Automation · Device library · Brooks PreciseFlex 400

Brooks PreciseFlex 400

The Brooks PreciseFlex 400 is a compact SCARA robot for moving physical resources between instruments. This field guide takes you from first power-on to driving it from PyLabRobot - and you can try the interactive twin further down.

Brooks PreciseFlex 400

Field guide

Learn the PF400, chapter by chapter

Everything from first power-on to PyLabRobot integration - 15 short tutorials across 5 chapters. Open a chapter to see its tutorials.

1

Getting started

3 tutorials
Mount & connect power 8 min › Network & first TCS connection 6 min › Home & jog the arm 4 min ›
2

Operating

3 tutorials
Teach a pick / place position 12 min › Configure the s23 gripper 9 min › Move an SBS plate 10 min ›
3

Under the hood

3 tutorials
Kinematics: drive the twin Interactive › Coordinate frames & reach 7 min › Joint limits & safe zones 6 min ›
4

Integrate with PyLabRobot

3 tutorials
The TCS API 8 min › PyLabRobot backend 12 min › Write a plate-transfer protocol 15 min ›
5

Advanced

3 tutorials
IntelliGuide vision gripper Advanced › Collaborative linear rail Advanced › Maintenance & error codes Reference ›

Interactive

Digital twin

Drive a joint on the right and the arm follows on the left - same joint limits, angle convention and units as the real robot, running entirely in your browser.

Loading model…

drag to orbit · scroll to zoom · wheel-click / ⌃-drag to pan

How it works

The PF400 is a SCARA arm with four axes and a gripper - the same ones you drive in the twin above.

  • J1 - vertical lift (Z). The column raises and lowers the whole arm (up to 1160 mm), so it can reach into stacked instruments, hotels and racks.
  • J2 - shoulder and J3 - elbow. The two horizontal links position the gripper in the plane (±93° and ±168°).
  • J4 - wrist. Rotates the gripper (±960°), so an SBS plate can be picked in landscape or portrait.
  • Gripper. The IntelliGuide s23 opens and closes to grip plates, tubes and vials.

Specifications

Type SCARA sample handler on a tall vertical Z-column
Handles SBS plates (landscape and portrait), tubes, vials
Payload 0.5 kg (with the IntelliGuide s23 gripper)
Horizontal reach 579 mm standard, 734 mm extended
Vertical travel (J1 / Z) 400 / 750 / 1160 mm options
Repeatability ±0.090 mm
Max TCP speed 500 mm/s in Cartesian space
Max joint speeds J1 500 mm/s · J2 360°/s · J3 720°/s · J4 720°/s
Range of motion J2 ±93° · J3 ±168° · J4 ±960°
Control 100 Mb Ethernet (TCP/IP), Modbus/TCP, RS232 · TCS API · web UI
Power 90–264 VAC, 50–60 Hz · 100–250 W typical · embedded controller
Reliability MTBF 125,000 h · design life 40,000 h
Compliance ISO 10218, ISO/TS 15066, EN 61326-1, CE

Figures from Brooks Automation's published PreciseFlex 400 specifications. The digital twin above uses the same joint limits, angle convention and units.