Modules and fixtures

The second step in building your protocol is to add modules or fixtures to the deck. Click an open slot to add a module, like the Temperature Module, or a fixture like the trash bin.

Click an open Flex deck slot to add compatible modules and fixtures.

Protocol Designer protocols can control Opentrons modules on the Flex or OT-2, as shown below. Flex lets you use multiple modules of the same type, except for the Thermocycler.

Module	Opentrons Flex	Opentrons OT-2
Thermocycler Module	Only 1 module GEN2 only Slots A1 and B1	Only 1 module GEN1 or GEN2 Slots 7 and 10
Heater-Shaker Module	Up to 7 modules GEN1 only Slots A1–D1 or A3–D3	Only 1 module GEN1 only Slot 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, or 10
Absorbance Plate Reader Module	1 module only GEN1 only Slots A1–D3	Not compatible
Magnetic Block	Up to 11 modules GEN1 only Slots A1–D3	Not compatible
Magnetic Module	Not compatible	1 module only GEN1 or GEN2 Slot 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, or 10
Temperature Module	Up to 7 modules GEN2 only Slots A1–D1 or A3–D3	1 module only GEN1 or GEN2 only Slot 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, or 10

On the Flex, you can also customize fixtures, including the waste chute, trash bin, and staging areas, to optimize deck space.

Fixture	Opentrons Flex	Opentrons OT-2
Trash Bin	Only 1 trash bin Slots A1-D1 or A3-D3	Only 1 trash bin Slot 12
Waste Chute	Only 1 waste chute Slot D3	Not compatible
Staging area	Up to 4 staging areas Slots A3-D3	Not compatible

You can create additional space on the Flex deck by adding as many as four staging areas to slots A3–D3. This creates an additional row of slots (A4-D4).