BEAMLINE GUIDE
Australian Synchrotron MX3

Australian Synchrotron Clayton, Victoria ISARA from IRELEC

The High-Performance Macromolecular Crystallography beamline (MX3) will be capable of providing high-flux, microfocus X-rays for small and weakly diffracting protein crystals. The beamline will provide three modes of operation: goniometer, serial crystallography and in-tray screening. The beamline will be powered by a 3m in-vacuum undulator. The proposed optical system will maximise flux at the sample position and the use of a secondary source aperture will allow rapid change in beam size. 

Beam size will be adjustable by use of Compound Refractive Lenses, which allow for rapid changes to the beam footprint without moving any reflective optics. In order to produce the required high flux the beamline will also utilise a double multilayer monochromator. This will increase the bandpass (energy width) and brightness of the X-ray beam; however, this will mean that Multi-wavelength Anomalous Dispersion (MAD) experiments will not be feasible.  The beamline will specialise in high flux, high-speed data collection on microcrystals with a high degree of automation for crystal location and data collection.1

Automated Systems at MX3:

This beamline is equipped with a ISARA robot from IRELEC.

Specifications of MX3 are:

  • Energy Range 10 to 15 keV
  • Full beam 8-2 microns (FWHM) at > 6e13 ph/s
  • Minimum beam 2x2 microns (FWHM) at > 1e13 ph/s
  • The MX3 beamline will be particularly useful in the study of proteins that are difficult to purify or have complex or changeable structures
  • Detector - Eiger2XE 16M
  • The core measurement capabilities of MX3 Include -
    • Single-pin goniometer experiments
    • In-tray screening using a tray holder on the goniometer
    • Fixed-target - using silicon ship-based sample holder
    • Injector collection - Crystals are introduced to the beam via a sample injector

Contacts

Dr Tom Caradoc-Davies

Mr Hima Cherukuvada

Other Links

Tools

We recommend the following tools for their compatibility and ease-of-use.

Recommended Accepted*
Puck Style Uni-Puck Uni-Puck
Mount/Loop Style MicroMounts™ & MicroLoops™ LD Any
Rod Length 18mm/SPINE Any
Base Style B5 B5
 *MX-Beamlines Retrieved December 8th, 2025.

Sample Preparation Kits

Convenient kits of compatible assemblies of MiTeGen recommended products

Beamline Sample Preparation Kits are available in 3 aperture size assortments based on your crystal sizes and include:

  • Assemblies of 100 Crystal Mounts, on 18 mm pins, available in the following assortment:
    • 20 x Dual-Thickness MicroLoops ™ LD  (5 each of 10, 20, 30 and 50 μm aperture sizes)
    • 40 x Dual-Thickness MicroMount ™ (10 each of 75, 100, 150 and 200 μm aperture sizes)
    • 20 x Dual-Thickness MicroLoops ™  (5 each of 300, 400, 500 and 600 μm aperture sizes)
    • 20 x MicroMeshes ™  (5 each of 10, 25, 50 and 25L μm aperture sizes)
  • Installed in 100 B5-R reusable bases or 100 regular bases
  • Packaged and stored in 5 MiTeGen base holders

Uni-puck Starter Kit 2 includes:

  • (7) Universal V-1 Pucks
  • (1) Double Puck Loading Dewar with Lid
  • (1) Puck Wand
  • (1) Puck Dewar Loading Tool
  • (1) Puck Separator Tools
  • (1) Shelved Puck Shipping Cane
  • (1) Bent Cryo-Tong
  • (1) Cryo Express Dry Shipper (CX100)
  • (1) Shipping case for CX100

*custom kits are available, contact MiTeGen with specific requests.

Order Beamline Kits