At minimum thats a reason to have someone with automation experience around, to make sure a serious assessment of tools can be made and properly communicate expectations with the lab that is going to take one of these on.
And this is why no matter how much we aim to democratize automation, there will always be a need for traditional lab auto experts. Not everyone needs or cares or wants a command line, firmware, communication standard interface and the cheapest option (cost, time and labor) will generally win.
I’m in a similar position but for different applications (also hello to Mike and Joe).
Our application is suspension cell culture - so pretty straightforward, the baseline complexity will come later from LIMS integration for barcoded plates, which I’m sure you’ve all done many times already so I will be coming back here then.
My lab already has a Fluent, and so I already have the Fluentcontrol sim setup on my work laptop. I’m well versed in Fluent scripting, but to not be a one trick, I personally would like to learn to script Hamiltons.
To be able to script on both instruments in the future, if we buy another Fluent, I’d need a VM, which I would definitely prefer to avoid. I assume you can run Hamilton software and FluentControl on the same pc without issues?
The only other consideration is that eventually I’d like to integrate a Vi-Cell Blu and a Kuhner MPS-Z with either device. As a relative newbie to Hamiltons, does this push me to specifically request a Vantage rather than a Star or the Star V? I was looking at the Star V as the mid-level capabilty device that has all the new niceties of the Vantage. For the Fluent, I already know this will be somewhat easier since Kuhner has done all their testing with a Fluent and with the Sila2 protocol.
The only other component we may throw in is an under-deck centrifuge (or to the side for the Hamiltons maybe).
I’m talking to both sales reps of course, will be giving them procedures, but wanted to get some advice from the experts here. Especially as in the last 3 years, much has improved with both companies to my knowledge.
Hello, I am interested in learning to program Tecans. Do you have a link to a free version of their software? My company won’t be buying one anytime soon, but being able to practice on free software would be amazing!