Text-only adaptation of original PDF; see full bilingual archive for embedded images.

NE-501 Multi Pump Controller v1.0.0 | English Operation Manual




     NE-501 Multi Pump Controller v1.0.0
                                 English Operation Manual
                   For multi-pump New Era NE-501 OEM syringe-pump control over RS-232




  Figure 1. NE501 Multi Pump Controller v1.0.0 connected to the four-pump system. Pump 00 shows a verified diameter and verified
                                                        pumping program.

Recommended reading order First-time installers should complete Pre_Installation_Setup_Guide_English before
using this operation manual.




                        Operation manual | New Era NE-501 OEM | Default network 00, 01, 02, 03 | 19200 baud / 8N1
                                                                             NE-501 Multi Pump Controller v1.0.0 | English Operation Manual


1. Purpose of the Software
NE501 Multi Pump Controller is a Windows application for controlling multiple New Era NE-501 OEM syringe pumps.
The default configuration is a four-pump network: Pump 00, Pump 01, Pump 02, and Pump 03.

Each pump has an independent panel with controls for:

 Syringe inside diameter
 Prime enable/disable
 Five Prime speed presets
 Prime volume
 Steady flow rate
 Infuse / Withdraw direction
 Continuous steady flow or a finite Steady target volume
 Active selection for group actions
 Individual RUN / STOP
The application also provides Apply Active, RUN Active, STOP Active, EMERGENCY STOP ALL, command/response
logging, CSV logs, Simulation mode, and adjustable UI size.


2. Important Safety Information
2.1 EMERGENCY STOP ALL limitations
EMERGENCY STOP ALL sends stop commands to all configured pump addresses. It is a software stop function that
still depends on Windows, the USB-RS232 adapter, communication cables, and pump power. Keep a practical
method of cutting pump power available at the bench.

2.2 Prime speed is not a pressure limit
Max / High / Medium / Low / Min are software speed presets derived from the NE-501 plunger-speed capability. They
control commanded plunger speed and flow rate. This software does not contain a pressure sensor and cannot
determine actual microfluidic pressure.

Pressure depends on tubing diameter and length, microchannel resistance, fittings and valves, air bubbles, blockage,
liquid viscosity, and chip geometry. For a new chip or tubing setup, start Prime at Min (5%) or Low (10%).

2.3 The syringe inside diameter must be correct
The NE-501 converts flow based on the syringe inside diameter. An incorrect diameter directly causes a flow-rate
error. Use the inside diameter in millimeters supplied by the syringe manufacturer; do not infer it only from nominal
syringe volume.


3. Hardware and Pump Network
Windows PC
  | USB
USB-to-RS232 adapter
  |
CBL-PC-PUMP
  |
Pump 00 - Computer / To Computer
  | Network
Pump 01 - Computer / To Computer
  | Network
Pump 02 - Computer / To Computer
  | Network
Pump 03 - Computer / To Computer

                        Operation manual | New Era NE-501 OEM | Default network 00, 01, 02, 03 | 19200 baud / 8N1
                                                                              NE-501 Multi Pump Controller v1.0.0 | English Operation Manual



Each pump must have a unique network address. The default project configuration uses 00, 01, 02, and 03.

Baud rate: 19200
Data bits: 8
Parity: None
Stop bits: 1
Flow control: None


Close WinPumpTerm and any other serial software before connecting with NE501 Multi Pump Controller.


4. Starting the Application
Development version:

run_dev.bat


Final EXE:

NE501_Multi_Pump_Controller.exe


The top bar contains Port, 19200 baud / 8N1, Refresh COM, Connect, Scan Pumps, UI size, and connection status.


5. Connecting to the Pumps
Step 1 - Select the COM port
Click Refresh COM and select the COM port for the USB-RS232 adapter. The tested system commonly uses COM4,
but Windows may assign a different number. Use Device Manager as the source of truth.

Step 2 - Connect
Click Connect. A successful connection is shown by the green Connected indicator in the upper-right corner.

Step 3 - Scan Pumps
Click Scan Pumps 00, 01, 02, 03. Each healthy panel should show Online and an NE501 firmware version.


6. Required Workflow for Each Pump
1) SET & VERIFY DIAMETER
-> 2) Configure Prime / Steady Flow
-> 3) APPLY & VERIFY
-> 4) Select Active Pumps / RUN


Follow the sequence above. Controls remain intentionally locked until prerequisite steps are complete.


7. Step 1 - Set the Syringe Inside Diameter
Enter the actual inside diameter, for example 10.00 mm, then click SET & VERIFY DIAMETER. The software writes
DIA to the pump, reads DIA back, and compares the returned value with the input.

Success is shown as STEP 1 COMPLETE and Verified: <diameter> mm. Prime, steady-flow settings, Active, and
APPLY then become available.

If you edit the diameter after verification, the application clears the verified state, invalidates the applied program,
clears Active, and requires diameter verification again.

                         Operation manual | New Era NE-501 OEM | Default network 00, 01, 02, 03 | 19200 baud / 8N1
                                                                             NE-501 Multi Pump Controller v1.0.0 | English Operation Manual


8. Prime Function
Prime quickly advances fluid into the tubing or microfluidic chip, then automatically transitions to the steady-flow
phase after the requested Prime volume is delivered. Enable Prime before steady flow to use it.

8.1 Five Prime speed presets
                                             Fraction of maximum plunger
 Option                                                                                       Suggested use
                                             speed

                                                                                              Low-resistance, large-channel
 Max                                         100%                                             systems already confirmed to tolerate
                                                                                              the flow

 High                                        50%                                              Faster filling

 Medium                                      25%                                              Moderate Prime

                                                                                              Recommended starting point for many
 Low                                         10%
                                                                                              microfluidic systems; software default

                                                                                              Initial testing for higher-resistance or
 Min                                         5%
                                                                                              more fragile chips

These five levels are software presets. The application calculates the Prime flow rate from the verified syringe inside
diameter.

Approximate values for a 10.00 mm inside-diameter syringe are:

 Prime level                                                          Approximate Prime rate

 Max                                                                  240 mL/hr

 High                                                                 120 mL/hr

 Medium                                                               60 mL/hr

 Low                                                                  24 mL/hr

 Min                                                                  12 mL/hr

The GUI displays Calculated Prime rate in mL/hr and µL/min. The actual rate accepted by the pump may be adjusted
slightly downward to comply with the NE-501 numeric format and firmware rate limits. After APPLY & VERIFY
succeeds, Last response reports the accepted program information.

8.2 Prime volume
Enter the volume used for the fast-fill phase and choose µL or mL, for example Prime volume = 100 µL.

8.3 Automatic transition
When the Prime volume is complete, the pump automatically advances to the steady-flow phase. You do not press
RUN again.




                        Operation manual | New Era NE-501 OEM | Default network 00, 01, 02, 03 | 19200 baud / 8N1
                                                                            NE-501 Multi Pump Controller v1.0.0 | English Operation Manual


9. Steady Flow Settings
9.1 Steady rate
Supported units are µL/min, mL/min, µL/hr, and mL/hr. If a value cannot be represented directly in the NE-501
numeric format, the application may convert it to an equivalent unit before writing it to the pump.

9.2 Direction
Choose Infuse or Withdraw. Prime and steady flow use the same direction setting.

9.3 Continuous steady flow
Enable Continuous steady flow to run the steady phase until STOP is pressed.

9.4 Steady target volume
Clear Continuous steady flow to enable a finite Steady target volume. This value applies only to the steady-flow
phase. For example, Prime volume = 100 µL and Steady target volume = 1 mL produces approximately 100 µL of
Prime followed by 1 mL of steady-flow delivery. The program enters STOP after the steady target is complete.


10. APPLY & VERIFY
After configuring the pump, click APPLY & VERIFY. The application writes the NE-501 pumping program and reads
key values back. It verifies program phase, function, Prime rate, Prime volume, steady rate, steady volume, direction,
and the STOP phase when finite-volume operation is used.

RUN is enabled only after verification succeeds. A successful panel shows Program verified in Last response.

When a command is rejected, the GUI reports the command and the pump error. Common codes include ?OOR =
Value out of range, ?NA = Command not applicable, and ?COM = Invalid command.


11. Active Selection
Active (include in group actions) determines which pumps respond to the group buttons. It does not change the
behavior of the individual RUN and STOP buttons.

Example: if Pump 00 and Pump 02 are Active while Pump 01 and Pump 03 are inactive, RUN Active starts only Pump
00 and Pump 02.


12. RUN
RUN becomes available after SET & VERIFY DIAMETER and APPLY & VERIFY are complete. The software starts
the pump from Pumping Program Phase 1.

If Prime is enabled:
RUN -> Prime phase -> Prime volume complete -> Steady flow -> Continuous operation or finite
target -> STOP

If Prime is disabled:
RUN -> Steady flow



13. STOP
The red STOP button in each pump panel stops only that pump. The software first checks the pump state, then
handles the NE-501 stopped/paused behavior so that an idle STP ?NA response is not treated as a true fault.

                       Operation manual | New Era NE-501 OEM | Default network 00, 01, 02, 03 | 19200 baud / 8N1
                                                                            NE-501 Multi Pump Controller v1.0.0 | English Operation Manual


14. Group Actions
Select All Available
Sets every Online pump with a verified diameter to Active.

Clear Active
Clears Active on all pumps.

Apply Active
Runs APPLY & VERIFY for each Active pump using that pump panel's independent parameters.

RUN Active
Starts every Active pump whose program has been verified.

STOP Active
Stops every Active pump.

EMERGENCY STOP ALL
Runs the stop sequence for all configured addresses regardless of Active state. The default addresses are 00, 01, 02,
and 03.


15. UI Size
Use UI size to compensate for different Windows display scaling. Available presets are 85%, 100%, 115%, and 130%.
The setting is remembered. Pump panels are inside a scrollable region so controls are not compressed when the
window is smaller than the full four-panel layout.


16. Command / Response Log
The bottom area shows serial communication, for example:

TX 00 VER | RX Stopped | NE501V3.934
TX 00 DIA 10.00 | RX Stopped
TX 00 RAT ... | RX Stopped


For troubleshooting, preserve the pump address, TX command, RX response, and any error code.


17. CSV Log Location
Windows default:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\NE501_Multi_Pump_Controller\logs\


A new CSV file is created each time the application starts. Fields include timestamp, address, command, status, data,
error, alarm, and raw_hex. The file can be opened in Excel.


18. Troubleshooting
18.1 COM port cannot connect
   The USB-RS232 adapter is connected.


                       Operation manual | New Era NE-501 OEM | Default network 00, 01, 02, 03 | 19200 baud / 8N1
                                                                             NE-501 Multi Pump Controller v1.0.0 | English Operation Manual

   Device Manager shows the Prolific USB Serial COM Port.
   The correct COM number is selected.
   WinPumpTerm is fully closed.
   Other serial monitors are closed.

18.2 Pump shows Offline
   The pump is powered.
   The network cable direction is correct.
   Every pump address is unique.
   Baud rate is 19200.
   Upstream pumps are powered because the communication chain passes through them.

18.3 Diameter cannot be verified
   The pump is stopped.
   The diameter is within 0.10 - 50.00 mm.
   The pump returns a valid DIA response.

18.4 APPLY reports ?OOR
?OOR means the pump rejected a value as out of range. Common causes are a steady rate outside the usable range
for the syringe diameter, a volume value the firmware cannot represent, or a Prime rate close to a firmware limit.
Prime includes automatic downward fallback; adjust the user steady-flow value if needed.

18.5 ?NA
?NA means the command is not applicable in the current pump state. The current STOP flow includes state handling
for the NE501 V3.934 idle STP ?NA behavior.

18.6 Prime is too fast
Reduce the Prime preset in this order: Max -> High -> Medium -> Low -> Min. Start new microfluidic systems at Min or
Low.


19. Simulation Mode
The Port list includes Simulation mode (no hardware). It allows you to test the GUI, diameter workflow, Prime settings,
Active selection, and RUN / STOP without writing to a physical COM port.


20. Disconnecting or Closing the Application
When Disconnect or application close is requested, the GUI can ask whether to send STOP to all pumps first. For
normal operation, choose Yes, confirm that pump motion has stopped, and then remove pump power or fluid
connections.


21. Building the Final EXE
21.1 Create the Python environment
Install Python 3.12 64-bit, then run setup_dev.bat.

21.2 Run tests
run_tests.bat


All tests should pass before a release build.



                        Operation manual | New Era NE-501 OEM | Default network 00, 01, 02, 03 | 19200 baud / 8N1
                                                                             NE-501 Multi Pump Controller v1.0.0 | English Operation Manual


21.3 Build the release
build_final_release.bat


The release folder is created under release\NE501_Multi_Pump_Controller_v1.0.0\. A target PC does not need
Python, but it still needs the Windows driver for the USB-RS232 adapter.


22. config.json
The final EXE first looks for config.json in the same folder as the executable. Default content:

{
    "port": "COM4",
    "baudrate": 19200,
    "addresses": [0, 1, 2, 3],
    "window_title": "NE-501 Multi Pump Controller v1.0.0"
}


Pump addresses must be unique and between 0 and 99. Restart the application after editing config.json.


23. Recommended Daily Operating SOP
1. Power on all four pumps
2. Confirm RS-232 / Network wiring
3. Start the application
4. Connect
5. Scan Pumps
6. SET & VERIFY DIAMETER for each pump
7. Configure Prime / Steady flow
8. APPLY & VERIFY
9. Select the required Active pumps
10. RUN / RUN Active
11. At experiment end, STOP / STOP Active
12. Confirm all pump motion has stopped
13. Disconnect
14. Turn off pump power



24. Version Information
Software: NE-501 Multi Pump Controller
Version: 1.0.0
Target pump: New Era NE-501 OEM
Default network: 00, 01, 02, 03
Default baud: 19200 / 8N1
GUI language: English
Manual language: English


Technical references: New Era Pump Systems NE-500/NE-501 Multi-Phaser User Manual, NE-1000/NE-500/NE-501
Rates and Specifications, and the SyringePump.com download/driver page.

This controller was developed for the current four-pump NE-501 experimental system. A formal experimental SOP
should also define tubing, microfluidic chip limits, maximum allowable pressure, fluid compatibility, and physical
power-disconnect procedures.




                        Operation manual | New Era NE-501 OEM | Default network 00, 01, 02, 03 | 19200 baud / 8N1
