Dear Sam, I spent quite some time trying to get up and running a HT LCP setup in the past years, and all I can say is that TTP has successfully automated in its Mosquito LCP all the homemade workarounds I employed back then. For instance, they tackle the dehydration problem by covering the drop with precipitant subsequently to LCP dispensing. They also use a chamber to control RH (I believe the NT8 uses a similar device too). They create a droplet of precipitant prior to dispensing in order to avoid touching the viscous LCP with a dry tip, which might cause it to stick. They even calibrate the position of the syringe before starting the procedure; this is really critical, since you have to manually fix the syringe in position after making the LCP.
I've only watched brief demonstrations of the NT8 and Gryphon, and specially the Gryphon experienced severe calibration problems which prevented the LCP drops to be hydrated. NT8 seemed to be a fine piece of hardware though, and it even spares you of the pain of changing the tip roll every once in a while. Jon 2012/8/2 Sam Jimmeson <samjimme...@gmail.com> > Hello ccp4BBers, > Our lab is thinking about trying to purchase a crystallization robot. > We need to be able to do LCP in addition to sitting drop experiments. Does > anyone have experience with the NT8 robot from formulatrix? The other two > robots I am aware of are the LCP Mosquito from TTP and the LCP Gryphon from > ARI. Does anyone have any experiences they could share with me about these > instruments? Feel free to email off list if you want. > Thanks! > -Sam > -- Jon Agirre, PhD Biophysics Unit (CSIC-UPV/EHU) http://www.ehu.es/jon.agirre +34656756888
