A lab2lab instrument controller must be installed on the controlling PC of any analytical instrument on the lab2lab system. This is a small software applet that handles the software interfacing between lab2lab and the control software of each specific instrument type. SPT Labtech provides .msi installation files for the instruments. When installed they run automatically. Exceptionally, the Director application communicates directly with Bruker NMR systems, and requires the Bruker PC and software to be correctly configured.
When lab2lab sends a vial to an instrument for processing, it first physically transports it there. Once the Receiver unit attached to the instrument detects the vial's arrival, the Director application then sends the associated process data to the Instrument Controller. Once this has been received the processing of the vial will commence. The Instrument Controller will detect when the vial can safely be returned to the Buffer and when the analytical process has successfully completed (and the results have been generated). lab2lab will then handle the vial appropriately.
When running, a small lab2lab icon will appear in the system tray of the PC controlling the instrument. Double clicking (or right clicking and selecting View from the pop-up menu) will bring up a window showing the status of the applet. This will show information about the most recent vial to be handled and what control information was sent to the analytical instrument (as well as status feedback). You should not need to access this in normal operation.
Using lab2lab - 7.1 Sender >>>