# Chromium Connect **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [November 3, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/chromium-connect/651 "2026-11-03T19:45:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cdalgard](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/user_avatar/discuss.pylabrobot.org/cdalgard/32/1658_2.png) [@cdalgard](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/cdalgard)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/chromium-connect/651/1 "2026-11-03T19:45:11Z")
We have two Hamilton STAR, a Vantage, but also a decommissioned 10X Genomics Chromium Connect and I wanted to know if anyone has tackled a pylabrobot backend into the Chromium Connect since it is basically a rebadged STARlet? ---
**Author:** ![rickwierenga](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/user_avatar/discuss.pylabrobot.org/rickwierenga/32/963_2.png) [@rickwierenga](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/rickwierenga)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 7:49pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/chromium-connect/651/2 "2026-11-03T19:49:50Z")
oh interesting, what happens when you connect it through the usb cable and try to use plr as if it were a star? I dont know anyone who has done this so idk if it will work also, I can imagine the firmware is different between them (unlikely but possible) in which case we might be able to flash hamilton firmware onto it ---
**Author:** ![cwehrhan](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ecccb3/32.png) [@cwehrhan](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/cwehrhan)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 8:30pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/chromium-connect/651/3 "2026-11-03T20:30:16Z")
FYI that’s a rebadged Nimbus HD, the HD means it has tracks. Should work the exact same as a regular Nimbus HD, just with some fancy paint ---
**Author:** ![cdalgard](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/user_avatar/discuss.pylabrobot.org/cdalgard/32/1658_2.png) [@cdalgard](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/cdalgard)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/chromium-connect/651/4 "2026-11-03T20:46:46Z")
I looked it up real quick and you are about right, it isn’t a STARlet, but a Nimbus, but I can’t tell if it is Nimbus HD or 96. Are you basing it off of the channel arm versus core head? In any event, it isn’t a STARlet, despite what the Hamilton engineer had told us when he was visitng our Vantage. Thanks for that detail. ---
**Author:** ![cdalgard](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/user_avatar/discuss.pylabrobot.org/cdalgard/32/1658_2.png) [@cdalgard](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/cdalgard)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 8:48pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/chromium-connect/651/5 "2026-11-03T20:48:30Z")
cwehrhan clarified it is a Nimbus but your concerns still apply. Need to see what the firmware is as it does have onboard workstation and an integrated display. Since it is decommissioned, the department chair is giving us free reign to do whatever we want to it. ---
**Author:** ![rickwierenga](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/user_avatar/discuss.pylabrobot.org/rickwierenga/32/963_2.png) [@rickwierenga](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/rickwierenga)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 9:01pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/chromium-connect/651/6 "2026-11-03T21:01:13Z")
awesome, the nimbus is also supported in PLR so I recommend giving that a try to start (and the nimbus firmware api is self describing, so if it doesn’t work there are things to explore..) ---
**Author:** ![cwehrhan](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/ecccb3/32.png) [@cwehrhan](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/cwehrhan)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 9:03pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/chromium-connect/651/7 "2026-11-03T21:03:51Z")
It’s been years but I think its just called Nimbus now actually, and they killed off Nimbus VS Nimbus HD. Nimbus HD I think meant High Density? As in it had tracks to load stuff. The original nimbus did not have tracks and had pedestals so very limited positions for labware etc. Either way it should be controlled via Nimbus firmware in PLR ---
**Author:** ![cdalgard](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/user_avatar/discuss.pylabrobot.org/cdalgard/32/1658_2.png) [@cdalgard](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/cdalgard)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/chromium-connect/651/8 "2026-11-03T21:12:08Z")
I will create a log to share with community. Outside of the one we have decommissioned, I see surplus ones around for $5k. Could be fun. ---
**Author:** ![ben](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/user_avatar/discuss.pylabrobot.org/ben/32/41_2.png) [@ben](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/ben)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 9:30pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/chromium-connect/651/9 "2026-11-03T21:30:43Z")
does yours still have all the integrated devices, like a thermal cycler? i’m curious how the integrated inheco ODTC is powered and controlled. ---
**Author:** ![cdalgard](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/user_avatar/discuss.pylabrobot.org/cdalgard/32/1658_2.png) [@cdalgard](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/u/cdalgard)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 9:51pm UTC](https://discuss.pylabrobot.org/t/chromium-connect/651/10 "2026-11-03T21:51:21Z")
Mine does still have the integrated thermal cycler and also the integrated fluidics partitioner, which we are anticipating we will be unplug and disabling.