Two types of plate related information are stored in the system – Plate Formats and Plate Types -
collectively described as plate definitions.
A Plate Format describes the general format of a plate, such as the number of wells, together with some other general information (see Plate Formats).
A Plate Type contains information relating to a specific plate, such as a Greiner 384 plate. Each
specific Plate Type is of a particular Plate Format.
Plate dimensions
To create a new Plate Definition, you will need the X, Y, Z dimensions for the plate. All dimensions are in millimetres.
Measure the X and Y dimensions from the plate edges to the centre of the A1 main well.
Measure the height of the plate for the Z dimension.
Enabling 'Add/Modify Plate Type'
Open the ‘Maintain Config’ dialog. In Machine Settings, check ‘ShowPlateEditorButton’ as shown in the screenshot.
Click 'Save to Config File' for the change to take effect.
Adding or modifying plate definitions
To add or modify plate definitions, select 'Add/Modify Plate Type' on the Advanced Settings page:
Select the 'Create New' tab to:
- modify an existing Plate Type e.g. if the manufacturer changes the specification in some way
- create a new Plate Type based on an existing one, using the option to retrieve the values of
an existing Plate Type. - create a new Plate Type by specifying all required values.
- create a new Plate Format based on an existing one, using the option to retrieve the values of an existing Plate Format.
- create a new Plate Format by specifying all required values.
Limitations and rules
- All plate definitions must have unique names.
- The plate height must be within the range of 7.85-23mm (inclusive) for a standard
instrument. - The plate height must be within the range of 7.85-44mm (inclusive) for a deep well block
instrument. Additionally, plate heights within the range 25-26.85mm (exclusive) are not
supported. - All values must be positive.
- A Plate Format must be defined, either by defining all values or by selecting an existing Plate Format from the dropdown menu.
For information about how to enter the plate dimension please refer to Plate Dimensions.
Click ‘Save As…’ and provide a unique name to add the plate to the list of definitions.
Removing plate definitions
To remove custom plate definitions, select 'Add/Modify Plate Type' on the Advanced Settings page:
Select the 'Remove' tab to remove custom plate definitions.
Select a plate and click on ‘Remove plate’ or right-click on the plate definition, and choose ‘Remove’ in the context menu.
<PlateTypesData xmlns="http://ttplabtech.com/XAMLPlateInfos">
<PlateType Name="Greiner 96" XOffset="14.35" YOffset="11.25" Height="14.6" />
<PlateType Name="Corning 96" XOffset="14.3" YOffset="11.2" Height="14.2" />
<PlateType Name="Corning 384 Low volume flat bottom" XOffset="12.12"
YOffset="8.99" Height="12.19" FormatID="384" />
<PlateType Name="Corning 384 Low volume round bottom" XOffset="12.12"
YOffset="8.99" Height="14.2" FormatID="384" />
<PlateType Name="Greiner 384 deep well masterblock" XOffset="12.13"
YOffset="8.99" Height="22" FormatID="384" />
<PlateType Name="Greiner 384" XOffset="12.13" YOffset="9" Height="14.4"
FormatID="384" />
<PlateType Name="Labcyte PS Diamond well LDV 384" XOffset="12.13"
YOffset="8.99" Height="14.4" FormatID="384" />
<PlateType Name="Labcyte PP Square well LDV 384" XOffset="12.13"
YOffset="8.99"
Height="14.4" FormatID="384" />
<PlateType Name="Matrix 384" XOffset="12.13" YOffset="8.99" Height="14.4"
FormatID="384" />
<PlateType Name="Matrix 384 deep well masterblock" XOffset="12.13"
YOffset="8.99" Height="22" FormatID="384" />
<PlateType Name="Perkin Elmer Proxiplate 384" XOffset="12.13" YOffset="8.99"
Height="14.35" FormatID="384" />
<PlateType Name="Perkin Elmer Optiplate 384" XOffset="12.1" YOffset="9"
Height="14.35" FormatID="384" />
<PlateType Name="Greiner screenstar 1536" XOffset="11.01" YOffset="7.87"
Height="7.85" FormatID="1536" />
<PlateType Name="Greiner 1536" XOffset="11.01" YOffset="7.87" Height="10.4"
FormatID="1536" />
<PlateType Name="Labcyte 1536 PS LDV" XOffset="10.89" YOffset="7.75"
Height="10.48" FormatID="1536" />
<PlateType Name="Perkin Elmer Alphaplate 1536" XOffset="14.35" YOffset="7.84"
Height="14.35" FormatID="1536" />
<PlateType Name="384 PCR plate" XOffset="13.15" YOffset="8.03" Height="14"
FormatID="384" />
<PlateType Name="Biorad 96 Hardshell" XOffset="14.38" YOffset="11.24"
Height="16.2" />
<PlateType Name="Eppendorf Twin-Tec 96" XOffset="14.38" YOffset="11.24"
Height="15.7" />
</PlateTypesData>
NOTE: the 384 PCR plate must be used with a booster plate, or a new plate definition added, to
ensure best possible dispense conditions.
Default Plate Formats
<PlateFormatsData xmlns="http://ttplabtech.com/XAMLPlateInfos">
<PlateFormat FormatID="15 [XPitch 23 YPitch 25]" NumCols="5" NumRows="3"
XPitch="25.0" YPitch="23.0" Tolerance="5.0" />
<PlateFormat FormatID="24 [6x4 Pitch 18]" NumCols="6" NumRows="4"
XPitch="144"
YPitch="18.0" Tolerance="1.0" />
<PlateFormat FormatID="24 [6x4 Pitch 19.6]" NumCols="6" NumRows="4"
XPitch="19.6" YPitch="19.6" Tolerance="5.0" />
<PlateFormat FormatID="48 [6x8 XPitch 18 YPitch 9]" NumCols="6" NumRows="8"
XPitch="18.0" YPitch="9.0" />
<PlateFormat FormatID="48 [8x6 Pitch 13]" NumCols="8" NumRows="6"
XPitch="13.0"
YPitch="13.0" Tolerance="1.5" />
<PlateFormat FormatID="48 [8x6]" NumCols="8" NumRows="6" XPitch="13.5"
YPitch="13.5" />
<PlateFormat FormatID="96" NumCols="12" NumRows="8" XPitch="9.0"
YPitch="9.0" />
<PlateFormat FormatID="384" NumCols="24" NumRows="16" XPitch="4.5"
YPitch="4.5" />
<PlateFormat FormatID="Linbro 24 Format" NumCols="6" NumRows="4"
XPitch="22.26"
YPitch="22.26" Tolerance="6.0" />
<PlateFormat FormatID="1536" NumCols="48" NumRows="32" XPitch="2.25"
YPitch="2.25" />
</PlateFormatsData>
NOTE only the 96, 384 and 1536 Plate Formats will appear as default in the Plate Format drop
down menu in the plate editor.