Skip to content
English
Contact us
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Relocating a K&A H-Series Synthesizer

How to prepare, move, and recommission a Sierra BioSystems K&A H-series synthesizer, for a move within the same lab and for a move to a different floor, building, or site.

This guide explains how to prepare, move, and recommission a Sierra BioSystems K&A H-series synthesizer. It covers two situations: a move within the same lab (a few benches over) and a move to a different floor, building, or site.


K&A H-series synthesizer with reagent bottles, gas controls, and manifold.
NOTE: A K&A synthesizer holds flammable, corrosive synthesis chemistry under gas pressure. Every move starts with the software Shutdown Procedure, which clears and depressurizes the fluid lines. Do not disconnect, lift, or transport an instrument that has not been shut down.

Applies to

  • K&A H-series synthesizers (H-4 through H-32, including H-8-SE, H-8, and H-8-VLS).
  • KA Labs software v0.0.x.

Audience: customers and their facilities or lab teams, and Sierra BioSystems FSEs and FASs.

The two move types

  • In-lab move. Same room, moving a few benches over. Services (argon, compressed air, waste) stay in the same space and the instrument does not leave the controlled environment.
  • Facility move. A different floor, a different building, or a different site. The instrument and its air compressor leave the bench and travel, and services must be re-established at the destination.

Who can perform the move

  • In-lab move. Trained customer facilities or lab staff may perform the move after the instrument completes the Shutdown Procedure and is depressurized. Sierra recommends the move be performed or supervised by a Sierra FSE.
  • Facility move. Sierra recommends the move be performed or supervised by a Sierra FSE, with post-move recommissioning and verification performed by Sierra.

If your staff are not trained on the shutdown and decommission steps below, treat the move as vendor-required and contact Sierra BioSystems to schedule.

Before you begin

  • Confirm the destination is ready: a level bench rated for at least 200 lb, a dedicated grounded power circuit (15 A for US, Canada, and Japan), argon and compressed-air supply, waste handling, and relative humidity held below 50% RH.
  • Gather PPE (safety glasses, gloves, lab coat) and work in or near a fume hood. Have the current SDS for each reagent and amidite on hand.
  • Back up the database from the Backup/Restore screen to an external drive or network location, not the instrument computer.
  • Plan for the air compressor. It is a separate unit that also moves and must be re-oiled, drained, and leveled at the destination.
WARNING: Pressurized gas and flammable reagents. Disconnecting a fitting or bottle while the system is pressurized can cause reagent spray, chemical exposure, and injury. Complete the Shutdown Procedure and confirm all gauges read zero before disconnecting anything.

Step 1. Shut down and clear the fluid lines

In the KA Labs software, open Manual Control and click Shut Down to start the guided sequence.

In the Legacy Software, go to the Start screen. The Shut Down button is located in the bottom of the Start Screen.


KA Labs Manual Control screen. The Shut Down button (top center) starts the guided shutdown sequence.
  1. Follow each on-screen prompt.
  2. When prompted, turn off only the bottle pressures, then depressurize the bottles by unthreading the reagent and amidite caps.
  3. Confirm reagents have returned to their bottles, the liquid and waste lines are empty, and the argon gauge reads zero or close to zero. Repeat the Shutdown procedure if liquid remains in the lines
  4. Close the argon and compressor supply valves.
WARNING: Never turn off the high-pressure air supply while reagent or amidite bottles are still pressurized. Doing so can cause uncontrolled fluid movement and spills. Depressurize the bottles first, at the point the Shutdown Procedure prompts you.

Step 2. Decommission and disconnect

  1. Confirm all pressure gauges read zero.
  2. Remove the reagent and amidite bottles. Keep them upright and sealed for transport, following your chemical transport rules.
  3. Disconnect the argon line and the compressed-air line from the compressor.
  4. Disconnect the waste lines from the waste container and empty the waste container per your chemical waste procedures.
  5. Bundle the waste lines to better move the instrument
  6. Disconnect power and Ethernet from the instrument and the control computer.
  7. Prepare the air compressor as a separate item to move.

Step 3. Lift and transport

  • Move the synthesizer and the air compressor as separate units.
  • Use a cart or a team lift and keep the instrument upright. The destination bench must support at least 200 lb.
  • Facility move: pad or crate the synthesizer and compressor and secure them against shock. Confirm doorway, elevator, and loading-dock clearances before the move. Keep the instrument upright in transit.
WARNING: Failure to keep the compressor upright might damage the compressor

 

Step 4. Reinstall at the destination

  1. Place the instrument on a level bench that meets the weight requirement. Confirm all four feet are seated flat.
  2. Reconnect power to a dedicated grounded circuit and reconnect the control computer, monitor, and Ethernet.
  3. Reconnect argon (99.99%, 30 to 40 psi) and clean, dry, oil-free compressed air (65 to 80 psi). Reinstall and service the compressor (check oil level, drain water) before use.
  4. Replumb waste lines to waste container.
  5. Reinstall the reagent and amidite bottles and confirm the active Port Assignment still matches the physical configuration.
  6. Confirm both pressure gauges read within range and open pressure taps if not done already.

Argon (low-pressure) and Compressor (high-pressure) gauges. Confirm both read within range after reconnecting gas.

Step 5. Recommission and verify

  1. Re-prime all reagent and amidite lines (Priming screen, Auto Prime; 350 ms is a typical starting duration).
  2. Recheck flow rates in the Flow Rates screen and compare to historical values.
  3. Leak-check all fittings.
  4. Run a short verification synthesis and review the trityl histogram before returning the instrument to production.

PM and calibration: pre-move or post-move

  • In-lab move: post-move verification is recommended (re-prime, recheck flow rates, leak-check, verification synthesis). A pre-move PM is optional.
  • Facility move: post-move PM and flow-rate recalibration are required before the instrument returns to service. A pre-move baseline is optional.

Typical turnaround

Contact Sierra BioSystems to schedule a move. A typical lead time from receipt of a purchase order to a scheduled move date is about 2 to 4 weeks subject to field engineer availability and, for facility moves, crating and freight coordination. Confirm the current lead time with Sierra when you request scheduling.

Site requirements (quick reference)

  • Bench: level, rated at least 200 lb.
  • Relative humidity: keep below 50% RH.
  • Temperature: 16 to 22 C recommended.
  • Power: 120 to 240 VAC 
  • Gas: argon 99.99% at 30 to 40 psi, plus clean, dry, oil-free compressed air at 65 to 80 psi.

Related articles and support