Abstract: An apparatus for limiting pipette motion, the apparatus comprising: (1) a stand for controlling spatial positions; (2) a mechanism for temporally coupling the pipette with the stand; the orientation or the movement of the pipette being restricted by the stand as predetermined for (a) limiting the insertion depth of the pipette tips into sample containers, (b) restricting unwanted movements or rotations of the pipette, or (c) maintaining the desired alignments of the pipette tips with the sample containers. Methods of limiting pipette motion or rotation are also provided.