the gantry from moving while in transit. The gantry locking screws are located:
- On the left side rail near the front of the robot.
- Underneath the vertical gantry arm.
- On the right side rail near the front of the robot in an orange bracket. There are two screws here.
The gantry moves easily by hand after removing all the shipping screws.
Cut and remove the two rubber bands that hold the trash bin in place during shipping.
Attach the power cord to Flex and plug it into a wall outlet. Make sure the deck area is free of obstructions. Flip the power switch on the back left of the robot. Once powered on, the gantry moves to its home location and the touchscreen displays additional configuration instructions.
First Run
When you turn on Flex for the first time, it will guide you through the network connection procedure, update itself with the latest software, and let you give it a name. See the Installation and Relocation chapter in the Flex Instruction Manual for more information.
CONNECT TO A NETWORK OR COMPUTER
Follow the prompts on the touchscreen to get your robot connected so it can
check for software updates and receive protocol files. There are three
connection methods: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB.
Note: You need to have internet connectivity to set up Flex
Wi-Fi : Use the touchscreen to connect to a Wi-Fi network that is secured with WPA2 Personal authentication. Or use Ethernet or USB to complete initial setup, and add your Wi-Fi network later.
Ethernet : Connect your robot to a network switch or hub with an Ethernet cable.
USB: Connect the provided USB A-to-B cable to the robot’s USB-B port and an open port on your computer. USB setup requires the connected computer to have the Opentrons App installed and running.
Download the Opentrons App from https://opentrons.com/ot-app/.
The app requires at least Windows 10, macOS 10.10, or Ubuntu 12.04.
INSTALL SOFTWARE UPDATES
Now that you’ve connected to a network or computer, the robot can check for
software and firmware updates and download them if needed
If there is an update, it may take a few minutes to install. Once the update
is complete, the robot will restart.
ATTACH EMERGENCY STOP PENDANT
Connect the included Emergency Stop Pendant (E-stop) to an auxiliary port
(AUX-1 or AUX-2) on the back of the robot.
Attaching and enabling the E-stop is mandatory for attaching instruments and
running protocols on Flex.
For more information on using the E-stop during robot operation, see the
System Description chapter in the Flex Instruction Manual.
NAME YOUR ROBOT
Naming your robot lets you easily identify it in your lab environment.
If you have multiple Opentrons robots on your network, make sure to give them
unique names.
Congratulations! Now you’ve successfully set up your Opentrons Flex robot!
Follow instructions on the touchscreen or in the Opentrons App to attach and calibrate instruments.
Additional Setup Information
For more information about unboxing, assembly, software configuration, moving/relocation, and attaching instruments and modules, see the Installation and Relocation chapter in the Flex Instruction Manual.
Additional Product Information
MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING
You can use alcohol (70% solution), bleach (10% solution), or distilled water
to clean the robot. You can wipe off all the visible and easily accessible
surfaces of your Flex. This includes the exterior and interior frame,
touchscreen, windows, gantry, and deck. The Flex does not have any internal
parts that you need to open or disassemble for this level of maintenance. If
you can see it, you can clean it. If you can’t see it, don’t clean it.
See the Maintenance and Service chapter in the Flex Instruction Manual for
more information.
WARRANTY
All hardware purchased from Opentrons is covered under a 1-year standard
warranty. Opentrons warrants to the end-user of the products that they will be
free of manufacturing defects due to part quality issues or poor workmanship
and also warrants that the products will materially conform to Opentrons’
published specifications.
See the Warranty section of the Maintenance and Service chapter of the Flex Instruction Manual for more information.
SUPPORT
Opentrons Support can help you with questions about our products and services.
If you discover a defect, or believe your product is not functioning to
published specifications, contact us at
[email protected].
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
The Opentrons Flex has been tested and complies with all applicable
requirements of the following safety and electromagnetic standards.
- IEC/UL/CSA 61010-1, 61010-2-051
- EN/BSI 61326-1
- FCC 47CFR Part 15 Subpart B Class A
- IC ICES-003
- Canada ICES-003(A) / NMB-003(A)
- California P65
See the Introduction of the Flex Instruction Manual for more information.
For a PDF of the complete Opentrons Flex Instruction Manual, scan this QR code:
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
© OPENTRONS 2023
Opentrons FlexTM (Opentrons Labworks, Inc.)
Registered names, trademarks, etc. used in this document, even when not
specifically marked as such, are not to be considered unprotected by law.
