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Preventative maintenance guidelines for the best results and the least amount of down-time
The care of your robot and pipettes are one of the most important routines for working in the lab.
Download the Opentrons Flex user manual to study maintenance steps in further detail.
Opentrons Flex should be cleaned regularly to prevent the buildup of contaminants that could compromise your experiments. Cleaning also gives you a chance to inspect the robot for wear and damage. You should review this section for information, instructions, and resources about how to clean your Flex, pipettes, gripper, and modules. If you have any questions about cleaning your Flex and its related components, contact the support team at ml@email.mikrolab.example.dk
- Isopropyl alcohol (70%) or ethyl alcohol (70%)
Some sections of the robot have a preference for one over the other, but these two solutions are comparable.
- Bleach (10-15%)
Bleach is NOT interchangeable with the above solutions.
Wipe
Give material a gentle wipe-down. Make sure there is no liquid dripping and be careful to avoid eletronics.
1.Disconnect the Flex from power.
2. Remove all of the labware from the deck.
3. Wipe down the exterior of the Flex with a damp cloth.
4. Use a mild cleaning agent and water to clean the interior of the Flex.
5. Dry the Flex with a clean cloth.
DO NOT: Do not clean the electronic components of the gripper.
WARNING:
Do not disassemble Flex gripper for cleaning or attempt to clean their internal electronic components.
Do not put Flex gripper in an autoclave. The high temperatures, pressures, and steam inside an autoclave can damage the electronics, circuit boards, small electric motors, and other sensitive components.
Ratings and chemical effect:A: Excellent - Recommended for use.B: Good - Minor Effect, slight corrosion or discoloration.C: Fair - Moderate Effect, not recommended for continuous use. Softening or loss of strength and swelling may occur.D: Severe Effect - Not recommended for any use.E: No data available.
1: Satisfactory to 72°F (22°C).2: Satisfactory to 120°F (48°C).
Remove the pipette from the gantry.
Dampen a soft, clean cloth or paper towel with a cleaning solution. (Typically 70% isopropyl alcohol or 10% bleach)
Gently wipe down the following parts:
Pipette body
Ejector
Nozzle
Use a cloth dampened with distilled water for a rinse wipe-down.
Let the pipette air dry and reattach.
Check for scratches or damage to the pipette O-rings and replace as necessary.
Do not disassemble Flex pipettes for cleaning or attempt to clean their internal electronic components.
Do not put Flex pipettes in an autoclave. The high temperatures, pressures, and steam inside an autoclave can damage the electronics, circuit boards, small electric motors, and other sensitive components.
The routine cleaning steps described above may not clean your pipette if it becomes contaminated with substances like nucleic acids, proteins, or radioactive material. When a pipette becomes contaminated, try the decontamination steps described in this section. You can also contact support if your pipette gets contaminated and these cleaning procedures do not work.
Refer to the following table for recommended cleaning methods, by contamination type.
Filtered pipette tips help prevent contaminating the barrel or inside of the pipette. But, you cannot disassemble the barrel if it becomes contaminated. If the inside of your pipette gets contaminated, the following steps may help remove the contamination:
1. Inject a small amount of cleaning solution into the barrel using a manual pipette or syringe.2. Gently shake the pipette to swirl the cleaning solution.3. Rinse with distilled water.4. Let the pipette air dry and reattach.
1. Remove the gripper from the gantry.
2. Dampen a soft, clean cloth or paper towel with a cleaning solution.(Typically 70% isopropyl alcohol or 10% bleach)
3. Gently wipe down the following parts: a. Gripper body b. Jaws c. Paddles
4. Use a cloth dampened with distilled water for a rinse wipe-down.
5. Let the gripper air dry and reattach.
You can clean the surfaces of any of your Flex modules. The general procedure is the same for all supported modules: Heater-Shaker, Magnetic Block, Temperature, and Thermocycler.
Be sure to turn the module’s power off before cleaning it. You can clean the top surfaces of modules while they’re installed in a deck slot. However, for better access, you may want to:
• Remove the caddy and module from the deck slot.• Remove the module from the caddy.• Disconnect any USB or power cables (if you’re cleaning a powered module).
Do not disassemble modules for cleaning or attempt to clean their internal electronic components.
Do not put Flex modules in an autoclave. The high temperatures, pressures, and steam used inside an autoclave can damage the electronics, circuit boards, small electric motors, and other sensitive components.
Once you’ve prepared the module for cleaning:1. Dampen a soft, clean cloth or paper towel with a cleaning solution.2. Gently wipe off the module’s surfaces.3. Use a cloth dampened with distilled water as a rinse wipedown.4. Let the module air dry
To set up the Thermocycler with a clean seal:
The Thermocycler GEN2 seals need to be applied to the hood of the Thermocycler and can be reused up to 20 times. Opentrons Thermocycler GEN2 Seals need to be sterilized before each use. If you have a Thermocycler Module GEN1, please use the Thermocycler GEN1 Seals.
The frequency you need to clean the Flex will depend on how often you use it and the types of experiments you are running. Generally, you should clean the Flex at least once a week. If you use the Flex with hazardous materials, you may need to clean it more often.
For a more detailed cleaning guide, see the Maintenance and Service chapter of the Flex manual. If you have problems cleaning the Flex, please contact us at ml@email.mikrolab.example.dk
A well-cared for pipette will last longer, provide more accurate results, be calibrated more precisely, and reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
It can be a good idea to print out, laminate and hang up the maintenance schedule near your Opentrons OT-2 robot, so that you can check routinely when your robot needs maintenance. Average usage is estimated to be 4 hours per day, 5 days a week.
- Isopropyl alcohol (70%) or ethyl alcohol (70%)Some sections of the robot have a preference for one over the other, but these two solutions are comparable.
- Bleach (10-15%)Bleach is NOT interchangeable with the above solutions.
WipeGive material a gentle wipe-down. Make sure there is no liquid dripping and be careful to avoid eletronics.
Wipe down partsClean the following parts of the gantry using either isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or bleach:- X rail cover- X carriage- Mount cover
DO NOT: Do not douse or spray the gantry because that may damage critical parts. Do not clean Y rails, X rails, pulleys, belts, or anything that doesn't have explicit cleaning instructions.
Wipe down parts
Clean the following parts of the deck using either isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or bleach:
- Removable deck
- Stationary deck
- Trash base
- Trash cover
DO NOT: Do not clean the tip probe cover or door switch.
Clean the following parts of the frame using isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol:- Black frame- Y rail cover- Silver frame
DO NOT: Do not clean the front button or any electronics.
If your OT-2 was manufactured after September 2019, its front and top windows are polycarbonate. Wipe them down with bleach, isopropyl alcohol, or ethyl alcohol.
Otherwise, its front and top windows could be polycarbonate or acrylic. To be safe, assume they're acrylic, and wipe them down with bleach. Avoid isopropyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol.
Your OT-2's rear and side windows could be polycarbonate or acrylic. How to clean them depends on which.
You can tell them apart by checking the shape of the cutouts:
If they're polycarbonate, wipe them down with bleach, isopropyl alcohol, or ethyl alcohol. If they're acrylic, wipe them down with bleach. Avoid isopropyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol.
If you have additional questions or concerns about cleaning your robot, please contact us at ml@email.mikrolab.example.dk
Do not disassemble pipettes. Do not douse or spray pipettes because that may damage electronics. Please make sure to remove all pipettes from the OT-2 before starting. Do not wipe the pipettes down vigorously.
WARNING: Never use acetone when cleaning the pipettes. Acetone will cause permanent damage the pipette, which is made of ABS plastic. Avoid using 100% ethanol or 100% methanol when cleaning the pipettes (70 - 90% alcohol is recommended).
DO NOT: Do not clean the electronic components of the pipette.
Wipe with isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol
Wipe down the following parts of the pipette with either isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol:
Lastly, check for scratches or damage to the pipette O-rings and replace as necessary.
Bleach can also be used to clean GEN2 pipettes, but shouldn't be used to clean GEN1 pipettes. See Do I have a GEN1 pipette or a GEN2 pipette? for more information.
OUTSIDE THE PIPETTEIf your pipette becomes contaminated with a known substance, there are specific cleaning steps that must be taken depending on the type of substance. Performing the routine cleaning and maintenance steps outlined above will not be sufficient if your pipette is cross-contaminated. Please contact support for assistance if your pipette becomes contaminated.
- For aqueous solutions, rinse the contaminated parts with distilled water or 70% ethanol and air dry at 60° F.- For organic solvents, allow the substance to evaporate on its own or immerse the part in a detergent and air dry.- For radioactive substances, place the pipette in a solution like Decon 90, rinse, and air dry.- For proteins, rinse the contaminated parts with a detergent, rinse, and air dry. DO NOT use alcohol as it will set the proteins.- For nucleic acids, rinse the contaminated parts in glycine/HCI buffer (pH 2) for 10 minutes, rinse with distilled water, and air dry.
INSIDE THE PIPETTEUsing filter tips can prevent contamination inside of the pipette. It is not possible to disassemble the internal barrel of the pipette to access it to clean it if the inside of the pipette becomes contaminated.
If the inside of your pipette becomes contaminated, the following should be done as a last resort to remove contamination:
Use a manual pipette or syringe to introduce a small amount of the cleaning solution into the barrel.Swirl the cleaning solution around and then let it air dry.
If you have any questions,please contact us at mat(at)mikrolab.dk.
Review the guidelines below for the specific modules you will be cleaning.General cleaning instructions and compatible cleaning agents are listed at the bottom of this section.
Wipe with isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or bleachAll outer surfaces of the Temperature Module can be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or bleach. See compatible cleaning agents at the bottom of this section for recommended dilution ratios.
DO NOT: Do not douse or spray the Temperature Module directly. Do not clean the temperature display, power button, power port, or the USB port of the Temperature Module. Avoid electronics and the power supply.
Wipe down the following parts of the Magnetic Module with either isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol:- Magnet platform- Magnets
Wipe with isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or bleach
Wipe down the following parts of the Magnetic Module with either isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or bleach:- Module housing/body- Sheet metal sides and back
See compatible cleaning agents at the bottom of this section for recommended dilution ratios.
All outer surfaces of the Thermocycler Module can be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or bleach. See compatible cleaning agents for recommended dilution ratios.
Disinfecting Thermocycler Module seals
The Thermocycler Module's seals are made of silicone. To clean them:1. Affix the seal to the module's lid.2. Wipe the seal with a 1:10 dilution of household bleach. Let it dry.3. Wipe the seal with molecular biology grade water. Let it dry.
NOTE: Thermocycler seals cannot be autoclaved.
DO NOT: Do not douse or spray the Thermocycler Module directly. Do not clean the temperature indicator LED strip, power button, power port, or the USB port of the Thermocycler Module. Avoid electronics and the power supply.
All outer surfaces of the Heater-Shaker can be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or bleach. See compatible cleaning agents for recommended dilution ratios.The module can also withstand ultraviolet (UV) light, limited to standard sterilization procedures. Do not expose the module to constant or high-intensity UV light.
DO NOT: Do not douse or spray the Heater-Shaker Module directly. Do not clean the USB port, power port, or power button of the Heater-Shaker Module. Avoid electronics and the power supply.
Power down the module.Unplug all cables and remove the module from the deck.Spray a paper towel with the appropriate cleaning agent and wipe down the module. Avoid electronics and the power supply.Wipe down with a dry paper towel.
10% bleach solution70% ethyl alcohol99% isopropyl alcohol
The Checkit Go is an easy-to-use, stand-alone, disposable cartridge.With it, you can check the accuracy of your liquid handling robots ormulti-channel pipettes in just seconds. No additional equipment isrequired.
The Checkit Go directly measures the volume of the liquid dispensed,rather than indirectly measuring the weight or the color of the liquid.
The glass capillaries almost completely encase the liquid, so evapo-ration is minimal. Measurements are guaranteed to be accurate to
within 2% and typically better than 1%.
Validate your liquid handler with dye or in your test liquid, includingglycerol, DMSO, and ethanol. Just reconstitute your test liquid in ourred dye pellet.
Contact our support team for guidance