What's New in TEMPEST® 3.8.2
TEMPEST 3.8.2 contains the latest software improvements to make your research easier and more efficient. Here is a quick preview of the features included in this release.
Stuck Solenoid and Pneumatic System Check Feature
TEMPEST now features Pneumatic System Check as an early prevention and detection for leaks or stuck solenoids. This feature automatically runs at start-up and can also be run manually for troubleshooting purposes.
This test covers both the electronic regulators and solenoids to verify the pressure and vacuum functionality of the instrument. The results are in the Pneumatic System Check wizard to allow easy reporting to the FORMULATRIX support team. For more information, see Pneumatic System Check.
Introducing the New Continuous Flow Calibration Wizard
TEMPEST software now adds Continuous Flow (CF) chips to the TEMPEST chips lineup. The CF chip can dispense reagents with a minimum volume of ~20 µL to ∞ µL in an uninterrupted stream, perfect for setting up deep well plates, large numbers of well plates, or other large-volume applications.
To support continuous flow dispensing, the Continuous Flow Options menu has been added under Tools. Before dispensing reagents using a CF chip, you are required to calibrate each reagent to determine the flow rate. We have provided easy-to-follow on-screen instructions in the Continuous Flow Calibration wizard in the TEMPEST software to make calibrating your reagents as painless as possible.
This new CF chip is supported only for TEMPEST hardware V3.0 and newer, and requires a hardware retrofit prior to use. For more information, see Continuous Flow.
New Pre-Dispense Input Buttons in the Input Control Panel
The new Pre-dispense buttons have been added to the Input Control Panel to help you manually pre-dispense assigned reagents when designing a dispense. The new buttons are Pre-Dispense From All Primed Inputs and Pre-Dispense From Selected Input(s) — allow you to inspect any clogged nozzles or errors prior to dispense by triggering a quick dispense to the Waste Station. For more information, see Input Control Panel.
Update for Integration Service (IS) Settings
TEMPEST software now allows you to keep the main UI visible when running via Integration Service. This way, you can easily monitor the chip's status or current activity while controlling the system via the API.
To enable this feature, activate the Show Main UI During Integration Service setting in the Options menu. Read the Using the Options Menu section for details.
Minor Software Changes
TEMPEST 3.8.2 includes other improvements for better usability:
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- Added the Refresh buttonin the Delay Settings window to recalculate the estimated runtime when the delay settings are edited.
- Update the Recirculate settings under the Options menu by changing the Recirculate During Delay option to Recirculate When Plate On Stage.
- Added a loading indicator in the UI when saving the chip configuration takes a longer time because the system is trying to back up the chip configuration data.
- Added a notification in the Dispense List panel when the assigned input volume exceeds the well capacity.
- Sequence Editor window improvements including:
- Added a new label for the Control Valve section: Current Sequence Item.
- Updated the Sequence Editor window title based on the current sequence file for easier identification. While the window title has been updated, the Sequence Type options are disabled based on the selected sequence file type.
- Improved API error reporting functionality while using duplex communication.
- Improved error messages to better communicate warnings and issues to the user.
- Multiple bug fixes to correct minor issues reported by our user community.
Many of the best TEMPEST® updates have been suggested by our awesome user community!
Have a great idea on how to make TEMPEST® better? Let us know by contacting us at support@formulatrix.com.
Visit the Documentation Page
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