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Labware

Labware represents the containers that move through your system: plates, tip racks, troughs, etc.

Templates vs Instances​

Orca distinguishes between:

  • Templates - Define a labware type at design time
  • Instances - Represent actual physical labware during execution

You work with templates when building workflows. Orca creates instances automatically at runtime.

Available Templates​

PlateTemplate​

Multi-well plates (96-well, 384-well, etc.):

from orca.sdk.labware import PlateTemplate
from pylabrobot.resources.thermo_fisher.plates import Thermo_Nunc_96_well_plate_1300uL_Rb

sample_plate = PlateTemplate(
    "sample_plate",                         # Name
    Thermo_Nunc_96_well_plate_1300uL_Rb,   # PyLabRobot plate definition
    None                                    # Optional lid type
)

The second argument is a PyLabRobot plate factory function. See PyLabRobot's plate catalog.

TipRackTemplate​

Pipette tip racks:

from orca.sdk.labware import TipRackTemplate

tips = TipRackTemplate(
    "tips_96",           # Name
    tip_rack_factory,    # PyLabRobot tip rack definition
    has_tips=True        # Whether rack starts with tips
)

AnyLabwareTemplate​

Use AnyLabwareTemplate for generic steps that work with any labware type. For example, a delidding method might accept sample plates, tip boxes, or reagent plates - the same method works regardless of labware type:

from orca.sdk.labware import AnyLabwareTemplate

# This labware placeholder adapts to whatever is passed at runtime
generic_labware = AnyLabwareTemplate("generic_plate")

# Useful for methods that work with any labware
delid_method = MethodTemplate(
    "delid",
    actions=[Delid(resource=delidder, inputs=[generic_labware], outputs=[generic_labware])]
)

Using Labware in Actions​

Actions reference labware templates in their inputs and outputs:

seal_action = Seal(
    resource=sealer,
    temperature=165,
    duration=5,
    inputs=[sample_plate],   # Labware that must arrive
    outputs=[sample_plate]   # Labware present after action (defaults to same as inputs)
)

For most operations, outputs are the same as inputs. For operations that consume or create labware, inputs and outputs can differ.

Using Labware in Threads​

Threads are associated with a single labware template:

plate_thread = ThreadTemplate(
    labware_template=sample_plate,  # Which labware this thread processes
    start=start_location,
    end=end_location,
    methods=[method1, method2]
)

PyLabRobot Integration​

Orca uses PyLabRobot labware definitions. Common sources:

# Corning plates
from pylabrobot.resources.corning.falcon.plates import Cor_Falcon_96_wellplate_340ul_Fb_Black

# Thermo Fisher plates
from pylabrobot.resources.thermo_fisher.plates import Thermo_Nunc_96_well_plate_1300uL_Rb

# Generic plates
from pylabrobot.resources import Cos_96_DW_1mL

Browse the PyLabRobot resources for available definitions.

Next Steps​