A clamp device comprising: a carriage including a vertical receptacle to receive a flow cell component, the carriage translatable between an insert position and an engage position, the engage position being between the insert position and a closed position; a motivator to apply force to the carriage in the direction of the engaged position away from the insert position; a fluidics interface block including a fluidics interface to engage flow ports of the flow cell component; and a drive component translatable between the insert position and the closed position; characterized in that: the carriage has an arm; and the drive component includes a ramp structure, the drive component configured to releasably engage the arm of the carriage when the carriage is positioned between the insert position and the engage position, the ramp structure configured to interact with the fluidics interface block to motivate the fluidics interface into contact with the flow ports of the flow cell component when the drive component is between the engage position and the closed position; the clamp device further comprising a guide block connected to the fluidics interface block by at least one rod, supported by a support, the guide block to engage the ramp structure to move the guide block and the connected fluidics interface block. a carriage including a vertical receptacle to receive a flow cell component, the carriage translatable between an insert position and an engage position, the engage position being between the insert position and a closed position; a motivator to apply force to the carriage in the direction of the engaged position away from the insert position; a fluidics interface block including a fluidics interface to engage flow ports of the flow cell component; and a drive component translatable between the insert position and the closed position; characterized in that: the carriage has an arm; and the drive component includes a ramp structure, the drive component configured to releasably engage the arm of the carriage when the carriage is positioned between the insert position and the engage position, the ramp structure configured to interact with the fluidics interface block to motivate the fluidics interface into contact with the flow ports of the flow cell component when the drive component is between the engage position and the closed position; the clamp device further comprising a guide block connected to the fluidics interface block by at least one rod, supported by a support, the guide block to engage the ramp structure to move the guide block and the connected fluidics interface block. the carriage has an arm; and the drive component includes a ramp structure, the drive component configured to releasably engage the arm of the carriage when the carriage is positioned between the insert position and the engage position, the ramp structure configured to interact with the fluidics interface block to motivate the fluidics interface into contact with the flow ports of the flow cell component when the drive component is between the engage position and the closed position; the clamp device further comprising a guide block connected to the fluidics interface block by at least one rod, supported by a support, the guide block to engage the ramp structure to move the guide block and the connected fluidics interface block.