Eppendorf Move It Adjustable Spacing Pipette (Research plus & Xplorer plus Series)

Overview

The Eppendorf Move It Adjustable Spacing Pipette is an engineered solution for high-throughput liquid handling across heterogeneous vessel formats—designed specifically to eliminate manual reconfiguration bottlenecks in modern molecular biology, cell culture, and assay development workflows. Unlike conventional multi-channel pipettes with fixed inter-tip spacing, the Move It system employs a mechanical, tool-free spacing adjustment mechanism grounded in precision-machined gear-driven translation. This enables seamless transitions between standard 96-well plate pitch (9 mm), 384-well plate pitch (4.5 mm), and tube rack configurations (up to 33 mm center-to-center), all without recalibration or accessory swaps. Its core architecture integrates Eppendorf’s proven piston-in-cylinder fluidics—ensuring volumetric accuracy traceable to ISO 8655 and compliant with GLP/GMP documentation requirements. The device operates on fundamental air displacement principles, optimized for low-retention tip compatibility and minimal carryover across viscous, volatile, or foaming samples.

Key Features

• Tool-free adjustable tip spacing from 4.5 mm to 33 mm—enabling direct transfer between 384-well plates, 96-well plates, 24-/48-/96-/12-well plates, 1.5 mL and 2.0 mL microcentrifuge tubes, and agarose gel combs
• Dual-platform availability: Manual operation via Research plus ergonomic design (with adjustable spring-loaded tip ejection force) and electronic control via Xplorer plus motorized aspiration/dispense with programmable repeat dispensing, mixing, and reverse pipetting protocols
• Full autoclavability of lower housing components (including shaft, tip cone, and spacing mechanism)—validated per DIN EN 285 for steam sterilization at 121 °C, 20 min, supporting aseptic applications in cell line maintenance and diagnostic sample prep
• 360° rotatable pipette head with dual-display orientation—allowing unobstructed access to volume setting and channel status indicators regardless of hand position or bench layout
• Integrated spacing limiter with tactile click-stop positions—providing repeatable, operator-independent alignment for consistent inter-vessel registration during high-frequency transfers
• No external tubing or pneumatic interfaces—reducing failure points, eliminating cross-contamination pathways, and improving long-term mechanical stability under repeated thermal cycling

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Move It platform maintains full compatibility with Eppendorf Research plus and Xplorer plus certified low-binding, filter, and wide-bore tips—ensuring reproducible delivery across aqueous buffers, glycerol-containing solutions, serum-supplemented media, and PCR master mixes. All models comply with ISO 8655-2 (volumetric performance), ISO 8655-5 (testing procedures), and IEC 61000-4-2 (ESD immunity). For regulated environments, the Xplorer plus variant supports audit-trail-enabled firmware (optional) compatible with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements when paired with Eppendorf’s VisioNize Lab Suite software. Sterilization validation reports and material biocompatibility data (USP Class VI, ISO 10993-5) are available upon request for quality assurance documentation.

Software & Data Management

Xplorer plus models integrate seamlessly with Eppendorf’s VisioNize Lab Suite—a secure, browser-based laboratory connectivity platform enabling remote configuration, protocol synchronization, usage logging, and export of raw dispense event timestamps. Each pipette stores up to 20 user-defined methods locally, with parameter encryption and password-protected access levels (operator, supervisor, administrator). Data export supports CSV and PDF formats compliant with internal SOPs; optional cloud backup ensures continuity during instrument rotation or facility relocation. Firmware updates are delivered via encrypted OTA (over-the-air) channels with SHA-256 signature verification—maintaining integrity throughout the device lifecycle.

Applications

• High-efficiency parallel sample preparation for qPCR, ELISA, and NGS library normalization across mixed-format plates and tube racks
• Direct loading of agarose gels without intermediate dilution steps—reducing pipetting errors and improving band resolution consistency
• Cell seeding into multi-well plates followed by immediate transfer to cryovial racks for banking—minimizing exposure time and maintaining viability
• Serial dilution workflows spanning 12-channel source plates to 96- or 384-well assay plates with single-action spacing adjustment
• GMP-aligned QC testing where traceability, calibration history, and sterilization logs must be retained for regulatory review cycles

FAQ

Is the entire pipette autoclavable?
No—only the lower housing (shaft, tip cone, spacing mechanism, and ejector assembly) is rated for full-cycle autoclaving. The upper housing, display module, and electronics remain non-sterilizable and must be protected during steam exposure.
Can spacing be adjusted while tips are attached?
Yes—the mechanical linkage permits real-time spacing modification with tips mounted, provided no liquid is present in the tips to avoid leakage or cross-contamination.
Does the Move It system support third-party tips?
It accepts any ISO-compliant, conical-fit low-retention tip meeting Eppendorf’s dimensional tolerances (EN/ISO 8655-3); however, accuracy and leak-tightness guarantees apply only to Eppendorf-certified consumables.
How is calibration verified after spacing adjustment?
No recalibration is required—the spacing mechanism is factory-aligned to maintain volumetric fidelity across all positions. Users perform routine gravimetric checks per ISO 8655-6 using distilled water at 20 °C and standard environmental conditions.
What is the service interval recommendation?
Eppendorf recommends annual preventive maintenance by authorized service centers, including torque verification of spacing gears, piston seal inspection, and electronic diagnostics—documented in the instrument’s service logbook.