Before you add a configuration to Synthace, you must complete the following steps.

Synthace uses the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) interface to communicate with VENUS®.

If you did not include the OEM interface when you installed VENUS®, you must modify the installation to include it.

Note: When you modify the installation, if checksum verification is not disabled, you should disable it now.

VENUS® uses checksum verification to validate the integrity of the files that it opens. However, the files that Synthace creates currently fail this verification. This means that you must disable checksum verification.

Tip: Whilst this is unlikely to be a problem outside of manufacturing facilities that confirm good manufacturing practices, please let us know if this affects you.

If you did not disable checksum verification when you installed VENUS® or modified the installation, use Hamilton Method Editor to disable it now.

When you build a workflow, you select a liquid handling policy to control how a device handles a liquid. However, the device itself uses a liquid class to handle the liquid, not a liquid handling policy. This means that, before you run an execution on the device, Synthace must link the liquid handling policy that you selected to a compatible liquid class. We refer to a compatible liquid class as a Synthace liquid class.

We have exported some Synthace liquid classes to a database called LAB_ML_STARLiquids.mdb.

Note: If you have not already done so, get in touch with us to obtain a copy of the database.

You must import the database to VENUS® so that Synthace can link its liquid handling policies to the Synthace liquid classes.

Tip: If VENUS® already contains some liquid classes, and you would prefer Synthace to link its liquid handling policies to them instead of the Synthace liquid classes that we provide, you can. To learn more, click here.

A configuration is a JSON file that tells Synthace how the deck is laid out and what labware the device uses. When you build a liquid handling workflow, you select the configuration that describes how the deck will be laid out when you execute the workflow.
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To add a configuration to Synthace, you must create several files, and then create the configuration from those files. The files that you create will define the deck layout of your Hamilton Microlab® STAR™ or STARlet™ and the labware that you use.

Synthace needs to know which devices and pieces of labware you use, and where they sit on the deck of your Hamilton Microlab® STAR™ or STARlet™.

Synthace supports:

If you want to use another device or piece of labware with your Hamilton Microlab® STAR™ or STARlet™, please contact support.

Tip: Before you start, look in Local Disk (C:) > Program Files (x86) > HAMILTON > Methods to see if you already have a LAY file that describes the current deck layout. If you do, skip this task.

If you use a plate type that Synthace does not contain, add the plate type to VENUS®.

Tip: Before you start, check to see if your Hamilton engineer defined all of the plate types that you use. If you do, skip this task.

The first step is to define the wells on the plate. VENUS® refers to each one as a container. To define the wells, create a container, then use a series of forms to give VENUS® their measurements.

The next step is to define the plate itself. VENUS® refers to the plate as a rack. To define the plate, create a regular rack, then use a series of forms to give VENUS® its measurements.

In addition to your own plate types, the configuration that you add to Synthace must also contain the plate types that Synthace has defined. If it does not, you will not be able to use the most common plate types in Synthace. We have exported all of the plate types that Synthace has defined to an archive called Synthace.zip.

Note: If you have not already done so, get in touch with us to obtain a copy of the archive.

You must copy its contents to the LabWare folder so that you can use the most common plate types in Synthace.

Open SynthaceHub from the PC tray icon.
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If the SynthaceHub icon is not visible in the tray, initialise the application. Simply double-click on the SynthaceHub shortcut on your desktop.
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Navigate to the Devices page and locate your device. Click the Configuration Tool button.

A Get Hamilton Config window will pop up. Select all the deck layouts (saved as .lay files) that you want to use in Synthace. Then click Extract and Save to save these as a .json file.

Log into your Synthace (cloud) environment. Navigate to Inventory > Devices and find your device.

Click the Configuration button on your device to upload the config .json file. You can find more information here.

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If you are not self-onboarding, your FAS will create the configuration for you. Send a PKG file to your FAS, who will then send you the configuration to upload to Synthace

Use the Devices page to upload the configuration to Synthace.

After you upload the configuration, you can select the Hamilton Microlab® STAR™ or STARlet™ as a device when you create a workflow.