Sutter Instrument
MP-285 Motorized Micromanipulator
Code MP-285
The MP-285 is Sutter Instrument's flagship motorized micromanipulator — affordable yet packed with advanced features. Custom stepping motors, precision cross-roller bearing slides, worm gear capstan drives, and a quiet linear power supply deliver 25+ mm of travel per axis, 0.04 µm ultra-fine resolution, and a user-definable 4th diagonal axis. Suitable for patch clamp, extracellular recording, microinjection and precision robotic positioning.
Read more
See other products in applications
Features
MP-285 — Motorized Micromanipulator
The MP-285 from Sutter Instrument is the industry-proven flagship of precision motorized micromanipulators — affordable, yet offering advanced features found only in manipulators costing thousands more. Its watch-like mechanical system — built on custom stepping motors, precision cross-roller bearing slides and proprietary worm gear capstan drives — combined with a quiet linear power supply makes it suitable for the widest range of scientific positioning applications.
Key Features
- 3 motorized axes: More than 25 mm (1 inch) of travel on all three axes
- Definable 4th diagonal axis: User selects approach angle, then activates — coarse or ultra-fine resolution; continuous or single-step movement
- Submicron resolution: Coarse range 0.2 µm/step; ultra-fine range 0.04 µm (40 nm)
- Maximum speed: 2.9 mm/s
- Precision cross-roller bearing slides: Smooth, backlash-free movement throughout full travel
- Worm gear capstan drives: Extremely low backlash; eliminates traditional "open loop" drift
- Quiet linear power supply: Minimizes electrical noise — essential for sensitive electrophysiological recordings
- Vacuum fluorescent display: Axis positions continuously shown in relative and absolute coordinates
- ROE (Rotary Optical Encoder) input: Facile 2-inch knob manual control per axis; adjustable resolution and speed
- HOME function: Fast repositioning to any user-defined location
- Computer control: Serial/USB interface; Windows, UNIX and LabVIEW software available
- Dual voltage: 115/230 V, 50/60 Hz; CE certified
Applications
- Patch clamp electrophysiology (whole-cell, cell-attached, inside-out, outside-out)
- Extracellular recording
- Intracellular recording
- Microinjection
- Precision robotic positioning
Specifications
- Axes: 3 (X, Y, Z) + user-definable diagonal 4th axis
- Travel: >25 mm (1 inch) on all axes
- Resolution (coarse): 0.2 µm/step
- Resolution (ultra-fine): 0.04 µm (40 nm)/step
- Maximum speed: 2.9 mm/s
- Mechanical design: Custom stepping motors, precision cross-roller bearings, worm gear capstan drives
- Interface: Serial / USB; LabVIEW, Windows & Unix software available
- Electrical: 115/230 V, 50/60 Hz
- Certification: CE
Components
Standard system components
- MP-285-L MP-285 Motorized Micromanipulator — left-handed (includes manipulator, rack-mounted controller, ROE, rod holder, headstage adapter, cables, power cord, manual)
- MP-285-R MP-285 Motorized Micromanipulator — right-handed (includes manipulator, rack-mounted controller, ROE, rod holder, headstage adapter, cables, power cord, manual)