Azenta Life Sciences Direct Tube Marker Ribbon, Black, Universal, 300m X 40mm, 1 Roll

Designed to directly print text, linear barcodes, 2D codes and graphics on tubes using patent pending Thermal Pixel Printing technology

The Direct Tube Marker allows printing directly onto the surface of plastic laboratory tubes between 6mm and 30mm in diameter. There is no need for using labels or marker pens. Marking is resistant to ethanol, isopropanol, water, DMSO*, liquid nitrogen and mechanical abrasion. The prints are also stable over a wide temperature range (-196°C to 100°C). Markings do not transfer when touching the tubes. Several lines of text can be printed, for example: sample name, sampling site, your name, date and time etc.

All TrueType fonts available on the connected computer can be printed in a range of different sizes, which determines the maximum printable content. Bold and italic type is also available. The instrument can also print linear barcodes, datamatrix (2D) codes and graphic files (monochrome .bmp, .gif or .tiff) such as logos. Print orientation can be vertical or horizontal (except for barcodes which print vertically only).

The Direct Tube Marker includes an Automatic Printing Delay feature, where the instrument is able to detect the presence of a tube and automatically prints the next label entry in the software. This feature makes printing to the tube surface much easier and faster than marking by hand.

*Ribbon chemical resistance dependent on ribbon type

Key Features:

Wide Tube Compatibility:

• Prints directly on the surface of plastic laboratory tubes; labels and stickers are not required
• Most 0.2ml to 50ml volume tubes with a smooth surface can be used
• Adjustable tube support platform for tubes without a lip/collar or for altering the label position
• Adjustable sled pivot point improves overall print quality for larger labels and tubes; the added visual reference optimizes pressure point and increases print reproducibility
• Multiple adapters are available to accommodate a wide range of tubes on the market

Printing Performance & Quality:

• Patent pending Thermal Pixel Printing technology
• Prints text, linear barcodes, datamatrix (2D) codes and graphic files (monochrome .bmp, .gif or .tiff) such as logos
• Both vertical and horizontal markings are producible
• Clearer and more durable marking compared to marker pen
• Labels printed in seconds
• Marking is resistant to ethanol (70%), isopropanol (70%), methanol (>98.5%), DMSO*, pure haematoxylin, liquid nitrogen, water and mechanical abrasion**
• Marking is temperature resistant up to 100°C and down to -196°C (liquid nitrogen)
• Automatic printing delay for increased throughput and easier functionality

*Ribbon chemical resistance dependent on ribbon type

**Marking is not resistant to Xylene and moderately resistant to acetone

Ease of Use & Economic Efficiency:

• A 300m ink ribbon can be used to mark up to 100,000 tubes*** - competitive “per mark” cost
• Black, white and metallic blue ink ribbons are available for clear printing on all tube colors and tubes with dark colored content
• Changing the ink ribbon is quick and easy
• Easy import of data from Microsoft^® Excel such as .xls, .xlsx and .csv files
• Optimized tube settings can be saved for future reference

***Depending on horizontal dimensions of the print e.g. when printing a 6 x 6 mm 2D code, one ribbon is sufficient for 50,000 prints

Prints per Ribbon:

• The maximum number of prints per ribbon depends on the width of the print
• There is a 3mm gap generated after every print, no matter the size of label or the orientation of the text
• This is to ensure fresh ribbon is available for the next print

Vertical orientation:

• When printing text in vertical orientation, the width of print varies according to the number of lines, the font size and the font type
• Reducing the font size and number of lines to be printed, increases the number of prints achievable from one ribbon
• To calculate the number of tubes that can be printed from one ribbon (assuming the label size/data remains constant), the following parameters need to be considered: a) number of lines¹, b) font type, c) font size
• Check out the Prints per Ribbon table for detailed information

Horizontal orientation

• When printing text in horizontal orientation, the dimensions vary with the font size, the font type and most importantly, with the number of characters in each line
• Reducing the font size and number of characters to be printed in one line, increases the number of prints achievable from one ribbon
• To calculate the number of tubes that can be printed from one ribbon (assuming the label size/data remains constant), the following parameters need to be considered: a) number of characters², b) font type, c) font size

¹The width of the print will be the same with each line, the number of characters in one line doesnt affect the number of prints achievable

²The width of the print will vary with the length of the text and thus affects the number of prints achievable; the number of lines doesn’t affect the number of prints achievable

Compatibility:

Tube Compatibility:

• The standard Direct Tube Marker package contains tube adapters with hole diameters of 8.5, 11.5 and 12.7mm
• These adapters are compatible with the most common centrifuge and cryogenic tubes; 1.5ml/2ml tubes (4ti-0681, hole diameter 11.5mm), 2D cluster tubes (4ti-0683, hole diameter 8.5mm) and cryogenic tubes (4ti-0684, hole diameter 12.7mm)
• The integrated adjustable tube support platform and magnetic pole attachment should be used to support tubes without a "lip" or external cap
• The applicable tube adapter should be used for alignment
• Additional tube adapters are available to support a wider range of tubes available on the market
• Most notably, for blood and vacutainer tubes, as well as 15ml and 50ml falcon tubes
• Custom adapters are also available on request
• The frosted writing window of original Eppendorf tubes yields unreliable print quality and is almost impossible to print across the window due to a “step” in the frosted window (frosted surface height not flush with clean surface) resulting ribbon tears

Azenta Life Sciences approves/disapproves the compatibility of a wide range of tubes available on the market according to internal print testing standards. Azenta Life Sciences cannot be held liable for the quality of the tubes or potential differences in manufacturing which may have an adverse effect on print quality.

Ribbon Resistance & Compatibility:

• Metallic blue, white and black ink ribbons are available to print on all kind of tube colors and tubes with dark colored content
• Choose the ribbon color that gives the best contrast to the tube color and the color of the tube content respectively