More recently, I've looked at all of the crystallization robot
vendors.
For single lab users, all of the systems work well. Systems like
the Hydra
or Mosquito are less automatic, but provide the basic functions for
crystallization trial setup. For more of a user facility with a large
number of users from several groups, you want more automation to avoid
protocols that can damage the components, like alignment or
breakage of
the needles. You also want to consider the total annual cost of
expendables and maintenance.
There are two major kinds of "a user facility with a large number of
users from several groups"
a. One with an operator: then buy what the operator likes ;-)
basically all machines do work
b. NO operator: buy something that is hard to break and needs minimal
maintenance
We are in b. and happy with our Mosquito for 4 years or more now,
although I am sure the
other choices mentioned are also clearly fine.
A.
