08B1-1: an automated beamline for macromolecular crystallography experiments at the Canadian Light Source.

Beamline 08B1-1 is a recently commissioned bending-magnet beamline at the Canadian Light Source. The beamline is designed for automation and remote access. Together with the undulator-based beamline 08ID-1, they constitute the Canadian Macromolecular Crystallography Facility. This paper describes the design, specifications, hardware and software of beamline 08B1-1. A few scientific results using data obtained at the beamline will be highlighted.

MxDC and MxLIVE: software for data acquisition, information management and remote access to macromolecular crystallography beamlines.

An integrated computer software system for on-site and remote collection of macromolecular crystallography (MX) data at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) is described. The system consists of an integrated graphical user interface for data collection and beamline control [MX Data Collector (MxDC)] which provides experiment-focused control of beamline devices, and a laboratory information management system [MX Laboratory Information Virtual Environment (MxLIVE)] for managing sample and experiment information through a web browser. The system allows remote planning and transmission of sample and experiment parameters to the beamline through MxLIVE, on-site or remote data collection through MxDC guided by information from MxLIVE, and remote monitoring and download of experimental results through MxLIVE. The system is deployed and in use on both MX beamlines at the CLS which constitute the Canadian Macromolecular Crystallography Facility.

Canadian macromolecular crystallography facility: a suite of fully automated beamlines.

The Canadian light source is a 2.9 GeV national synchrotron radiation facility located on the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon. The small-gap in-vacuum undulator illuminated beamline, 08ID-1, together with the bending magnet beamline, 08B1-1, constitute the Canadian Macromolecular Crystallography Facility (CMCF). The CMCF provides service to more than 50 Principal Investigators in Canada and the United States. Up to 25% of the beam time is devoted to commercial users and the general user program is guaranteed up to 55% of the useful beam time through a peer-review process. CMCF staff provides "Mail-In" crystallography service to users with the highest scored proposals. Both beamlines are equipped with very robust end-stations including on-axis visualization systems, Rayonix 300 CCD series detectors and Stanford-type robotic sample auto-mounters. MxDC, an in-house developed beamline control system, is integrated with a data processing module, AutoProcess, allowing full automation of data collection and data processing with minimal human intervention. Sample management and remote monitoring of experiments is enabled through interaction with a Laboratory Information Management System developed at the facility.

Beamline 08ID-1, the prime beamline of the Canadian Macromolecular Crystallography Facility.

Beamline 08ID-1 is the prime macromolecular crystallography beamline at the Canadian Light Source. Based on a small-gap in-vacuum undulator, it is designed for challenging projects like small crystals and crystals with large cell dimensions. Beamline 08ID-1, together with a second bending-magnet beamline, constitute the Canadian Macromolecular Crystallography Facility (CMCF). This paper presents an overall description of the 08ID-1 beamline, including its specifications, beamline software and recent scientific highlights. The end-station of the beamline is equipped with a CCD X-ray detector, on-axis crystal visualization system, a single-axis goniometer and a sample automounter allowing remote access to the beamline. The general user program is guaranteed up to 55% of the useful beam time and is run under a peer-review proposal system. The CMCF staff provide `Mail-in' crystallography service to the users with the highest-scored proposals.