The Chemspeed FLEX platforms

ATLAS hosts three Chemspeed FLEX platforms dedicated to materials synthesis, development and sample preparation. All three platforms come with:

  • Volumetric liquid handling tool with four 10 mL aspiration/dispense channels 
  • GDU-P(fd) gravimetric solid dispensing tool with 0.1 mg resolution balance

Otherwise, the instruments are unique, designed to cover a range of applications and materials preparation space. The individual capabilities are below. 

FLEX AUTOPLANT

High-pressure synthesis and process development

  • Simultaneous reaction in six 100 mL stainless steel reactors with independent condition control
  • Overhead mixing, temperature (-20 — 250 °C) and pressure (1 - 90 bar)
  • Gas manifold for automated gaseous atmosphere control
  • Sampling and continuous feeding during reaction, including at pressure
  • Liquid/liquid extraction

The AUTOPLANT has been used for preparation of metal oxides, carbonisations, recrystallisations and polymer synthesis.

The FLEX AUTOPLANT deck layout, containing six stainless-steel pressure reactors (front), vial racks (back), liquid dispenser (top left) and solid dispensing containers (right)

 

FLEX ISYNTH

Parallel synthesis, formulation optimisation and crystallisation experiments

  • Reaction block with integrated reflux condenser and controlled shaking for 24 x 20 mL parallel reactions 
  • Temperature control from -20 — 150 °C
  • Ambient or inert atmosphere

The ISYNTH has used to make materials including MOFs, porous polymers and metal oxides.

The FLEX ISYNTH deck layout, containing filter tip racks (left), vial racks (centre) and the reaction block (right)

FLEX SWILE 

Sample preparation for analysis

  • SWILE gravimetric solid dispensing tool with 0 - 100 mg weighing range, 0.1 mg resolution
  • Shaking rack for three microwell plates or vial racks
  • Temperature control from -20 — 150 °C

The SWILE platform has been used in applications including solubility studies and gel synthesis. 

The FLEX SWILE layout, consisting of a shaking rack (left), reagent vial racks (centre), the SWILE tool (bottom right) and the swins used by the SWILE tool to pick up reagent (bottom centre)

 

Other tools

Opentrons OT-2

The Opentrons OT-2 is a liquid dispensing robot. Features include:

  • Moving axis with two mounted micropipettes. Pipette volumes are single- channel 20, 300 and and 1000 µL, eight-channel 300 µL.
  • Deck with eleven positions for well plates, vial racks and pipette tips
  • Highly customisable deck, compatible with 3D printed parts
  • Open source software and python API

The OT-2 has been used for assay preparation, ink drop casting and for serial dilutions for solubility studies. 

The Opentrons OT-2 deck. Deck positions are filled with source and destination well plates and a filter tip rack. Coloured solutions have been pipetted to form the ATLAS logo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DOBOT Magician MG400

We integrate DOBOT robotic arms with other equipment using python scripts. Examples include automated an weighing station, where we use the DOBOT arm with a Sartorius Quintix balance for automated weighing of vials. We've also automated electrode polishing with a custom arm gripper. 

Bambu Labs H2D 3D printer

We have a dual nozzle Bambu Labs H2D 3D printer with an AMS for 3D printing custom parts. These include vial racks and parts for equipment integration.