Read these safety instructions before operating firefly.
firefly is designed and engineered with your safety in mind. If you use firefly in a manner not
specified by SPT Labtech, the protection provided may be impaired.
Do not try to operate the instrument or carry out maintenance tasks unless you have been trained to do so.
Do not operate firefly if the instrument is visibly damaged unless a reliance service engineer has
confirmed that it is safe to do so.
Read the safety instructions in the Inheco On Deck Thermocycler manual, if you have firefly+ with this option.
Read the safety instructions in the CAS vertical laminar flow module manual, if one is fitted.
1.2.1 Hazard summary
DANGER: AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED MOVING MACHINERY
DANGER: HOT SURFACES
1.2.2 Warning symbols on firefly
Take care when accessing the basement of a Genomics instrument if either of the thermal
modules have been used for heating, as they will remain hot for several minutes.
Take notice of the warning triangles alerting you to parts which may be hot.
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The plate thermal module is on the left (shown left) and the reservoir thermal module is on the right (shown right).
If the thermal modules have been used for cooling, do not access them immediately. Wait several
minutes before accessing them; this allows them to warm and avoids the possibility of cold burns.
Handle thermal blocks with care as residual heat/cold will take time to stabilize back to safe
temperatures after use.
1.2.2.1 Warning symbols on firefly+
Take notice of the Inheco Thermal Cycler warnings symbols for hot surfaces, if you have used the thermal cycler for heating, and for crushing hazards, should you put your hand in the lid while it is closing.
The thermal cycler is independently powered so switching off firefly does not stop the thermal cycler operating.
1.2.3 Accessing firefly
To access firefly:
- If you are loading materials using ‘Setup & Loading’, select ‘Get Access’. The software will control moving the heads and decks to positions which give you easy access to the area you need, then stop the instrument.
- If you reach a ‘user interaction’ step in a protocol, once the instructions are shown on screen, you can open the instrument. Heads and decks may be moved to safe positions before the door is opened but this depends on the protocol design, so be cautious when accessing firefly.
- If you need to access firefly immediately, slide up the door. The door is interlocked so firefly stops as soon as it is opened.
CAUTION: Take care as heads and decks may not be in positions which give you easy access.
INFORMATION: You can move both heads back and forwards but not up or down after triggering the door interlock. The decks are always free for the user to slide when the door is open.
To access firefly when it is unpowered, you can open the door and move the decks and heads manually.
1.2.3.1 Accessing firefly+
To access firefly+ shelves, open the door at the front of the unit, to load your materials.
If you need to access the thermal cycler e.g., for cleaning, you will need to reach in through firefly's door.
- Remove all labware from the firefly decks.
- Use Home All in Manual Controls to park the firefly+ grippers.
- Ensure you have switched off firefly and the thermal cycler if you are going to clean the
instrument or clear up a spill. - Move the decks right, away from firefly+
- Move the heads to the back, to give yourself as much space as possible
You should then be able to reach round behind the firefly+ shelves to the thermal cycler.
You should load firefly+ before you start executing your protocol, so no grippers are moving.
If you need to access firefly+ immediately, while a protocol is running, open the door. The door is
interlocked so firefly stops as soon as it is opened.
Opening firefly's door or the firefly+ door will not stop the ODTC if it is operating.
1.2.4 Stopping firefly
1.2.4.i Stop
Use the Pause or Stop buttons if you need to stop firefly while running a protocol outside of a user interaction step.
Pause enables you to continue running your protocol, by pressing the button again. Stop ends protocol execution as well as stopping the instrument.
NOTE: firefly will not stop immediately you click Stop or Pause, it will finish the current protocol step first.
If you use Stop, firefly will remind you to check and reset your instrument before further use.
If your instrument is fitted with the optional vertical laminar flow module, use Stop on the
module's touchscreen to stop the fans.
If your instrument is fitted with firefly+ and the ODTC, the ODTC methods will continue to run after you have stopped a protocol. Use the ODTC manual controls to stop the incubation method.
1.2.4.ii Emergency stop
firefly has an e-stop button to stop the instrument immediately, if this would be safer than opening the door in an emergency.
Don’t use the emergency stop if you want to stop the instrument but there is no danger. As firefly will stop instantly, you may damage or waste your reagents.
You can open the door e.g, to remove materials, after you have used the e-stop.
CAUTION: Take care as heads and decks may not be in positions which give you easy access.
INFORMATION: You can move both heads back and forwards but not up or down after triggering the e-stop.
INFORMATION: firefly emergency stop does not stop the vertical laminar flow module operating. Use Stop on the module's screen.
After you have used the emergency stop button, you will need to twist it clockwise to unlock it before you can restart.
CAUTION: Do not do this until you are sure that firefly is in a safe condition.
firefly will power up when you reset the e-stop but you will need to manually restart your protocol.
1.2.4.1 Stopping firefly+
All the stop functions will also stop firefly+ movements. If the grippers are holding a plate when
you stop the instrument, they will remain gripped and not drop the plate.
If firefly+ is fitted with the on deck thermal cycler, this will not stop operating when you stop firefly+ as it is independently powered. Follow the shutdown instructions in the Inheco On Deck Thermocycler manual.
1.2.4.1.i Emergency stop firefly+
firefly's emergency stop will stop the firefly+ grippers moving. If the grippers are holding plates, they will continue to grip them, not drop them.
firefly's emergency stop does not stop the OHDC from operating. Use Manual Controls to switch it off.
If you need to reach into firefly+ as you restart, beware of hot surfaces if the ODTC is still running, or has only just been stopped.
1.2.4.1.ii Stopping the ODTC
To stop the ODTC while firefly is still running, use the Stop button on ODTC Manual Controls. Be aware that this will only stop the ODTC; the rest of the firefly protocol will continue.
You cannot start a new ODTC protocol while the firefly protocol is still running.
1.2.5 Reagent safety
WARNING: for fire safety, the maximum recommended quantity of 80% ethanol to use in firefly is 200mL.
WARNING: FIREFLY’S ENCLOSURE DOES NOT PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM BIOLOGICAL OR CHEMICAL HAZARDS.
You must carry out risk assessments for the reagents you plan to use, and take appropriate safety measures.
If you are using a firefly+ instrument, you must carry out a risk assessment for use of the storage
shelves and of your incubation protocols using the ODTC.
If you have a vertical laminar flow module fitted, remember that this will flow air towards the
operator.
1.2.6 Moving firefly safely
Moving firefly after commissioning onsite could be dangerous and should be undertaken by trained reliance service engineers. Contact reliance for assistance if you need to move your instrument.
firefly weighs 122.5kg and moving it safely will require careful planning and 4 people to carry out the lift. Incorrect lifting may in the worst-case cause injury or death.
firefly+ must be detached from firefly before any moves as the joint between them is not structurally sound enough and would form a hinge. Contact reliance for assistance.
INFORMATION: Moving firefly could affect alignment, impacting its performance. Contact reliance for assistance if you need to move your instrument.
1.2.7 Ergonomics
firefly’s touchscreen is mounted on a rotating bevel, so you can adjust its viewing angle to be comfortable in use. It cannot be removed from the instrument and is primarily intended to be used for running protocols. Use the Bluetooth keyboard and mouse if needed.
When you are designing protocols, you will find it easier to use a freestanding PC or laptop, and install the standalone firefly app (See section 2.3).
1.2.8 firefly EMC (electromagnetic compatibility)
No specific EMC precautions are required when operating firefly or firefly+.
INFORMATION: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
1.2.9 firefly noise levels
firefly and firefly+ airborne noise emissions do not exceed 70 dB(A).
Vertical laminar flow module noise emissions do not exceed 60 dB(A).