NOTE

This section is valid for the software version 1.0.0 or newer (1.x). If your Kilobaser has an older software version (0.9.x), please contact the Kilobaser support to update your device or provide you with a suitable manual. You can check the software version in the settings/system in the section System information.

1 Errors

1.1 Gas supply

Whenever a microfluidic chip is inserted in the Kilobaser, gas supply needs to be turned on. If the gas pressure falls below 450 kPa (4.5 bar or 66 psi), the “Gas supply” error pop-up warning appears and the process is paused in a safe state. Follow the instructions from the pop-up warning. Check your gas supply and adjust the pressure or open the gas cylinder. When the input pressure is high enough, the “Problem solved” notification appears and the process continues automatically. Press OKAY to close the pop-up notification. If the pressure cannot be increased, cancel the process by pressing STOP PROCESS.

If the gas supply error keeps on appearing even though a sufficient input pressure has been ensured, please contact the Kilobaser support.

1.2 Gas supply critical

In case that the gas pressure falls below 300 kPa (3.0 bar or 44 psi), the “Gas supply critical” pop-up warning appears and the process is canceled to protect the cartridge. Press STOP PROCESS to start the recovery process. Check your gas supply and adjust the pressure or open the gas cylinder. Make sure that a sufficient input pressure is ensured before starting the next operation!

If the gas supply critical error keeps on appearing even though a sufficient input pressure has been ensured, please contact the Kilobaser support.

1.3 Squeeze protection

Kilobaser features a safety mechanism that stops the movement of the closing lid in case of obstruction and therefore prevents body parts or objects from being squeezed. If an object or a body part is only lightly squeezed by the closing lid, the obstruction is recognized and the lid starts opening again for a couple of seconds. If the protection has been triggered, the “Squeeze protection” error pop-up warning appears. Follow the instructions from the pop-up warning. Remove any objects that may block free movement of the lid and press CONTINUE to reopen the lid.

1.4 Miscellaneous errors

In case of an improper use or a defect, a pop-up error warning appears with an error code and error description. Follow the instructions from the pop-up warning to resolve the problem.

If the problem cannot be resolved or a pop-up error warning keeps on appearing, please communicate the error code (shown on the error pop-up warning) to the Kilobaser support.

2 Emergency Mode

If the same pop-up error warning keeps on reappearing even though you have resolved the issue externally, the device might have an internal hardware problem or one or more of its sensors are defective. In this case, your device needs to be shipped back and repaired by the Kilobaser service team. When the same error is triggered after 3 consecutive attempts, a special pop-up warning appears with an option to enter the emergency mode. Thoroughly read the instructions from the pop-up warning! First, check again carefully if the source of the problem might not be external – if you have found and resolved the issue, press RETRY to return to the process. If you suspect that the problem is indeed internal, press EMERGENCY MODE to bring your device into a safe state for transport.

CAUTION
After you press EMERGENCY MODE, the process cannot be stopped anymore. Pressing CONFIRM will move down the cartridge so that Kilobaser can be safely transported. Emergency mode is now active and no further process can be started. In case that cartridge motors or sensors are defective and the removal of the cartridge has failed the first time, you can attempt to remove it again by pressing EJECT CARTRIDGE. Please contact the Kilobaser support for more information.

If you have entered the emergency mode by mistake or you have managed to resolve the issue after the emergency mode has already been activated, it is possible to return to the normal operation. This can be done in the settings/system in the section Emergency mode by pressing DISABLE EMERGENCY MODE. Please leave the emergency mode only with the guidance from the Kilobaser support.

3 Troubleshooting

Trouble	Solution
Kilobaser cannot be switched on.	First check that the cables are correctly connected and the LED on the power supply is on. Make sure to connect the power supply to the Kilobaser before plugging the power supply into the mains socket! If the Kilobaser cannot be switched on after ensuring that all cables are plugged in correctly and are not faulty, there is a high chance that the fuse has blown. Unfortunately, Kilobaser needs to be replaced in this case. Contact Kilobaser for support.
Kilobaser is in an undefined state / operation does not start / Kilobaser is frozen.	Switch the Kilobaser off and on again. If this does not solve the problem, please contact Kilobaser for support.
The touchscreen display looks wrong, everything is too big/resolution is weird.	Press the ON/OFF button to turn the Kilobaser off. Once the LED stops blinking, immediately turn the power on again. Wait until the display looks fine. Alternatively, try connecting the upper USB port of the touchscreen display (charging port) with an extra USB cable to an external USB charger and reboot the device. Please contact Kilobaser for support if the problem persists.
The touch function of the touchscreen display does not work.	Make sure to connect the USB-C cable into the lower port on the touchscreen display. If you connect the cable into the upper port of the display (charging port), the touch function of the display will not work. If the touch function does not work in spite of the correct connection, please contact Kilobaser for support.
Lid is open and cannot be closed.	Switch the Kilobaser off and on again. Try closing the lid again when the Kilobaser has booted up. If the lid still cannot be closed, you can try the following: Push the lid from below upwards. Quite some force might be required to move it. Hold the Kilobaser downwards while giving the lid a thrust upwards. After the lid has jumped back into the initial position, try closing it again via the interface.
There is a hissing noise after the lid has closed.	If Kilobaser does not recognize the leak automatically, cancel the operation immediately. Check for any defects on the rubber sealing gasket and replace it if necessary. Check that the microfluidic chip looks intact. If you can't resolve the problem and the noise does not disappear, please contact Kilobaser for support. Exception: If you are starting the cartridge setup process, a hissing sound that lasts for 2 minutes is normal.
I started a synthesis and I don’t have a new unused chip.	Cancel the run and choose END PROCESS in the choice field. It is recommended to cancel the process when motors are not moving: when the lid has not opened yet or when it is already fully open. Make sure to have unused chips in stock before starting a new synthesis.
I started the Change cartridge operation and I don’t have a new reagent/cleaning cartridge.	Cancel the process. It is strongly recommended to cancel the process when the cartridge motor has not started moving yet. If the used cartridge has not yet started moving, press “Stop” and choose “Yes” to return to the initial state. If the used cartridge has already started moving down or is completely down, keep the cartridge in the slot. Press “Stop” and then “Yes” to lock the cartridge again. When the cartridge has moved up all the way again, choose END PROCESS in the choice field to return to the initial state. Please make sure to have an unused cartridge/cleaning cartridge before starting a synthesis with a cartridge exchange!
I inserted a wrong cartridge.	If the cartridge is still moving up, stop the process by pressing “Stop” and choose “Yes” to unlock the cartridge. Then insert the correct cartridge. If the cartridge is already locked and activating, first cancel the process. Then remove the cartridge and immediately after clean the system manually to remove the reagents from the wrong cartridge. Start the synthesis again with the correct cartridge. Please make sure to insert an appropriate cartridge!
I suspect that the cartridge is defective / I want to change the cartridge prior to its expiration.	You can add the Change cartridge operation to the queue manually by choosing ADD CARTRIDGE CHANGE from the drop-down menu.
I suspect the system has been contaminated / reagents have spilled.	In this case, the kilobaser needs to be cleaned manually. Check if the rubber sealing gasket is defective and change it if necessary.
I hear that the chip has cracked after the lid has closed.	Cancel the run immediately. Discard the cracked chip and do not use it again. If you see that the reagents have spilled out of the cartridge, manual cleaning of the device might be necessary. Contact Kilobaser for support.
I did not insert the cartridge to the end of the cartridge slot and it was locked anyway.	If this has not been recognized by the cartridge sensor that prevents the locking of the cartridge in such case, the Kilobaser has most probably been damaged beyond the capabilities of an ordinary repair. Please remove the cartridge and contact Kilobaser for support.
I touched some reagent remnants without protective gloves.	Please wash your hands thoroughly. Although the liquid reagents are considered harmful, the solvents (mostly acetonitrile) evaporate very quickly, leaving either no remnant or harmless salts. In case of bigger spills (e.g. crushed cartridge), immediately ventilate and clear the room and consult the MSDS or customer support for further instruction.
The synthesized standard oligo is fluorescent.	When changing from a modification (fluorescent dye) cartridge to a standard cartridge, small amounts of dye can stay in the needles in spite of the manual or automatic cleaning and the cartridge setup process. Dye traces are free in the solution and are not coupled to the synthesized standard oligo. If you feel like this can impair your application, an additional synthesis should be run and discarded. You can also use the OliPure kit to completely remove the free dye. To completely avoid cross-contamination, it is always recommended to use one Kilobaser with one cartridge type only.
DNA does not work in my process.	Consider if there may be any complex sections in your sequence, which can lead to the secondary structures in the DNA molecule. Consult the DNA design guidelines to avoid certain pitfalls like palindromes, hairpins or GC-rich sections. For some processes, DNA needs to be clean and salt-free. Try using the OliPure kit for the oligo purification. Other specific applications might need HPLC or PAGE purification. If you are in doubt, contact Kilobaser for support.