CryoGridTools

Designs of cryo-EM tools described in “Tidy up cryo-EM sample grids with 3D printed tools” for 3D printing.

References

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsb.2019.107414
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsb.2019.04.011

How to 3D print

STL files can be directly fed to a 3D printer. All tools were designed by Blender (https://www.blender.org/).

Recommendation

An FDM 3D printer with ABS filaments is suitable for production of the tools. A slower head speed, a correct temperature (~ 100˚C) of the base plate and a controled cooling rate are required for success of 3D printing.

Contents

GridCaseStacker

Storage for disk-shaped grid cases in liquid nitrogen. The grid case stacker holds three grid cases. The five stackers can be kept inside a wide-use centrifuge tube. The steel flat-head metal screw with a diameter of ~ 3.2 mm and a length of ~ 12 mm on the stacker is fitted with a CrystalWand Magnetic.

GridCaseOrientator

Grid case orientator for easy pick up of the grid case with tweezers. Fitted inside the outer space around the ethane vessel of the ethane container. A grid case with plunge-frozen grids can be dropped onto the orientator in liquid nitrogen, and the orientator supports the grid case in an upright position.

GridCaseHolder

Holder for three disk-shaped grid cases onto its three arms. Fitted inside the outer space of the ethane container. The holder affords enough room for the orientator.

MagneticWand1, 2

Pickup wand for the grid case stacker. MagneticWand 1 and 2 should be connected with glue, and then a small neodymium magnet (~ 6 mmφ) be glued on the tip. The stacker is easily released under liquid nitrogen by a wrenching action of the wand.

Spacers

Spacers placed on top of the stacker inside a 50 mL conical tube for transport. Spacer 1 is desinged for five stackers in the tube. Spacer 2 ~ 5 are for four to one stackers, respectively.

GridCase base and top

Grid cases with two- four- and six-hole slits

RetainerStocker

Retainer stocker for JEOL CRYO ARM electron microscopes. The stocker accommodates four retainers, and is usually kept inside a desiccator till use.

TubeHanger

TubeHanger can hang 50 ml tube with string in liquid nitrogen. This allows for smooth loading and unloading of the stackers.

CryoRingKeeper and HowToUse movie

Authors

Tasuku Hamaguchi and Koji Yonekura