Only 2 sample holder systems (see below) will be accepted on the ESRF MX beamlines. It will no longer be possible to accommodate samples mounted with plastic bases (i.e. Hampton CrystalCaps and similar) or those mounted in Oxford-style top-hat systems.

In any case you are strongly recommended to bring an empty loop with your samples to prepare the sample environment correctly on the beamline before you start working on your precious samples.

  • EMBL/ESRF Sample Changer Vials

In order to be compatible with the EMBL/ESRF sample changer which is now installed on all our beamlines, you must use the SPINE standard sample holders and vials. Its design is based on the Hampton CrystalCap Magnetic™ and vial system with 22mm fixed sample holder length (18mm pins) and presents a 10 character identification code (data matrix on the base of the caps and in clear human readable text near the data matrix or on the rim of the cap).

SPINE sample holders and vials can be obtained from either Molecular Dimensions Limited (bottom figure below) or Hampton Research (top figure below)

 

Hampton vialsHampton SPINE bases

 

MD-CryoCaps---CryoVial-resize400x300.jpg  MD-CryoCaps.jpg

 

If you want to use the sample changers make sure your vials are not damaged (cracked vials, metal disk missing at the tip of the vial ...)

 

 

cracked vial

  • Standard holders (commercially available today) for manual sample mounting
We recommend you to use the Hampton CrystalCap Magnetic™ and vial system with 22mm fixed sample holder length (18mm pins). We can also accomodate pins between 17mm to 28mm by playing with various goniometer heads.

crystal cap

  • Puck options
Beamline EMBL SPINEpuck UNIPUCK
ID23-1 yes yes
ID23-2 NO yes
ID29 yes yes
ID30A1 MASSIF NO yes
ID30A3 yes yes
ID30B yes yes

 

EMBL baskets hold 10 SPINE sample holders/vials, are identified with a data matrix as well as a human readable code. 5 of them fit in a modified CP100 transport dewar canister (see image bellow). Kits containing a modified CP100 canister, 5 baskets, 1 vial pusher for sample transfer and 1 clamp are sold by MDL.

 

 

SC basket5Baskets in canister

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Dewar

A dry-transporter/shipper must be used to transport the samples safely. The most common one is the Taylor-Wharton CP100 dry shipper (see these articles for more details on temperature measurements: paper1, paper2)

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