Hardware Modules

• Module Setup
  • Loading Modules onto the Deck
    • Available Modules
  • Loading Labware onto a Module
    • Module and Labware Compatibility
    • Additional Labware Parameters
• Absorbance Plate Reader Module
  • Loading and Deck Slots
  • Lid Control
  • Initialization
  • Reading a Plate
  • Using Plate Reader Data
    • Dictionary Data
    • CSV data
• Flex Stacker Module
  • Loading and Deck Slots
  • Adding Labware to the Stacker
    • Stacker Capacity
  • Using Stacker Labware
• Heater-Shaker Module
  • Deck Slots
  • OT-2 Placement Restrictions
    • Adjacent Modules
    • Tall Labware
    • 8-Channel Pipettes
  • Latch Control
  • Loading Labware
    • Standalone Adapters
    • Pre-configured Combinations
    • Custom Flat-Bottom Labware
  • Heating and Shaking
    • Heating
    • Shaking
  • Deactivating
• Magnetic Block
• Magnetic Module
  • Loading Labware
  • Engaging and Disengaging
  • Changes with the GEN2 Magnetic Module
• Temperature Module
  • Loading Labware
    • Standalone Adapters
    • Block-and-tube combinations
    • Block-and-plate combinations
  • Temperature Control
  • Temperature Status
  • Changes with the GEN2 Temperature Module
• Thermocycler Module
  • Lid Control
  • Block Control
    • Temperature
    • Timing Temperature Holds
    • Block Max Volume
  • Thermocycler Profiles
  • Auto-sealing Lids
  • Changes with the GEN2 Thermocycler Module
• Concurrent Module Actions
  • Module tasks
  • Timing module tasks
• Loading Multiple Modules of the Same Type

Hardware modules are powered and unpowered deck-mounted peripherals. The Flex and OT-2 are aware of deck-mounted powered modules when they’re attached via a USB connection and used in an uploaded protocol. The robots do not know about unpowered modules until you use one in a protocol and upload it to the Opentrons App.

Powered modules include the Absorbance Plate Reader Module, Heater-Shaker Module, Magnetic Module, Temperature Module, and Thermocycler Module. The 96-well Magnetic Block is an unpowered module.

Pages in this section of the documentation cover:

• Setting up modules and their labware.

• Working with the module contexts for each type of module.

  • Absorbance Plate Reader Module

  • Flex Stacker Module

  • Heater-Shaker Module

  • Magnetic Block

  • Magnetic Module

  • Temperature Module

  • Thermocycler Module

• Using concurrent module actions to run modules while the robot performs other protocol steps, like pipetting, gripper, and other module actions.

• Loading multiple modules of the same type in a single protocol.

Note

Throughout these pages, most code examples use coordinate deck slot locations (e.g. "D1", "D2"), like those found on Flex. If you have an OT-2 and are using API version 2.14 or earlier, replace the coordinate with its numeric OT-2 equivalent. For example, slot D1 on Flex corresponds to slot 1 on an OT-2. See Deck Slots for more information.