MP-225A
Electric Micromanipulator

• Product Description
• Specifications
• Pricing
• Technical Information

The MP-285 is one of the first products in our line of precision electric micromanipulators, offering advanced features found in manipulators costing thousands more at an affordable price. Custom-designed stepper motors, precision crossed roller bearing slides, and a proprietary worm gear drive form the foundation of this watch-like mechanical system. The controller utilizes a quiet linear power supply to power the stage motors, minimizing electrical noise radiation in the setup. Pipette holders and probes can be securely mounted to the MP-285 using one of our unique, robust mounting systems.

Designed to meet various positioning needs in the research community, the MP-285 is suitable for patch clamp experiments, extracellular recordings, microinjections, intracellular recordings, and precision robotic positioning applications. A standout feature of this system is its unique definable fourth axis for diagonal advancement of pipettes. Select the angle, then activate the fourth axis. Like the other three axes, you can move with adjustable coarse or ultra-fine resolution, choose movement speed, and move in continuous or single-step increments. To quickly reposition the pipette, simply select the "Home" function. Axis positions are continuously displayed in relative and absolute scales, clearly readable on the vacuum fluorescent display.

The extremely low backlash of the MP-285 eliminates the traditional drawbacks of "open-loop" techniques and eliminates drift. This enables resolutions of 0.2 microns in the coarse range and 40 nanometers in the fine range. All three axes of the MP-285 offer over 1 inch of motorized travel, with a user-definable fourth axis, maximizing resolution while achieving excellent motion range.

In all our manipulators, the fourth axis can be set and changed without connecting to an external computer or downloading and configuring software. Unlike other designs, the virtual fourth axis in the MP-285 can incorporate any two axes—traditional XZ axes for approaching along the pipette axis, YZ axes for 90-degree manipulator rotation, or even a virtual diagonal in the XY plane: this feature is particularly useful when the manipulator is set up as a 3DMS (3D movable stage) and rapid movement along a diagonal between two points on a horizontal specimen is desired.

Our manipulators are available with benchtop or rack-mount controllers, seamlessly integrating with your other components. The compact design and assignable axes of the MP-285 allow easy integration into your experimental setup in any orientation. Additionally, the Rotary Optical Encoder (ROE) enhances its utility, customizing a comfortable experimental environment to meet scientists' needs.

For users requiring repeatable motion sequences, the MP-285 can be easily programmed for robotic control via the keyboard or a remote computer. The system can store up to 10 programs, each containing 50 position instructions (including pauses), and execute instruction sets once, continuously, or in reverse.

As always, our technical support team is ready to address your questions and resolve all pre- and post-purchase inquiries.

Features
• Industry's quietest electronics, optimized for single-channel recording
• Highly stable for experiments intolerant of pipette drift
• Sub-micron resolution with integrated coarse positioning
• 1 inch of motorized travel on all three axes
• Virtual fourth axis with user-selectable drive angle
• Adjustable speed and resolution to optimize your experimental setup
• Programmable robotics for complex motion sequences
• Continuous display of axis position in microns
• Switch between continuous or single-step movement
• Absolute and relative origin
• Convenient Home function for quick pipette repositioning
• Assignable axes allow manipulator movement in any orientation
• Easy-to-read vacuum fluorescent display
• Remote computer control via serial interface
• Compact design for easy integration into your setup
• Universal mounting system for probes or pipette holders
• Optional mounting adapters (see price list)