A thermal cycler system, comprising: a device housing including: a sample block with a top and a bottom surface, and a thermal electric device in thermal communication with the bottom surface; and a cover operably connected to the device housing, the cover including: a handle portion, a device lid portion attached to a proximal side of the handle portion with a pin, a sample block platen operably connected to the handle portion such that a platen pin engages a terminal end of a platen slot opening of the handle portion to cause the sample block platen to be pushed down when a user applies force to push a distal side of the handle portion so that it is flush with the device lid portion and such that the sample block platen is positioned against the sample block when the handle portion is flush with the device lid portion and the cover is in a closed position, and a link bar operably connected to the device housing and the pin such that a distal side of the handle portion is first elevated away from the device lid portion before the cover can be moved to an open position, wherein the pin protrudes from the device lid portion and latches onto an elliptical slot opening on the proximal side of the handle portion. a device housing including: a sample block with a top and a bottom surface, and a thermal electric device in thermal communication with the bottom surface; and a sample block with a top and a bottom surface, and a thermal electric device in thermal communication with the bottom surface; and a cover operably connected to the device housing, the cover including: a handle portion, a device lid portion attached to a proximal side of the handle portion with a pin, a sample block platen operably connected to the handle portion such that a platen pin engages a terminal end of a platen slot opening of the handle portion to cause the sample block platen to be pushed down when a user applies force to push a distal side of the handle portion so that it is flush with the device lid portion and such that the sample block platen is positioned against the sample block when the handle portion is flush with the device lid portion and the cover is in a closed position, and a link bar operably connected to the device housing and the pin such that a distal side of the handle portion is first elevated away from the device lid portion before the cover can be moved to an open position, a handle portion, a device lid portion attached to a proximal side of the handle portion with a pin, a sample block platen operably connected to the handle portion such that a platen pin engages a terminal end of a platen slot opening of the handle portion to cause the sample block platen to be pushed down when a user applies force to push a distal side of the handle portion so that it is flush with the device lid portion and such that the sample block platen is positioned against the sample block when the handle portion is flush with the device lid portion and the cover is in a closed position, and a link bar operably connected to the device housing and the pin such that a distal side of the handle portion is first elevated away from the device lid portion before the cover can be moved to an open position, wherein the pin protrudes from the device lid portion and latches onto an elliptical slot opening on the proximal side of the handle portion.