# Latest **URL:** https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/latest.md [Latest](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/categories.md) · [Tags](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/tags.md) --- ## [Welcome to PyLabRobot Forums! 👋](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/welcome-to-pylabrobot-forums/5)
**Author:** [@system](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/system)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2024, 7:45pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/welcome-to-pylabrobot-forums/5 "2024-09-24T19:45:50Z")
We are so glad you joined us. PyLabRobot Forums Discuss PyLabRobot usage and development Here are some things you can do to get started: :speaking\_head: Introduce yourself by adding your picture and information abou… --- ## [Automation Engineer – Abstract Bio – San Francisco, CA (on-site)](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/automation-engineer-abstract-bio-san-francisco-ca-on-site/639)
**Author:** [@Jacopo](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/Jacopo)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2026, 9:49pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/automation-engineer-abstract-bio-san-francisco-ca-on-site/639 "2026-10-24T21:49:48Z")
Hi all, I’m Jacopo, co-founder of Abstract Bio. We make synthetic DNA 4-10x cheaper than incumbents. Our first product’s demand outran our capacity within months, so we’re now building a 10x larger production platform t… --- ## [Forum in read only mode on friday oct 23 (resolved)](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/forum-in-read-only-mode-on-friday-oct-23-resolved/637)
**Author:** [@rickwierenga](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/rickwierenga)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/forum-in-read-only-mode-on-friday-oct-23-resolved/637 "2026-10-24T19:36:52Z")
I’m doing some updates updates now done. the forum should also be much faster. you might need to log in again. --- ## [Star Ethernet Control Layer / Questions](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/star-ethernet-control-layer-questions/635)
**Author:** [@JDesRo](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/JDesRo)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/star-ethernet-control-layer-questions/635 "2026-10-22T16:15:30Z")
I’m working on the Ethernet control layer for the Hamilton STAR (firmware over TCP on port 24652, through the LAN Dual Processor Board) and ran into a couple of quirky issues. I was wondering if anyone has seen them befo… --- ## [BioTek Synergy HTX Backend](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/biotek-synergy-htx-backend/412)
**Author:** [@hobbes](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/hobbes)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2026, 6:41pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/biotek-synergy-htx-backend/412 "2026-10-21T18:41:12Z")
Greetings!:vulcan\_salute: Happy new year! Hopefully 2026 will be better than 2025 in every respect. Thank you for developing PLR, it is a great initiative! I was very happy to discover that it already implements suppor… --- ## [Python 3.9 is no longer supported, we now require 3.10+](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/python-3-9-is-no-longer-supported-we-now-require-3-10/629)
**Author:** [@rickwierenga](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/rickwierenga)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2026, 7:11pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/python-3-9-is-no-longer-supported-we-now-require-3-10/629 "2026-10-19T19:11:08Z")
3.9 reached eol on October 31, 2025 we supported it after that because why not now that I’m working on adding grpc servers, since their tools require 3.10+, I chose to drop official support for 3.9 in plr to make this … --- ## [Resources in v1](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/resources-in-v1/624)
**Author:** [@rickwierenga](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/rickwierenga)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2026, 12:37am UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/resources-in-v1/624 "2026-10-19T00:37:06Z")
there are several problems/practicalities that are ideally addressed before releasing v1, particularly when we think about making PLR distributed based on discussions with @burnpanck @koeng @CamilloMoschner @aferrari-un… --- ## [BioTek Epoch (original, FW 1.12) – reader stuck at boot + read commands](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/biotek-epoch-original-fw-1-12-reader-stuck-at-boot-read-commands/622)
**Author:** [@dbon](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/dbon)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2026, 12:34pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/biotek-epoch-original-fw-1-12-reader-stuck-at-boot-read-commands/622 "2026-10-17T12:34:57Z")
Hi all! I’m David, an engineer working in lab instrumentation. I rescued an old BioTek Epoch from a lab that closed down, and I’d like to give it a second life for enzymatic assays on wine (malic acid, sugars…), driven … --- ## [3D Visualizer: Firmware Animations and Collision Detection](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/3d-visualizer-firmware-animations-and-collision-detection/619)
**Author:** [@stefan](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/stefan)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2026, 5:59pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/3d-visualizer-firmware-animations-and-collision-detection/619 "2026-10-16T17:59:02Z")
I made two PRs recently (1468 and 1470) that I wanted to propose for community discussion and feedback. They’re quite extensive, but I think they would be very valuable for the repo. PR 1468 changes the visualizer from … --- ## [Having shared CAD models for machines would be breakthrough](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/having-shared-cad-models-for-machines-would-be-breakthrough/610)
**Author:** [@hazlamshamin](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/hazlamshamin)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2026, 5:08am UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/having-shared-cad-models-for-machines-would-be-breakthrough/610 "2026-10-15T05:08:17Z")
In PLR, we’ve been reverse-engineering drivers, and this has solved quite a lot at the software layer. However, in my opinion, genuine lab operations can’t be separated from the physical simulation, which I believe is st… --- ## [Hamilton STAR: 384-head firmware commands](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/hamilton-star-384-head-firmware-commands/581)
**Author:** [@fynnwad](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/fynnwad)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/hamilton-star-384-head-firmware-commands/581 "2026-10-10T19:37:21Z")
Hi all, I’m Fynn, currently working at Adaptyv Bio. As a test, we implemented the firmware commands for the CO-RE 384 head on the legacy STARBackend, and thought it might be worth sharing. We tested initialization, tip… --- ## [Next Dev Meeting: October 30 9am PT](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/next-dev-meeting-october-30-9am-pt/605)
**Author:** [@rickwierenga](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/rickwierenga)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2026, 9:14pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/next-dev-meeting-october-30-9am-pt/605 "2026-10-09T21:14:18Z")
please post agenda items below join the google group or send me a DM for invite: https://groups.google.com/a/pylabrobot.org/g/dev-meetings --- ## [Hamilton STAR: Hardcoded "trash\_core96" in PLR?](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/hamilton-star-hardcoded-trash-core96-in-plr/241)
**Author:** [@CamilloMoschner](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/CamilloMoschner)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/hamilton-star-hardcoded-trash-core96-in-plr/241 "2026-10-05T19:44:43Z")
Hi everyone, How does PLR currently handle the fact that Hamilton STAR machines can have multiple locations for the location of its 96-MPH (multi-probe head) trash based on the specific machine configuration? Option 1:… --- ## [xArm6 more apis?](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/xarm6-more-apis/585)
**Author:** [@hazlamshamin](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/hazlamshamin)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2026, 7:22am UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/xarm6-more-apis/585 "2026-10-02T07:22:16Z")
Hi! We’ll be getting an xArm 6 next week, so I’m thinking of spending some time testing the current integration on real hardware and potentially contributing a few additions. A few things I’m currently interested in are… --- ## [PLR Fluent + Veya team](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/plr-fluent-veya-team/530)
**Author:** [@rickwierenga](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/rickwierenga)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2026, 10:03pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/plr-fluent-veya-team/530 "2026-10-01T22:03:24Z")
As discussed previously (1, 2) we are working with Tecan on bringing the Fluent and Veya robots to PLR. This will be a private working group while we work with them on a public release of some of their code it will rely … --- ## [3D Visualizer is awesome](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/3d-visualizer-is-awesome/589)
**Author:** [@rkaptur](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/rkaptur)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2026, 4:21am UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/3d-visualizer-is-awesome/589 "2026-09-28T04:21:18Z")
Hi all, Big shoutout to @CamilloMoschner and @rickwierenga for merging STAR’s 3D visualizer this weekend :raising\_hands: :confetti\_ball: If you haven’t checked it out, I highly recommend it. This is something the com… --- ## [Converting Hamilton Venus methods to PLR tips, tricks, and processes](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/converting-hamilton-venus-methods-to-plr-tips-tricks-and-processes/586)
**Author:** [@cwehrhan](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/cwehrhan)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/converting-hamilton-venus-methods-to-plr-tips-tricks-and-processes/586 "2026-09-25T19:41:32Z")
I wanted to kick of a conversation on converting Hamilton Venus Methods into PLR code. I think this could increase adoption if we make this process smooth. I know there is a lot of us who built significant infrastructure… --- ## [PLR x Claude Code](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/plr-x-claude-code/494)
**Author:** [@harley](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/harley)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2026, 4:45pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/plr-x-claude-code/494 "2026-09-22T16:45:51Z")
Working up a project to get liquid handler methods in PyLabRobot generated with Claude Code. Just by referencing the PLR code base and then user specifics (machines, resources, etc), this is already pretty doable and has… --- ## [Drawing state machines in the docs](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/drawing-state-machines-in-the-docs/575)
**Author:** [@rickwierenga](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/rickwierenga)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2026, 5:11pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/drawing-state-machines-in-the-docs/575 "2026-09-11T17:11:21Z")
I added Graphviz support to the docs while working on the VSpin state machines (VSpin and Access2 state machine — PyLabRobot dev documentation) useful for showing what a machine can do from a given state and error recove… --- ## [Reverse-engineered device drivers: interoperability, legality and contribution to PLR](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/reverse-engineered-device-drivers-interoperability-legality-and-contribution-to-plr/574)
**Author:** [@AttilaUslu](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/AttilaUslu)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2026, 12:40pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/reverse-engineered-device-drivers-interoperability-legality-and-contribution-to-plr/574 "2026-09-11T12:40:26Z")
Hi all, I’m Attila. I work as a Research Laboratory Automation Specialist at Danish Technical University (DTU) Biotechnology Research institute for the Green Transition (BRiGHT) I have known about pylabrobot for a whil… --- ## [September 11 (mini meeting)](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/september-11-mini-meeting/573)
**Author:** [@rickwierenga](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/rickwierenga)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2026, 5:21pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/september-11-mini-meeting/573 "2026-09-08T17:21:40Z")
previous meeting link: August 28 as I mentioned on email, since we had many items to discuss today and ran short on time last meting, so this is an experimental mini meeting (~30 minutes) in addition to the regular mont… --- ## [Device Managers](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/device-managers/571)
**Author:** [@rickwierenga](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/rickwierenga)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/device-managers/571 "2026-09-02T23:50:26Z")
Device Managers (DMs) are members of the PLR community who will be responsible for maintaining specific device integrations, documentation, etc. within the context of PLR. They will be able to approve/merge pull requests… --- ## [Should PLR represent unresolved physical state explicitly?](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/should-plr-represent-unresolved-physical-state-explicitly/568)
**Author:** [@Vivien](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/Vivien)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2026, 7:53am UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/should-plr-represent-unresolved-physical-state-explicitly/568 "2026-09-02T07:53:16Z")
Hello, I’ve been reading the earlier error handling discussion while working on #1206 and revisiting #309. I noticed PLR already handles uncertain hardware state in a few different ways: #886 checks tip presence aft… --- ## [Biotek EL406 Washer](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/biotek-el406-washer/408)
**Author:** [@Stefan\_M](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/Stefan_M)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2026, 6:34pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/biotek-el406-washer/408 "2026-09-01T18:34:11Z")
Hey, I saw the EL406 washer by biotek in the list of work-in-progress devices for PLR in Ricks presentation on Wednesday. There is only one other mention of this in one post from a year ago: Current capacity of PyLabRobo… --- ## [August 28](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/august-28/561)
**Author:** [@rickwierenga](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/rickwierenga)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/august-28/561 "2026-08-28T19:53:15Z")
tentative agenda: I will present new architecture for device drivers + agent guide New devices: Azenta FluidX IntelliXcap 96 (from v1) BigBear Orbital Shaker (from v1) Curiox HT2000 (from v1) HighRes Biosolutions LidV… --- ## [V1b1 branch merged](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/v1b1-branch-merged/554)
**Author:** [@rickwierenga](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/rickwierenga)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2026, 11:13pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/v1b1-branch-merged/554 "2026-08-27T23:13:50Z")
Last weekend I merged the v1 branch. It’s still a WIP towards the actual version 1 beta 1 release, we will continue developing on the main branch until it’s ready for release. The old modules are still available in a new… --- ## [Chory Lab PyLabRobot Cookbook](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/chory-lab-pylabrobot-cookbook/564)
**Author:** [@stefan](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/stefan)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2026, 10:20pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/chory-lab-pylabrobot-cookbook/564 "2026-08-27T22:20:07Z")
Hello all, We at the Chory Lab have published a cookbook for PyLabRobot that covers a lot of usage examples and design patterns for how to use PyLabRobot. This was motivated largely by feedback from the class Prof. Chor… --- ## [STARFirmware Error: Squeeze drive initialization failed](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/starfirmware-error-squeeze-drive-initialization-failed/115)
**Author:** [@mackenzie](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/mackenzie)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2026, 10:01pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/starfirmware-error-squeeze-drive-initialization-failed/115 "2026-08-26T22:01:06Z")
Hi! I’m working with a Hamilton STAR with the product number 173000/00. When setting up the robot, I am getting the error STARFirmwareError: {'CoRe 96 Head': HardwareError('Squeezer drive initialization failed')} C0EIid… --- ## [PLR in regulated labs](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/plr-in-regulated-labs/562)
**Author:** [@Kim](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/Kim)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 24, 2026, 10:04pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/plr-in-regulated-labs/562 "2026-08-24T22:04:54Z")
Hi all! :slightly\_smiling\_face: I’m currently in the process of organizing a PLR workshop in Denmark with Rick and Camillo, and have come to realize that one of the major roadblocks for getting people engaged in PLR, is… --- ## [Hamilton Nimbus HID Presto Listing](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/hamilton-nimbus-hid-presto-listing/560)
**Author:** [@Cody](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/Cody)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 24, 2026, 12:35am UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/hamilton-nimbus-hid-presto-listing/560 "2026-08-24T00:35:26Z")
Hey All, I’m listing our Hamilton Nimbus HID Presto. This is a 4 channel enclosed unit with an integrated KingFisher Presto for magnetic bead-based preps. Fully loaded with control PC and some spare parts/channels/cover… [Next page](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/latest.md?page=1)