uMp micromanipulator support

Please review the operating manual carefully before installing and starting to use the uMp manipulators. We also recommend watching the installation videos that will guide you through the basic installation steps.

Getting started

Please find uMp-micromanipulator operating manual here and firmware update instructions here. Instructions on connecting the devices with each other and the control units can be found in our connection guide (PDF).

Installation videos for 2021 and newer micromanipulator stands are below:

Installation video for uMp-micromanipulator revisions manufactured 2016-2020 below:

Problem: Manipulator  axis does not move over the whole range or moves slowly

Fix:

  1. Most likely cause is excessive loading from the cable or tubing drag, which is also the most common source of the pipette tip drift. Always organize cables / tubing carefully to improve stability.

Problem: Movement of one axis causes correlated microelectrode tip movements in other axes or other movement artifacts are observed

Fix:

  1. The microelectrode is colliding with an objective or chamber
  2. There are mechanically loose connection in the installation
  3. Cable/tubing movements or varying drag is causing the movement artifacts

Problem: Pipette tip is drifting

Fix:

  1. ZERO DRIFT piezo technology is inherently drift free. The closed-loop control is measuring the current position of each axis in real-time, which is displayed at the uMp-TSC touch screen unit. Sub-micrometer fluctuations are normal in ambient laboratory conditions. In case pipette tip is drifting more than that but the readings don’t change accordingly, the drift originates from somewhere else in the setup than micromanipulators (as is the case over 99 % of the time).
  2. Most common sources of pipette tip drifts are: cable drag, unstable electrode holder, unstable temperature or air drafts around the setup and/or drift from xy-stage, microscope body and/or installation posts. We recommend installing the manipulator to same solid stage/platform as where sample is placed to eliminate often large drifts from having the micromanipulator and sample installed in different mechanical frameworks.

SMX brochures and operating manual

Please note that SMX products have been replaced by new uMp products in 2017. Full after-sales services are available for the SMX product customers.

SMX firmware updates

Please update your SMX micromanipulator and control unit firmware for optimal performance and latest features. Please make sure that you use the firmware files with the .hex extension when updating your micromanipulator.

Software Development Kit (SDK) for PC control

Please review the SDK online documentation and download on Github  as first step in developing your PC control application.

Examples of using SMX SDK for PC control applications

These simple examples are shared to help developing custom applications for most commonly used software environments.

Python interface class is courtesy of Brendan Callahan and Alex Chubykin, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.