At a Glance: Quick Troubleshooting Summary
- Instrument: Tecan Freedom EVO 200.
- Symptom: A 96-well plate on the second carrier site disappears from the graphical worktable layout, and the view cannot be manually edited or restored.
- Root Cause: The Y-offset inside the "Edit carrier" settings was accidentally modified, shifting the labware's virtual coordinates entirely outside the viewable worktable grid.
- Solution: Open the carrier configuration menu and change the Y-offset for site #2 back to its original calibrated value.
When running liquid handling protocols, encountering an unexpected software glitch can immediately stall your lab's workflow. On automated instruments like the Tecan Freedom EVO 200, keeping a perfectly mapped digital worktable is essential for precise liquid transfers. A missing plate layout on your screen halts your protocol before the run can even begin.
Our team recently resolved an issue where a client's labware completely vanished from the software interface during a manual adjustment sequence. Below, we outline exactly why this worktable display error occurs and provide a clear walkthrough to restore your labware layout immediately.
- The Incident & Root Cause Analysis
- Step-by-Step Resolution Path
- Best Practices for Safe Alignment
- Quick Troubleshooting Reference Grid
- Contacting Our Support Team
The Incident & Root Cause Analysis
Our team was contacted regarding a "random" error that occurred while a client was trying to manually adjust the positioning of their Tecan LiHa arms with tips attached. During this process, a 96-well plate located on the second carrier site—which was designated for an aspiration step from plate 1 —suddenly disappeared from the EVOware layout screen. The client was locked out from re-adding the plate or editing the worktable grid to correct the view.
Our technical review of the worktable configuration showed that this was not an internal software bug, but rather an unintended coordinate override.
- The Intention: The client intended to adjust the physical tip positioning, a task that must be handled using the dedicated Labware Editor utility.
- The Misstep: Instead of opening the tool-specific parameters, they inadvertently accessed the "Edit carrier" configuration menu and modified the Y-offset for site #2.
- The Result: Changing this parameter calculated the plate's coordinates as being completely outside the valid, viewable boundaries of the worktable layout.
Step-by-Step Resolution Path
If you encounter a missing labware layout on your screen, you can restore the view using our established resolution steps:
- Identify the Affected Site
We first verified that the labware at carrier site #2 was the specific item missing from the graphical worktable display. - Correct the Configuration
We instructed our client to access the "Edit carrier" configuration menu, locate the options for site #2, and change the Y-offset parameter directly back to its original calibrated value. - Verify the Layout View
Once the original numerical coordinates were restored and saved, the 96-well plate successfully reappeared in its proper location on the worktable screen layout.
Best Practices for Safe Alignment
To prevent future configuration corruption, script errors, or accidental hardware damage during manual setups, your lab team should strictly adhere to the following operational protocols:
|
Step |
Protocol / Best Practice Description | |
|
Documentation |
Record all original numerical values and coordinates before making any changes to allow for an immediate reversal if needed. |
|
|
Incremental Adjustments |
Make small, single-axis changes at a time to safely observe the direct effect on alignment. |
|
|
Carrier Integrity |
Never change values in the "Edit carrier" window unless a specific site's RoMA gripping position varies significantly from the others. |
|
|
Tool-Specific Logic |
Position adjustments for LiHa tips or DiTi cones must always be performed within the Labware Editor, never change any value within the "Edit carrier" window. |
|
|
System Maintenance |
Ensure the instrument is properly initialized and completely flushed of bubbles before testing new scripts to avoid dripping or inaccurate aspiration. |
|
Quick Troubleshooting Reference Grid
|
Symptom |
Common Causes |
Immediate Action |
|
Missing 96-well plate layout slot |
Accidental Y-offset modification within the carrier parameters. |
Revert the Y-offset for site #2 back to its original calibrated value. |
|
Blocked from re-adding or editing labware views |
Labware positioned completely outside of valid worktable parameters. |
Access the "Edit carrier" configuration to restore default coordinates. |
|
Layout or coordinate errors during arm setups |
Modifying base carrier properties instead of tool logic parameters. |
Perform all tip and cone positioning changes strictly inside the Labware Editor. |
|
Liquid dripping or poor aspiration tracking |
Air bubble accumulation or failure to complete full initialization routines. |
Run a system initialization and flush lines thoroughly to eliminate bubbles. |
Contacting Our Support Team
If these layout steps do not resolve your software interface mapping error, or if you require expert assistance with full automated system calibrations, please contact our technical support team:
- Website: seqgen.com
- Service Requests: seqgen.com/service-request/
- Email Support: service@seqgen.com
SeqGen specializes in the repair, maintenance, and refurbishment of essential laboratory instruments used in DNA sequencing and genetic research. Our expertise covers a wide range of equipment, including DNA sequencers like the ABI 3730/3730XL, 3500/3500XL, SCIEX LC/MS mass spectrometers such as the SCIEX 6500+, TECAN Freedom EVO liquid handlers, real-time PCR systems, thermal cyclers, and microplate readers. With experience in both current and legacy models, SeqGen provides cost-effective solutions at significantly lower prices than leading competitors.
