Heating Blocks

     
 


Several of our customers wanted to heat as they stirred their samples.  The commercially available heating blocks are not compatible with magnetic stirring because they position the samples too far above the stir deck or they contain ferrite elements that block the magnetic flux.  We have built robust heating blocks that have a very low profile with no ferrite materials.  This design minimizes the distance from the samples to the magnetic drive thus maximizing the stirring power. 

Another advantage of our design is that we have separated the control panel from the actual heating block.  Thus the heating block is very small and easily fits into areas where space is at a premium, like the deck of a robotic workstation.

 
 
 


  100C Heating Blocks

     
 


The VP 741 Block Heater  25C to 100C

     
 


The VP 741 Block Heater is constructed of anodized aluminum and has a lid that can be screwed into place to seal cap matts or the VP 632 gaskets onto deep well microplates.  It is used to heat a single deep well microplate or rack of glass vials from 25C to 100C.  The temperature is determined +/- 1C by a Watlow controller and a thermocouple. It requires 115 volts and 1.4 amp circuit to power a 150 watt heater.  It will bring water to a boil in 45 minutes and up to 80C in 20 minutes.  The outside dimensions of the block are 16 cm long by 10.6 cm wide and 5.4 cm tall.  With the lid in place it is 6.1 cm tall.  The cavity of the heat block is 12.8 cm long, 8.6 cm wide and 3.5 cm deep.

 

 

 

 



 
 
Photo to the right demonstrates a VP 741 with a custom made adaptor to allow a VP 177 to attach to it.
 
 
 
 

 
  Technical Documents:
    Heating Block Operation Manual
 

 


The VP 743 Block Heater  25C to 100C

     
 


The VP 743 Block Heater  is constructed of anodized aluminum and has a lid that can be screwed into place to seal cap matts onto deep well microplates.  It is used to heat  three deep well microplates or  3 racks of glass vials from 25C to 100C.  The temperature is determined +/- 1C by a Watlow controller and a thermocouple. It requires 115 volts at 4 amps to power a 450 watt heater.  It will bring water to a boil in 45 minutes and up to 80C in 20 minutes.  The outside dimensions of the block are 49.5 cm long by 11.2 cm wide and 5.4 cm tall.  With the lid in place it is 6.1 cm tall.  The three cavities of the heat block are separated by an aluminum web.  Each cavity is 12.8 cm long, 8.6 cm wide and 3.5 cm deep.  The bottom of the wells or vials are only 1.9 cm above the stir deck for maximum magnetic coupling. The VP 743 was designed to be used with the VP 710E-2 series Alligator Tumble Stirrers.

 
 
 


The figure to the right represents the difference in temperature with time for various well locations in a microplate.  Although each location has different exposure to the heating block all three locations are within 3C of each other after 40 minutes.

An additional use for the Heating Blocks is in conjunction with our evaporation manifolds to aid in the evaporation of solvents from microplates or test tubes.

We make heating blocks to fit your application.  Contact us with your needs.
 

 
 
 



  200C Heating Blocks

     
 


The VP 741A and VP 741A-R -- 25C to 200C Block Heater

     
 

VP 741A


Designed to meet the high temperature requirements of chemists to heat and stir reactions the VP 741A Block Heater  is constructed of anodized aluminum and has a lid that can be screwed into place to seal cap matts onto deep well microplates.  It is insulated with Millboard on the bottom to protect both the Tumble Stirrer deck and personnel. It is used to heat one rack of glass vials from 25C to 200C.  The temperature is determined +/- 1C by a Watlow controller and a thermocouple. It requires 115 volts at 7 amps to power two cartridge heaters.  It will bring water to a boil in 3 minutes and the block up to 200C in 6 minutes.  The outside dimensions of the block are 16 cm long by 10.6 cm wide and 5.4 cm tall.  With the lid in place it is 6.1 cm tall.  The cavity of the heat block is 12.8 cm long, 8.6 cm wide and 3.5 cm deep.  The bottom of the wells or vials are only 1.9 cm above the stir deck for maximum magnetic coupling.   The VP 741A when operated at 50C or less can be used with any of the VP 710 series Alligator Tumble Stirrers.   At temperatures from 50C to 200C we suggest you use the VP 710GHHT Tumble Stirrer which has a mating feature for the VP 741A.  Because thermocouples are sensitive to high speed rotating magnetic fields we do not recommend stirring at speeds higher than 100 RPM.  

VP 741A-R

If you need to stir at speeds greater than 100 RPM we suggest you used the RTD temperature sensing device available with the VP 741A-R.   The only difference between the VP 741A (thermocouple) and the VP 741A-R (RTD) is the temperature sensing devices.  RTD's are not affected by moving magnetic fields.

 

 



 
 
 
 
 
 
The VP 741A can also be mated to a VP 581A-PTFE to allow the heat block to be registered on a robot deck so the plate wells will be at the same position as on a plate deck tile.  The polypropylene VP 581A also acts as insulation to prevent the robot deck from heating up.
 
 
 


The VP 741BW -- Low Profile 25C to 200 C Block Heater

 
 


Originally designed to meet the high temperature requirements of scientists to heat PCR plates on a robot deck.  The "cut away" low profile design allows the robot plate handler to move the PCR plates around the deck between multiple VP 741BW heating stations and cooling stations.  The VP 741BW can accommodate a PCR insert (VP 741I6) the VP 741BW Block Heater  is constructed of anodized aluminum. It is insulated on the bottom with a PTFE registration block (VP 581A-PTFE) to register the VP 741BW to the deck and also to prevent the deck from heating up.  It is used to heat one microplate plate from 25C to 200C. 

Recently ProMega has incorporated the VP 741BW heat block as a central element in their new DNA IQTM Forensic assay that they process on the new Beckman 3000 workstation.

The temperature is determined +/- 1C by a Watlow SD series controller and a thermocouple. It requires 115 volts at 7 amps to power two cartridge heaters.  It will bring water to a boil in 3 minutes and the block up to 200C in 6 minutes.  The outside dimensions of the block are 18.1 cm long by 10.6 cm wide and 5.4 cm tall.  With the VP 581A in place it is 7.3 cm tall.  The cavity of the heat block is 12.8 cm long, 8.6 cm wide and 0.6 cm deep. 

Promega has published the efficacy and uniformity of heating with the VP 741BW.

The VP 741BW is also available in a 230 volt version that is CE complaint (VP 741BWCE).

Heating and Stirring
For use of the heating blocks on our Magnetic Tumble Stirrers we recommend that you use the VP 741BW-R which uses a RTD probe to determine the temperature instead of the thermocouple used in the VP 741BW.  (Thermocouples are not affected by slowly rotating magnetic fields (< 100RPM) but they are affected by faster speeds.  The price is the same for both heating blocks.  The VP 741BW-R is also available in a 230 volt version that is CE complaint (VP 741BW-RCE).
 

 



 

 
 
 


VP 741BW with Computer Control

     
     
 
     
 
 


The VP 741BW connects to the computer through RS-485 or RS-232 with included converter.

 
 


  Heating and Stirring

     
 


The VP 743A-1R Three Position 25C to 200C Block Heater

 
 


The VP 743A-1R replaces the VP 743A with it's Millboard insulation.  Instead of insulating the heating block we attach PTFE insulation to the VP 710E-2.  The VP 743A-1R uses a PTFE insulation frame and a PTFE lip attached to the VP 710E-2  Tumble Stirrer deck to protect it from the 200C heat.    The VP 743A-1R uses an RTD probe to determine the temperature.  RTD probes are not sensitive to magnetic field sweeps and therefore are preferable for magnetic stirring operations.

 
 
 


The PTFE lip attached to the side of the VP 710E-2 is used to hold the PTFE insulation frame in place.

 
 
 


The VP 743A-1R sets in a pocket of the PTFE insulation and there it is used to heat three polypropylene microplates or racks of glass vials from 25C to 200C.  The temperature is determined +/- 1C by a Watlow controller and a thermocouple. It requires 115 volts at 4.6 amps to power four cartridge heaters.  It will bring water to a boil in 8 minutes and the block up to 200C in 15 minutes.  The outside dimensions of the block including the insulation are 60.7cm long by 12.4 cm wide and 6.6 cm tall.  With the lid in place it is 7.3 cm tall.

 
 
 


The three cavities of the heat block are separated by an aluminum web.  Each cavity is 12.8 cm long, 8.6 cm wide and 3.5 cm deep.  The bottom of the wells or vials are only 2.4 cm above the stir deck for maximum magnetic coupling. The VP 743A-1R was designed to be used with the VP 710E-2 series Alligator Tumble Stirrers.

 
 
 


Designed to meet the high temperature requirements of chemists to heat and stir reactions the VP 743A-1R Block Heater  is constructed of anodized aluminum and has a lid that can be screwed into place to seal cap matts onto deep well microplates.

 
 
 


  Inserts for Heating Blocks

     
 


VP 741-I

     
 


One of our customers wanted to get the fastest heat transfer from our VP 741, VP 743 and VP 743A heating blocks to the wells of his deep well microplate without using a messy liquid heat conductor.  Because most deep well microplates have a "skirt" around them, it is like having a built in air insulator that prevents heat transfer.  The AbGene #AB-0661 with it's 2.2 ml volume and NO skirt offers a way to solve this problem.  We developed a 5 piece aluminum heat insert (VP 741-I) to surround the  AB-0661 plate and with the VP 741 lid, completely enclose it.   The bottom plate is machined in a sculpted fashion to closely follow the outside contours of the plate bottom.   The bottom piece fits so tight it has to be pried off with a screwdriver.  The sides and end sections are held tight to the outside walls with a rubber band. 

This is a simple yet very effective solution to enhance heat transfer.

 

 

 


  PCR Plate Heating Inserts

     
   

VP 741I6A

     
 


The VP 741I6A heating block insert is ideal for use with the VP 741B heating block.  With the "cut away" design it provides easy access for robotic plate handlers.  Made from anodized aluminum with conical holes to match the topography of the PCR plate it provides a very efficient  transfer of heat from the heating block to the PCR plate.

 
 


  Heater/Chiller Recirculating Fluid Blocks

     
 


VP 744

     
 


The VP 744 is a heater/chiller aluminum block with an SBS feature on the bottom so it can be located on robot platform deck tile.  Two hose barb nipples connect the serpentine channels in the heater/chiller to a pump and a hot or cold fluid bath.  Alignment holes and or registration pins on the VP 744 allow accessories (in this case a VP 531R-1AL aluminum reagent reservoir) to be held in the same relative position as the SBS feature on the VP 744, thus facilitating locating the accessory relative to the robot deck tile.  If you already have hot or cold bath and a peristaltic pump you have everything you need.    

If you need a peristaltic pump check out VP 560.

 
 
 
The Photo to right illustrates the serpentine heating/cooling channels.
 
 
 


The photo on the right is a bottom view, illustrating the SBS foot print feature that registers the heating block to most robot plate tiles.

 
 
 


The photo on the right illustrates a VP 531R-1AL on the heating/chilling block.

 
 
 


VP 745

     
 


VP 745 Heater/Chiller block for regulating the temperature of a VP 750 Bubble Paddle Stirrer.  We designed this system to fit on the deck of a Caliper Sciclone with a VP 710C1 under the deck to power the Bubble Paddle Stirrer.  Just attach to a heater/chiller bath and a pump.

 
 
     
 


VP 747

     
 


VP 747 Heater /Chiller block for regulating the temperature of 4 VP 751AL Bubble Paddle Stirrers.  We designed this system to fit on the deck of a Tecan robot with a VP 710T under the deck to power four Bubble Paddle Stirrers.  Just attach to a heater/chiller bath and a pump.

 
 
     
 
 


The black tray is made from delrin and is designed to both insulate the robot or Tumble Stirrer from the heater/chiller plate but also to collect and drain off condensation when operating in the chiller mode.

 
 
 


Completely assembled condensation collection tray, heater/chiller and 4 Aluminum Bubble Paddle Reservoirs (VP 751AL).

 

 
 
 


The VP 747 may also be used with our VP 710E1 tumble stirrers as illustrated in the photo to the right.

 
 


  Programmable Smart Switch

     
 


Another more cost effective way to automate any of our Heating Blocks is to use our new Programmable Smart Switch VP 700.  Follow this link for more information.

 
 


  Custom Heating Blocks

     
 


We also make custom inserts for heating blocks.  The one at the right was machined so the inside of the hole matched perfectly with the round bottom of each of the different containers.  The one below incorporates various diameter holes and bottoms that conform very closely with the outside surface of the glass bottles they hold.  The circular design facilitates stirring on a conventional horizontal magnetic stirrer.

   

 

 
 


VP 749-9

     
 


 

 
 
 


VP 749-11 & VP 749-11H

     
     
 
 


VP 749-13

     
 


 

   
 


VP 749-25

     
     
 
         

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