Goniometer bases (sometimes called "caps") are used to hold MicroMounts, MicroLoops, MicroMeshes andMicroGrippers in X-ray crystallography and related applications. The stainless steel rod of these products fits into the central hole of the base.
Gentaur’s bases are compatible with standard cryo tools, with Gentaur's magnetic Cryo Vials and all other commercial cryovials, with all magnetic goniometer head mounts and sample automounting hardware, and with loop sample mounts from other manufacturers.
Unlike other available bases, our patented designs tightly capture the MicroRT™ capillaries to allow easy and seamless room-temperature and low-temperature data collection.
Designs 


We offer several designs to ensure compatibility with both protein and small molecule crystallography hardware and with all sample automounters.

Base style B1/B1A is modified from the most common base style by adding a 2 mm diameter extension to capture MicroRT capillaries. It can be used with any length MicroMount or nylon loop mount, and is precision machined from 416 stainless steel.

Base B1 has the flat "ledge" used by grippers in, e.g., SSRL’s Stanford Automounting System. Base B1Ahas the ledge-free conical shape used by grippers in ALS-style automounters. Use base B1A at LBNL's Berkeley Center for Structural Biology, with the PXRR automounter at Brookhaven lab's NSLS, at SER-CAT and at CHESS.

Base styles B2 and B3/B3S have a copper post extending up from the stainless steel base, with a taper to capture MicroRT capillaries. Compared with B1-style bases, the tubing need only be drawn a very short distance past the sample before being captured by the post, and so slipping MicroRT capillaries on and off is much easier. The copper post can also reduce ice build up in the cryostream.

Base B2 accepts 11 mm MicroMounts / MicroLoops / MicroMeshes / Microgrippers and 10 mm loop-style mounts, and is only available with the flat SSRL-style ledge. BasesB3/B3S replace this design, and eliminate the need to work with short rod length mounts.

Base style B3 has a flat ledge for use with SAM robots, and the B3S is the conical ALS robot compatible stye.

Base B4 is our version of the IUCr standard "brass pin" style base commonly used in small molecule crystallograpy, modified for use with MicroMounts and the MicroRT system. Unlike other 3 mm / 1/8" diameter bases, our B4 has a smaller diameter central hole to tightly capture the stainless steel rods of MicroMounts, and an extension to capture our MicroRT™ capillaries. Use for both room temperature and cryocrystallography applications.

Features 

• Precision machined from the highest quality materials for durability and reliability.
• Patented design captures MicroRT capillary tubing for easy room temperature measurements.
• The only copper post bases that accept 19 mm and SPINE length mounts.
• Compatible with all standard cryovials.