I wanted to see if anyone offered VENUS classes or essentially tutoring to help people just starting out. I have years of experience programming on EVO & Fluent Tecan models, but my Hamilton/VENUS experience is very limited. My current job has me programming strictly on VENUS and I am finding it really difficult to get over the learning curve and be able to “think” in VENUS terms.
If this doesn’t exist yet, would people be interested in starting a group that essentially helps each other with tips & tricks?
When I started out I also thought it was a bit hard to get going.
Once you have started to solve one problem, you will just keep going tough. One of the most valuable resources for learning is this very forum. Good thing you are already here
In addition, there is a programmers manual and manual for Venus. These wont give you the whole picture, there will be a lot missing. But it will hint you in the correct direction.
This file repository is ran by Hamilton and contains libraries, manuals and other downloadable content. Usually, if you need a certain function, there is a library for it. Or that you can solve it with multiple functions by just being creative.
Good luck! You will be thinking in Venus terms soon enough
If your job requires you to work with Venus they should pay for a training for you. Both the US and the European subsidies offer extensive courses, both in presence or online.
If you can’t take a course, this forum and the Venus editors’ and library help files should help you along. Especially the help files can really explain a lot of things, depending on your knowledge of general programming principles. I once met someone who taught himself how to program a good part of his methods in HSL (the Venus-internal programming language) via the help files, for example. Also, the library HSL files are very often also commented, which helps you understand some more principles. And yes, the manuals posted above are also quite helpful.
The benefit of getting an on-site course is not just familiarity with the Vensus programming language but understanding the integration method on a Hamilton itself. Having working with a number of different systems (inclusive of Hamilton ML STAR, Tecan Fluents and Tecan EVO), I would recommend getting some hands-on training either by Hamilton or co-worker/community to guide you through the initial process.
The integration principles are the same, but how it’s specifically implemented on a particular instrument can help tremendously (i.e. you’re not grasping in the dark).
That’s what I am trying to do here - find people/ a person/ a group that would be willing to help me learn and be able to answer questions. Essentially I’m trying to find a Hamilton tutor.
I already asked about Hamilton training and was denied, with the explanation that “the classes are more basic that what you’ll be doing” aka a waste of time in their eyes.
I appreciate links to resources, etc. but many I have already found on my own/ are working through now. I’m still planning to continue with that, but I need more immediate help
When I worked for a reagents vendor, I would often teleconference/remote in with customers to go over their scripts and depending on locations go out to help with integration/implementation for free. So if you’re working with a vendor that could provide such support to their customers, that might be a resource tapping into.
Typically, I would write the basic script, go over it with them so they had a basic understanding of Venus and then I would encourage them to build out features so that at our next session we could go over it and debug.
You can message me and I can let you know the vendor I worked for; I’m not sure they still provide that level of “service” since I’ve left.
Well, there are advanced trainings as well, though it sounds to me like they simply don’t want to pay at all.
I think this forum is the closest you can get to a supportong community, considering there are actual Hamilton employees here to answer your questions.
I already asked about Hamilton training and was denied, with the explanation that “the classes are more basic that what you’ll be doing” aka a waste of time in their eyes.
Outrageous. Say it’s a budget issue but when you say something akin to this, managers come across as pompous pricks.
They’re missing the point if they’re prohibiting Hamilton VENUS instruction because it’s “too basic.”
Fundamentals like deck layout logic, submethods, error handling, and labware definitions are the main source of VENUS difficulties. If you miss it, you’ll have a script with 2,000 lines that no one can debug.
Present it as downtime plus risk. The expense of one unsuccessful run exceeds that of the training.
Post specific VENUS concerns here (sanitized) if that isn’t working. To be honest, this forum is the closest thing to in-person assistance you can find.
Hi @angryduckyduck - I’m with Nucleus Automation Partners and we offer remote and on-site training for all liquid handling vendors, including Hamilton VENUS. We customize our sessions to topics that are applicable to your workflows and your system configuration (if you don’t have an iSWAP, we don’t cover it). If you’re interested, we’d love to chat. My email is below. Thanks!
I’d like to share my learning process, which is similar to your experience. I used to be an application and hardware engineer at Revvity, and I recently switched to a new job that requires the use of VENUS/EVO/Bravo and other scheduling software.
I spent about two weeks first going through the VENUS Programmer Manual to get a preliminary understanding of the general logic and basic concepts of the VENUS software, such as Labware, Liquid Class, Deck Layout, and Sequence. Actually, these concepts are quite similar, though different software has its own specific details. You need to pay attention to these differences—for example, certain parameters related to Labware are particularly important in section 5.5.3 of the VENUS Programmer Manual.
Then I found Chapter 12 of the manual, which contains some basic demo methods that guide you step by step in creating some fundamental methods. This helps reinforce the related concepts. Of course, there are some errors in this chapter, but it’s still very useful.
I think this might be helpful to you. Feel free to email me(yinruping@126.com) if you have any questions.
