CHRONECT XPR | Dispensing and weighing in the automated workflow
A large number of substances are used in synthesis optimization. These substances are weighed in the lower milligram range and passed on to the further test procedure. They are usually toxic or decompose in the ambient air, so that an enclosure under a inert gas atmosphere such as argon or helium is necessary. Manual weighing is complex and time-consuming. The CHRONECT XPR takes over the weighing process for up to 32 powders in up to 288 vessels – even under the laboratory fume hood.
Pioneering work
In 2018, CHRONECT Quantos was awarded the Application Award by Laborpraxis (a German Laboratory Magazine). Until then, combining precise dosing and weighing technology with automated sample preparation was considered difficult. With the integration of the six-axis robot into the CHRONOS software platform, Axel Semrau succeeded in doing just that. Since then, the system has been developed further in line with practical requirements.
The new name giver is
the improved XPR system.
Key Features
System specifications
CHRONECT XPR integrates precise dispensing and weighing technology into automated sample preparation.
Up to 32 solids are stored on a shelf in dispensing heads. All information about a solid is stored on an RFID chip and read out via the rack. SBS plates provide space for different vessel sizes in which the powders are to be weighed. Dosing and weighing is done with the XPR system from Mettler-Toledo. A six-axis robot takes care of transporting the powder heads into the scale, as well as placing the vessels under the dosing head.
The CHRONOS software controls the entire system. The SBS plates are displayed pictorially in the program. The solid material can be selected via a drop-down menu. Only those powders are listed that are currently on the shelf. Then, the quantity that needs to be dosed can be entered in the graphic of the plates. Simple functions, as known from Excel, facilitate the input in rows and columns. Every weighing is documented.
CHRONECT XPR is equipped with 3 SBS plates with 96 places each for 1 ml tubes. Three additional SBS plates and vials for 2, 4, 8, 10, 20 or 40 ml are available to expand the capacity of the measuring vessels.
The XYZ robot CHRONECT Robotic offers additional automation options: For substances that have to be stored in a sealed vial, the DeCapper Module allows the automatic screwing and unscrewing of the caps. CHRONECT Robotic also offers additional space for sample vials via tray holders as well as further tools and modules for automating sample preparation.
Product
Information
Dispensing and weighing in the automated workflow
A large number of substances are used in syn-thesis optimization. These substances are weighed in the lower milligram range and passed on to the further test procedure. They are usually toxic or decompose in the ambient air, so that an enclosure under a inert gas atmosphere such as argon or helium is necessary. Manual weighing is complex and time-consuming. The CHRONECT XPR takes over the weighing process for up to 32 powders in up to 288 vessels – even under the laboratory fume hood.
Mode of operation
Up to 32 solids can be positioned on one shelf. These are stored in dispensing heads. All infor-mation about the solids is stored on an RFID chip and read out via the shelf. SBS plates offer space for different vessel sizes in which the powders are weighed in. Weighing is done with the help of the XPR system from Mettler-Toledo. A six-axis robot transports the powder heads into the scale and places the vessels under the dosing head.
The software CHRONOS controls the system through a simple interface. The SBS plates are displayed pictorially in the program. The user can now select the solid material via a drop-down menu. Only those powders are shown that are currently on the shelf. He/she then inserts the quantity that is to be dispensed into the graphic of the plates. Simple functions, as known from Excel, facilitate the input into the rows and col-umns. Every weighing is documented.
Options and possible add-ons
CHRONECT XPR is equipped with 3 SBS plates with 96 places each for 1 mL vials. To expand the capacity of the target vessels, three additional SBS plates and vials for 2, 4, 8, 10, 20 or 40 mL are available.
The XYZ robot CHRONECT Robotic offers fur-ther automation options. For substances that need to be stored in a closed vessel, the DeCap-per Module enables to screw the caps on and off automatically. Furthermore, CHRONECT Robotic offers additional space for sample vessels with tray holders. Modules for shaking, heating, filtra-tion and solvent addition are also controlled auto-matically via CHRONOS.