On the back of your OT-2 and OT-2R, there are some electronics that are normally concealed by a black cover.
If you're working with Opentrons Support to troubleshoot a problem, we might ask you to remove the cover and expose the electronics. This article explains how to do this for both the OT-2 and OT-2R which have slightly different workflows.
Instructions for the OT-2 are shown first, followed by the OT-2R.
If you are unsure which robot you are working with, please see our article that highlights the differences between the OT-2 and OT-2R before getting started.
Instructions for OT-2
Materials needed:
Allen key set provided with your robot (specifically, the 2.5mm hex driver)
Before beginning to remove the electronics cover
Make sure your OT-2 is turned off.
1. Remove the top window
First, remove the top window. Unscrew the 4 window screws, slide the window, and then lift it off.
2. Unscrew the back screws
Next, find the vent on the back, upper portion of the robot. With your 2.5mm hex driver, remove the nine screws shown below to open up the electronics enclosure cover. Note that some of the screws will be shorter than the others.
3. Remove the plastic cover
Finally, reach inside the robot and pull off the black plastic cover.
4. Electronics layout
You have successfully exposed the rear electronics! Looking through the front of the robot, you should see the exposed electronics:
The black central routing board (left).
The green Raspberry Pi (right).
A bunch of cables.
Instructions for OT-2R
Materials needed:
T10 Torx (star) driver provided with your robot
Before beginning to remove the electronics cover
Make sure your OT-2R is turned off.
1. Unscrew the back screws
Next, find the vent on the back, upper portion of the robot. With your T10 Torx driver, remove the four corner screws shown below to open up the electronics enclosure cover.
2. Remove the metal panel
Pull the black metal panel off.
3. Electronics layout
You have successfully exposed the rear electronics! Looking directly at the external electronics enclosure, you should see the exposed electronics:
The black central routing board (right).
The green Raspberry Pi (left).
A bunch of cables.
Update: The gray grounding strap is now located in the upper right (previously upper left as shown in this image).
4. Put the metal panel back on
Important: Before putting the metal panel back on, notice that the inside of the panel is partially unpainted. This is to establish a solid electrical connection from the panel to the gray grounding strap cable (located in the upper right within the enclosure). When putting the panel back on, it is important to ensure that the gray grounding strap cable is sandwiched between two pieces of metal when it is fastened.
Re-fasten the electronics enclosure while ensuring that the gray grounding strap cable is sandwiched between two pieces of metal.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at support@opentrons.com or through our live chat!