The apparatus consists of four trays, with 20 crystallization chambers per tray. Each chamber employs a triple-barrel syringe to mix tiny amounts of chemicals. One barrel contains a protein solution, another a precipitant solution, and the third is used as the mixing chamber. Each syringe protrudes into an experiment chamber lined with an absorbent reservoir containing precipitant solution. The unit can maintain temperatures within a half degree of the control setting.
Temperature is controlled by thermal electric and forced air cooling.
The facility supports approximately 28 pounds of experiment apparatus.