Upgrade of automated sample exchanger SPACE

Abstract

SPACE (SPring-8 precise automatic cryo-sample exchanger) is an automated sample exchanger for cryo-cooled protein crystals, developed at SPring-8. Since the start of its operation, SPACE has been continuously improved and upgraded to cope with the requirements of new beamlines and users. One important upgrade of SPACE provides support for conventional metal-base pins, which are attached to the goniometer head magnetically. Other hardware improvements include increasing the sample storage capacity. The upgraded version of SPACE, as reported here, is continuously operated and is an essential component of beamline operation at SPring-8.