Automated Sample Exchange Robots for the Structural Biology Beam Lines at the Photon Factory

Abstract

We are now developing automated sample exchange robots for high‐throughput protein crystallographic experiments for onsite use at synchrotron beam lines. It is part of the fully automated robotics systems being developed at the Photon Factory, for the purposes of protein crystallization, monitoring crystal growth, harvesting and freezing crystals, mounting the crystals inside a hutch and for data collection. We have already installed the sample exchange robots based on the SSRL automated mounting system at our insertion device beam lines BL‐5A and AR‐NW12A at the Photon Factory. In order to reduce the time required for sample exchange further, a prototype of a double‐tonged system was developed. As a result of preliminary experiments with double‐tonged robots, the sample exchange time was successfully reduced from 70 seconds to 10 seconds with the exception of the time required for pre‐cooling and warming up the tongs.