January 25, 2010 Page 1 of 4
Overview
The Biomek NXp is a programmable 96 channel pipetting robot which can pipette from 96 or 384 well plates to 96 or 384 well plates. The dispensing head uses disposable tips. Single well operations are not possible. It can transfer a minimum of 4 ul to dry wells or a minimum of 1 ul to wells containing liquids.
Maximum transfer volume is 250 ul. Each user will create their own “Project” which holds the labware definitions, pipetting techniques, and your own
“Methods”. Methods are the programming steps that control the robot.
Precautions
• Only use plates, tips, and labware that Paul has entered into the database and trained. You can see the trained labware in the "Labware Type Editor" under the project menu. Do NOT change any labware information in the labware editor or a crash WILL occur. Using non-trained labware WILL cause a crash and damage to the robot. See Paul to add new labware.
• Use the correct tips. Some tips can NOT be used with some plates. See the list below.
• ALWAYS test new methods with an empty deck to prevent crashes.
• ALWAYS test new methods on water samples to prevent contamination and loss of valuable samples. Test tips and plates are in the bottom left cabinet. Do not discard these tips and plates.
• Do NOT put USB drives, floppy disks, or burned CD/DVDs into the robot computer. We have NO virus software on this computer.
• Do NOT install ANY software on this computer.
• Do not rearrange the deck mounts.
• REPORT ANY CRASH TO PAUL. The robot will likely need some repair or adjustments if it crashes.
Prepare the Robot
• Check the air pressure supply gauge. It must be between 40 and 100 psi. 80 psi is normal, 45 psi sometimes occurs in the winter.
• Check the tip wash water level. Add Nanopure water if there is less than 2 liters. Every time Nanopure water is added to the liquid container, rinse the liquid container 2 to 3 times before adding new Nanopure water. Empty the waste liquid container. Hang supply tubing from the pump while adding water.
Do NOT let the supply tubes touch the floor. Remember, this water will end up in your reactions.

January 25, 2010 Page 2 of 4
• If the tip wash station is dry, run the wash pump manually until water is present in the wash station.
• Remove ALL items from the Biomek deck.
• Manually position the head 5 cm from the left and back of the housing. Open the Biomek software. From the “Instrument” menu, choose “Home All Axes”.
This resets the position of the Biomek. Homing the axes should be done once a day or if the robot has been powered off or if there have been problems.
The First Time You Use the Robot
• Create your own project file by opening the "Paul" project from the "Project" menu. Immediately save the project with your name using the "Save Project As" command in the project menu.
• Copy methods from the "Paul" project into your own project using the "Open
Method" button. You must then save the method in your OWN project before you can modify it.
• Password protect your methods by right-clicking on a method or folder and choose "Protect with password".
Using the Biomek
• From the “Project” menu, open your OWN project.
• Use pre-defined methods as written or with some editing.
• Save methods in your own project for future use.
• You should be able to make new methods by modifying the current methods.
If you need an entirely new method, see Paul for help BEFORE you run any nontested methods. The user manual has complete documentation on writing methods.
• Wash tips well and reuse them (except for DNA contaminated tips) to reduce costs.
• Use new tips for DNA moving and DISCARD the tips when done, or label the tips for use with that DNA plate only. Store your tips at your own bench.
• Insure that you place plates on the deck where the script expects them or the robot WILL crash.
• If you place your hand or anything through the light curtain, the script will pause. You must remove your hand and then press the continue key on the computer to continue the script.
• If you abort a run, or if the robot is stuck with tips loaded, press the "new method" button and run the new empty method. That should unload the tips.
Writing Methods
• All methods must have "Start", "Instrument Setup", and "Finish" steps.
• In the "Instrument Setup" step, drag labware icons to the deck image to tell the method where plates are located, what plate type it is, and the volume of liquid

January 25, 2010 Page 3 of 4 in the plate. Volumes are important. The robot must know which plates are empty and how much volume is present in order to pipette properly.
• Add other steps from the side bar. For example, to add a transfer step, just click the transfer icon. In the transfer step, you must then choose the source and destination plates, the volume to move, wash options, tip options, and the techniques for pipetting.
• At first, it is much easier to modify existing methods than to write completely new methods.
• Read Chapters 13 through 18 of the "Biomek Software Users Manual" for complete details of writing methods.

January 25, 2010 Page 4 of 4
When Done
• Clear the deck of ALL labware, tips, lids, etc.
• Empty, clean, and rinse reservoirs and return them under the deck. Reservoirs can be re-used MANY times but must be kept clean.
• Put pooling tips under the deck.
• Close the desk extension if it is out.
• Leave the robot on. Quit the Biomek software.
• Remove all of your plates, used tips, and other materials. Do NOT leave new unused plates near the robot. Keep then at your bench.
Tip and Labware Combinations
Some labware will NOT work with some tip types. For example, all deep-well plates and deep-reservoirs REQUIRE long tips. Some plates look alike yet have different dimensions. Use the correct plate or a crash WILL occur.
• The following plates must use ONLY the 200ul or 50ul tips:
AxygenSeahorse_DEEP_96Reservoir
Neptune_8_Strip_1ml_DeepWell
GeneMate2ml_96Deepwell
MidSci_Labnet_96_Deepwell_Round_1ml
Ritter_96_Deepwell_Round_1ml
• The following plates must use ONLY the 20ul or 50ul tips:
Avant384PCR_MidSci
Current384plates
• The following plates can use ANY tips:
Axygen96ReservoirLP
NeptuneCLP96_HalfSkirtPCR_BlackSkirt
Neptune96_650ul_deepwell
Maintenance (Paul Only)
• Backup files every 2 months.
• Frame the deck as needed. Framing the deck allows the Biomek Software to remember each deck position for each Biomek pod, and the Deck Editor is used to set the properties of each ALP and position. Several properties, such as
Position Span and Labware Offset, are preprogrammed into Biomek Software; however, other properties, such as Position, must be set by teaching. The position offsets are taught using the framing tools with the Biomek instrument.
• Change air filters every year or two as needed.
• Add new labware definitions as needed.