Configuration Priorities for Five Automated Workstation Types
| Instrument or workstation | Main liquid handling tasks | Confirm first | Acceptance priorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sample preparation platforms | Pipetting, washing and product transfer across stations | Consumables, retained material, shared resources and cycle time | Workstation delivery, residual liquid, recovery and method results |
| Automated Pipetting | Single transfers and multiple dispenses from one aspiration | Displacement method, sealing, liquid class and usable stroke | Actual received volume, first/last doses and contamination across the sequence |
| Microplate dispensing and washing | Well dispensing and method-required microplate washing | Plate type, peak supply/drainage demand, manifold and wash-head height | Per-well delivery, residual liquid and whole-plate method results |
| Reagent dispensing | Repeated dispensing and batch timing | Total cycle volume, start/stop operation, actual formulation and replenishment | First, middle and last doses; first dose after a bottle change; affected vessels |
| Workstation fluidic integration | Resource occupancy, module interfaces and fault recovery | State diagrams, vessel identity, confirmed delivered volume and interlocks | Check for misdelivery or repeated actions, with verification after maintenance |
Match each workstation action to its container, timing and shared resources
Define the liquid operation at each workstation before choosing its pump: disposable-tip transfer, fixed-probe metering, well washing and waste aspiration have different interfaces and timing. Record the source, destination, working volume and container position together with any shared pump, valve or wash station. Check whether concurrent tasks compete for that resource and whether washing or refill fits the cycle. After an interruption, the controller needs the actual delivery state and container identity before it can choose to resume, repeat or discard an operation.
Instrument or method objectiveFluid paths and operating statesWorking volume and cycle timeCandidate configurationReceipt and method validation
Roles of commonly used products in this field
| Product category | Main functions in this field |
|---|---|
| Air-displacement pipetting pump | Disposable-tip sample preparation; disposable-tip air displacement; tip-based liquid handling at workstations |
| Syringe pump | Fixed-path preparation and transfer; fixed-needle liquid-displacement drive; discrete dispensing by well or group; batch reagent aspiration and dose-by-dose dispensing; discrete metering at stations |
| Multiport rotary valve | Selection of source, station and maintenance paths; selection of reagent sources and dispensing destinations; selection of shared fixed-path resources |
| Liquid diaphragm pump | Wash-station and shared supply; microplate wash and common-liquid supply; workstation shared supply and washing |
| Gas-liquid diaphragm pump | Gas-containing aspiration at shared wash stations; suitable aspiration and waste removal from microplates; suitable shared waste aspiration |
| Bubble and pressure detection | Bubble and pressure signals for workstation monitoring of supply, transfer and drainage; the controller associates events with pipetting stages and potentially affected doses. |
| Tubing and fittings | Station and shared-resource connections; fixed-path sealing and shared volume; reservoir, manifold and waste connections; source, pump and dispensing-end connections; sealed, serviceable connections between modules |
| Piston pump | Discrete metering for suitable fixed-probe configurations |
| Sampling Probes | Fixed-probe interface with the container |
| Solenoid valve | On-off control of washing and dispensing branches; dispensing-outlet control; branch isolation and state interlocks |
| Wash probe | Well-washing interfaces and aspiration height |
| Valveless metering pumps | Suitable repeated dosing or continuous supply |
Validate component operating points and application results separately
Record actual delivery, first and last doses, and well-to-well variation by station. Check sample identity, contamination recovery and resource scheduling. Concurrent tests should cover shared-supply and peak waste loads. Interruption tests should distinguish no delivery, partial delivery and completed delivery, checking for wrong destinations or duplicate doses after resumption or retry.
Explore related application fields by task
Information needed to start a configuration discussion
| Information category | Information needed |
|---|---|
| Platform and vessels | Stations, needles or tips, plate types and actual receiving locations |
| Working volume and cycle time | Individual dose, dose count, well count, batch time and replenishment window |
| Shared resources | Use and concurrency conditions for pumps, valves, wash stations, manifolds and waste resources |
| Restart rules | Container identity, delivery status, and steps allowed to resume or retry |