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The OT-2: Your Personal Pipetting Robot

Get started automating your lab today

ot2 photo

Lab automation has never been easier.

The OT-2 is a bench-top liquid handler designed to be accessible and flexible enough to automate many common applications.

Community

Our life is so much easier now because the OT-2 is really good.

– Marilene Pavan, Boston University

BOSTON

There are days we have Opentrons transfer 800 samples. I would never be able to do as many samples by hand.

– Kaja Wasik, Gencove

GENCOVE

Before, I had to leave one whole day for one ELISA run. Now, the robot frees my hands.

– Annabel Shang, MilliporeSigma

Millpore

We are currently working with our finance folks to acquire two additional OT-2 instruments, because we LOVE this platform.

– Adam Ericsen, Emory University

emory

Automate the most time-consuming applications in your lab

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General Liquid Handling

The quickest way to save time in the lab. You can easily automate a range of basic liquid handling tasks on the OT-2 pipetting robot, including tube and microplate filling, serial dilution, cherry picking, normalization and sample pooling. Choose from a range of verified protocols in our Protocol Library, create your own, or ask our Applications Engineering team to create one for you.

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PCR Setup

Another popular application for automation, especially if you’re prepping a lot of samples. You can use the OT-2 pipetting robot to combine samples and PCR mastermix in the reaction plate that will go into the thermocycler or qPCR machine.

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Protein Purification

The most cost-effective way to automate small-scale protein purification, proteomics sample processing, and enzymatic and chemical lysis. We currently offer two approaches to automate on the OT-2 pipetting robot – dual flow chromatography-based automation, and magnetic bead-based automation.

Small Footprint, Big Impact

Fits on half a standard lab bench

Metric (width, depth, height)
63 cm x 57 cm x 66 cm
Imperial (width, depth, height)
25 in x 22.5 in x 26 in

Performs like robots costing 10x more

Accuracy
15% at 1 μL
Precision
5% at 1 μL

Getting Started

Everything you need to automate your lab, including support at every step

Demo

Demo the OT-2

Get a virtual demo of the OT-2 and get answers about your specific application

Cart

Order the OT-2

Bundle your OT-2 with the pipettes, hardware and labware you need

Receive and unbox your OT-2

Easy to unbox and set up yourself using our online guide

Custom Protocols

Custom or urgent support?

Contact us for onsite installation, custom protocol development and more!

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Use what you have, add what you need

Choose your hardware and pipettes

11 deck slots, plus trash, and space for two swappable, single and 8-Channel pipettes

Magnetic, Temp, Thermocycler, Heater-Shaker, and HEPA Filter modules available

Use your existing labware and reagents

Reagent and consumables agnostic

Compatible with any ANSI/SLAS-compliant labware

Choose the protocol method that’s right for you

A protocol is the code that runs the robot through your experiment. We’ve built different ways to create a protocol that are accessible for everyone – from the automation rookie to the experienced Python coder.

Custom Protocols

Custom Protocol

Best for users that want a unique or complex protocol – fast

Get our experts to create a protocol optimized for your experiment

Protocol Library V1

Protocol Library

Best for new users looking to gain experience

Browse well-documented, open-source protocols

Protocol Designer

Protocol Designer

Best for users who want to create a new protocol – without having to code

Use our intuitive drag-and-drop interface to create new protocols

Pyton API

Python Protocol API

Best for users with Python experience

Write your own protocol using our open-source Python Protocol API

ot2 pipettes

Space for two pipettes

Reliable liquid transfers from 1–1000 µL with our swappable single- and 8-channel pipettes

ot2 pipettes single

SINGLE-CHANNEL

P20
P300
P1000

ot2 pipettes 8 channel

8-Channel

P20
P300

Support & Services

Need help? We’ve got you covered

CSM 1

On-call support offers real-time chat support on your desktop or mobile

Knowledge Hub

Visit the Knowledge Hub to Browse our in-depth support articles and videos

Custom Protocols

Have our experts develop a Custom Protocol for your application

Services 1

Warranties and services maximize your lab’s performance

Tech Specs

ot2 tech specs
Dimensions

63 cm x 57 cm x 66 cm / 25 in x 22.5 in x 26 in (W,D,H)
Takes up half of your standard lab bench

SPECSOT2

Weight

48 kg or 105.8 lb

Pipette configurations

Single- and 8-channel pipetting
2 pipette mounts, for a configuration of 1 or 2 single- or 8-channel pipettes. Pipettes are easily interchangeable.

Pipette volumes and specs
Deck

11 deck slots enable countless configurations
Deck slots are compatible with standard SBS dimensions.
Deck also includes a removable trash bin.

Connectivity

WiFi 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11b/g/n, USB 2.0

Video

Integrated video camera (Included for future or custom functionality)

Audio

Integrated audio system (Included for future or custom functionality)

Power requirements

Robot Power Input: 36 VDC, 6.1 A
Power Adapter Input: 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 4.0 A/115 VAC, 2.0 A/230 VAC
For additional power requirement information, please review this support article

Frame composition

Rigid steel and CNC aluminum design

Operating temperature & relative humidity

Recommended 20-24 °C
Recommended 40-60% RH

Time to fill 96-well plate
Pipette Distribute,
one tip
Transfer,
same tip
Transfer,
new tip
P20 8-Channel 0:22 1:35 4:19
P300 8-Channel 0:26 1:38 4:24
P20 Single-Channel 3:12 13:10 36:01
P300 Single-Channel 4:01 13:39 41:31
P1000 5:54 15:21 44:50
Single-channel accuracy & precision
Pipette Volume Random Error Systematic Error
%D µl %CV µl
P20 1
10
20
±15%
±2%
±1.5%
0.15µl
0.2µl
0.3µl
±5%
±1%
±0.8%
0.05µl
0.1µl
0.16µl
P300 20
150
300
±4%
±1%
±0.6%
0.8µl
1.5µl
1.8µl
±2.5%
±0.4%
±0.3%
0.05µl
0.6µl
0.9µl
P1000 100
500
1000
±2%
±1%
±0.7%
2.0µl
5.0µl
7.0µl
±1%
±0.2%
±0.15%
1µl
1µl
1.5µl
8-channel accuracy & precision
Pipette Volume Random Error Systematic Error
%D µl %CV µl
P20 1
10
20
±20%
±3%
±2.2%
0.2µl
0.3µl
0.44µl
±10%
±2%
±1.5%
0.1µl
0.2µl
0.3µl
P300 20
150
300
±10%
±2.5%
±1.5%
2.0µl
3.75µl
4.5µl
±4%
±0.8%
±0.5%
0.8µl
1.2µl
1.5µl
Sterility

Full polycarbonate enclosure designed to limit exposure. The OT-2 is not a sterile environment
Add the Opentrons HEPA Module, or add your own UV lights

Viscosity
For best practices on automating viscous liquid handling, review our application note
API compatibility

Interfaces with any product that has an API
Opentrons software is open-source and users can make adjustments to the software as needed to interface with other products. While all integrations are possible, they all require custom code work i.e. most customers will need to write custom libraries and install software packages that are not shipped with the robot.

Interface
Windows 10, macOS 10.10 or later, Ubuntu 12.04 or later.
Tip compatibility

Use Opentrons Tips and Opentrons Filter Tips
Opentrons guarantees the performance of Opentrons Tips which were specifically designed for the OT-2. The OT-2 was designed to accommodate all universal bore tip types, but tip quality and dimensions can vary significantly so third party tip performance cannot be guaranteed by Opentrons.

Labware compatibility

Use common labware already in our Labware Library, or add your own. If your labware fits on the OT-2 but is not in the Labware Library, it can be added by you using our Labware Creator, or by our team.

Warranty

One year warranty against manufacturer defects
Stress tested to last a minimum of 3 years of full-time use

Return policy
60 day, 100% risk free
Certifications

Certifications complete (CE, FCC, NRTL, CB, ISO 9001)
Not certified/validated (IVD, GMP)

Example Commands

Tip Handling

  • Pick up tip
  • Drop tip
  • Return tip
  • New tip (always, never, once)
  • More…

Liquid Control
  • Aspirate
  • Dispense
  • Aspirate speed
  • Dispense speed
  • Blowout
  • Touch tip
  • Mix
  • Air gap

Utility

  • Move to
  • Delay
  • User-specified pause
  • Homing
  • Comment


Transfer

  • Basic transfer
  • Volumes > Pipette Volume
  • Distribute
  • Consolidate


Variable Settings

  • Speed
  • Volume
  • Count


Other

  • Dispose
What’s in the box

BOX

OT-2 robot
Calibration block
Removable block
Trash container
Quickstart guide
Power supply and regional IEC cable
Ethernet cable
Ethernet-to-USB dongle
Tool kit

Introduction to the OT-2

Frequently Asked Questions

To view FAQs for all products, click here.

Out of the box, the OT-2 can support any automation-compatible, ANSI/SLAS compliant well plates, plus a wide range of snap-cap and screw-cap tubes up to a 50 mL conical with our 4-in-1 Tube Rack. You can see the full range of supported labware in our Labware Library.

You do not need to know how to code to use the Opentrons platform. Protocols can be created using Opentrons’ plug-and-play protocol design tools. We also have an Applications Engineering team that can build custom protocols for you.

You can find our community’s collection of OT-2 protocols within our Protocol Library. Feel free to search the library for a protocol that matches your lab’s workflows!

If you don’t see a protocol that matches your lab’s processes, we offer a couple different options for creating your protocol. Additionally, you can leverage our team of engineers for a custom protocol development.

Due to the open-source nature of the robot, many of our users have found success integrating the OT-2 with third party lab equipment.

Integrations such as these would be a DIY project taken on by your lab, and would not fall under the scope of the Opentrons Support team.

The OT-2 has the following certifications: CE, FCC, NRTL, ISO 9001, CB
Note that the robot is not IVD or GMP certified/validated

Labs within the Opentrons community have installed the OT-2 pipetting robot in biological safety cabinets (as well as in inert atmosphere glove boxes), including Labconco’s Logic Vue Class II enclosures and Baker’s AeroPROTECT 360 enclosures. We recommend you cross-check the dimensions of the OT-2 with those of your chosen biological safety cabinet.

Risk free 60-day demo

Try the OT-2 in your lab today and take advantage of protocols designed for sharing and editing.