Micromanipulators

You will find below information on a small list of micromanipulators. We distribute and support in Europe all the Sutter Instruments, Narishige products. Please refer to their web site for more information.

• Manual Huxley Style Micromanipulator - MP-85*
• Ultraprecise Motorized Micromanipulator - MP-225*
• Ultraprecise Motorized Micromanipulator - MP-285*

* instruments manufactured by Sutter Instruments. In addition to instrument sales, we also provide technical support and instrument repair service.

• Three-dimensional coarse manipulator - UM-3C**

  **instruments manufactured by Narishige

Manual Huxley Style Micromanipulator - MP-85  

Features

• submicron resolution
• no drift
• exceptional stability
• zero backlash
• zero torsion
• best performance-to-price ratio

The brass and stainless steel construction makes for a very heavy and solid micromanipulator. This exceptionally stable design is ideal for patch clamp recording, intracellular recording, or any other application that is intolerant of drift.

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Specifications

• Coarse travel range:
  • X axis: 37mm
  • Y&Z : 20mm.
  • X fine axis: 10mm
• Fine travel range:
  • all axis: 2mm
• Resolution:
  • X,Y &Z coarse axis: 0.1mm
  • X fine axis: 10µm
  • Ultrafine X,Y&Z: 0.2µm
• X axis tilt: 0 to 45°
• Weight: 6.75kg
• Dimensions: 25 x 25 x 28cm
• Attachment: The manipulator is mounted on a precision rotating base featuring a positive stop and lock. It can be fixed on the MT series stands when the higher level is required.

Options

• 25.4mm thick solid brass spacer blocks (No more than two spacers are recommended)
• a set of three magnetic feet for added stability
• 15° stackable wedges for tilting the manipulator

Ordering information

Ultraprecise Motorized Micromanipulator - MP-225

The MP-225 is the newest member in the Sutter Instrument Company micromanipulator line. Production and design changes have allowed us to produce a motorized manipulator that is an affordable alternative to the industry standard MP-285. While the MP-225 feature set is less comprehensive than the MP-285, it includes the most popular features with a user interface that is simpler to use. The mechanical design utilizes a miniature stepper motor and integral anti-backlash gear head. Pre-loaded ball bearing slides provide smooth movement throughout the 25mm of travel. The controller uses lownoise, linear-drive output circuitry identical to that found in the MP-285. The methodology for mounting pipette holders and headstages used with the MP-285 has been maintained in the MP-225 to allow for cross compatibility.

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The MP-225 is designed primarily for positioning patch and intracellular recording pipettes. We have retained and refined the features most desired for this type of work. An extended version of the popular rotary optical encoder (ROE) is the sole input device available with the MP-225. Like the MP-285, the manipulator has a synthetic 4th axis for diagonal advancement of the pipette; 16 different angles are selectable via DIP switches. Speed and resolution of movement are easily selected with a multiple position thumbwheel, allowing fast/course movement and slow/ultra-fine movement in 10 increments. Two commonly used robotic movements have been incorporated for user convenience. A single button press can initiate a move to a Home position for pipette exchange or to a user defined Work position for quick location of the pipette near the recording location. A display on the ROE gives position location. As all controls are located on the ROE, the controller can be moved to a less accessible area of your setup and does not need to occupy prime space in an equipment rack.

As always, our technical support team is available to address your particular needs and answer all questions before and after your purchase.

Features

• Highly stable for experiments intolerant of pipette drift.
• Submicron (62.5nm) minimal resolution for fine movement.
• Convenient thumbwheel selects resolution/speed of movement.
• 25mm of motorized travel on all three axes.
• 4th axis for coaxial movement of pipette, angle selected by DIP switches on ROE.
• ROE button press actuates move to Home position for pipette exchange.
• ROE button press actuates move to Work position near recording location.
• Continuous display (in microns) of axes positions located on ROE.
• DIP switches on ROE select direction of movement produced by turn of ROE knob.
• Modularized, compact design easily adaptable to your setup.
• Universal mounting system for headstage or pipette holder.
• Standard mounting adapters included with manipulator.

Specifications

• Travel: 1 inch (25 mm) on all three axes
• Resolution: Six microstep sizes selectable (um/ustep): 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 Finer movement settings use the 62.5nm microstep size but fewer microsteps are commanded per encoder knob turn
• Maximum Speed: 1.0mm/sec
• Long Term Stability: 1-2 um/hour maximum
• Drive Mechanism: Integral miniature stepper motor with anti-backlash gearhead
• Dimensions:
  • Mechanical: 4in x 5.5in x6in | 10cm x 15cm x 15.5cm
  • Controller: 4in x 16in x 12.25in | 10cm x 40.5cm x 31cm
• Weight:
  • Manipulator: 2.95lb | 1.3kg
  • Controller: 10lb 11oz | 4.5kg
• Electrical: 115/230 Volts, 50/60 Hertz power line

Ultraprecise Motorized Micromanipulator - MP-285  

Features

• submicron resolution
• high stability
• 24mm travel range on all axis
• 4th axis for axial drive
• Home function
• position display in fractions of micron
• absolute or relative origins
• up to 500 positions can be memorized

This ultraprecise motorized system is still very affordable. Custom engineered stepping motors, precision cross-roller bearing slides and proprietary worm gear capstan drives form the basis of the mechanical system. Pipette holders and headstages are securely mounted to the MP-285 at any angle via an innovative rotating dovetail assembly. The assembly can be quickly rotated for convenient pipette changes, then repositioned and locked at an adjustable detent.

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An outstanding feature of this system is the unique 4th axis for coaxial advancement of the pipette. You select the angle of approach, then activate the 4th axis. As with the other three axes you can move with adjustable course or ultrafine resolution, select the movement speed, and move continuously or in single step increments. To quickly reposition the pipette, simply select the Home function. Axes positions are continuously shown on the display.

For users who require repeatable motion sequences, the MP-285 features easily programmed robotic control from the keypad or via a remote computer. The system can learn up to 500 position instructions, including pauses, and will execute the instructions set once, continuously or in reverse.

Remote control of the MP-285 is done by the Rotary Optical Encoder module. It has 3 knobs to control movement along the three axes. The speed of each axes is directly proportional to the speed at which the knobs are turned. When in pulse mode, the manipulator will make a move when a predetermined amount of rotation is made on one of the knobs. There are 4 switches on the ROE cabinet for the following functions :

• movement mode (continuous vs. pulse)
• movement resolution
• diagonal (4th axis) movement (on or off)
• Home function

Specifications

• Travel range: 25mm on each axis
• Resolution: Low : 0.2 µm/step - High : 0.04 µm/step
• Max speed : 2.9mm/sec
• Stability : <10nm/hour at 24°C
• Attachment: adapters for most microscopes or stand alone MT stands.

Ordering information

The MP-285 includes manipulator with rack-mounted controller unit MPC-100 and cables, rod holder, headstage adapter and remote control module.

UM-3C Three-dimensional coarse manipulator

Specifications

• Coarse movement : 20mm
• Rotation on one axis

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