TRIO MPC-145 SERIES MICROMANIPULATOR SYSTEM OPERATION MANUAL – REV. 2.62C (20191001) (FW V2.62)
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functions you will need in normal operation (Work, Home, Speed/Lock, Relative, and
Pulse/Angle).
Press and hold WORK (for 3 seconds) to quickly store a work position, tap HOME to move all
axes to an initial location that is useful for changing electrodes, or press and hold the HOME
button (for 3 seconds) to memorize a new HOME position.
When ready to record data, suppress the motor drive electronics by pressing and holding for
3 seconds the SPEED/LOCK button. In the LOCK mode, the display turns red and ROE
input is locked out to avoid any accidental motion.
Pressing and holding the RELATIVE button for three seconds at any location causes the
display coordinates to change to all zeroes. When activating relative mode, the display turns
blue.
To return to viewing the absolute coordinates, tap the RELATIVE button to toggle back to
absolute positioning mode.
Finally, tapping the PULSE button causes a 3
μ
m advance in the diagonal. This rapid burst of
forward motion can assist in sharp electrode cell penetration. Pressing and holding the
PULSE button for 3 seconds allows for entering the angle to which the electrode/headstage is
physically set so that X & Z coaxial (diagonal) movement is made at the correct angle.
All the electronics, except for a small power supply, are housed within the TRIO MPC-100
ROE and no separate controller or computer is required.
External computer control of the TRIO MPC-100 is possible via the USB connector mounted
on the controller/ROE’s rear panel. The controller’s internal software is programmed with a
defined set of commands allowing for a wide range of micromanipulator/stage movements as
programmed in software residing in an external computer connected via USB.
Designed with maximum flexibility in mind, a DIP switch on the controller changes the
directional movement of the ROE knobs to accommodate the preference of the user. A Y-axis
lockout function (accessible by DIP switch) is also available, allowing X/Z-only axial
movement during HOME and WORK repositioning. The TRIO comes standard with a
universal mounting system suitable for the most popular headstages or pipette holders.
The new MP-845 micromanipulator features construction based on the TRIO-245, but with
the addition of precision cross-roller bearings for even tighter tolerances, and a 25pin
connector for future compatibility with our other controllers. The MP-845 is a highly stable
3-axis manipulator with 25 mm of travel on each axis. The TRIO MPC-100 controller gives
the MP-845 a synthetic fourth axis that can be set in software to any angle between 0 and 90
degrees for diagonal movement. Based on a lead-screw design with a smaller overall size and
footprint than most manipulators, the MP-845 is ideal for applications that require 2 pipettes
in one setup or for setups where space is limited.