Here is a summary of the responses I received regarding my inquiry
on NMRs used for teaching undergraduates. I received a number of
requests for copies of the responses, so I am simply going to post
the summary sans names for those who requested anonymity to the whole
group. I also have not included alternative proposals for simulated
spectrometers and off-line processing, as this was beyond the scope
of my initial query. I thank all who responded.
Jeff
Dr. Jeffrey H. Simpson jsimpson@mit.edu
Instrumentation Facility Director 617/253-1812 office
Department of Chemistry, 18-082 617/253-1806 lab
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 617/253-0873 fax
77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 USA
-----------------
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 1997 16:49:39 -0600 (CST)
From: Letitia Yao <letitia@nmr.chem.umn.edu>
> (1) how many NMRs are used for the undergraduate chemistry lab program?
two: most of the UG's get spectra from our 200, the honors lab gets to
use the 300. Undergrads doing independent research can use all the
instruments (5).
> (2) approximately how many students make use of NMR in the UG chem lab prog?
For the honors lab, 20-30.
For the classes, 100-200 each quarter
For independent researchers: maybe 50 or so.
I should point out that we have TAs that run the samples for
the students; they don't get to run them by themselves. The UGs who are
doing independent research do get to use the instruments by themselves.
They can run the autosamplers or use the other 3 hands-on instruments
after appropriate training (Varian Inova 500, Inova 300, VXR-300).
> (3) are they dedicated to the UG chem lab program?
No. (although most people will use the 200 ONLY if the 300 is too busy;
it mostly sits idle when there aren't teaching samples).
> (3a) if yes to (3), does your school have separate NMRs for research?
> (4) what are the NMRs used for the UG chem lab program (make, model, year)?
Varian Unity, 200 MHz, equipped with 100-slot autosampler
Varian Inova, 300 MHz, equipped with 50-slot autosampler
These used to be old (1980s) Brukers, updated to Varian within the last 2
years).
> (4a) if any of your NMRs are more than five years old, do they break down
> mid-semester and does this cause problems?
But of course! The problems are usually just a delay in when the students
get their spectra.
> (6) can I distribute your information?
yes.
Letitia J. Yao | letitia@nmr.chem.umn.edu
NMR Laboratory | yao@chem.umn.edu
Department of Chemistry | (612) 625-8374 (office)
University of Minnesota | (612) 626-7541 (fax)
-------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 1997 16:04:54 -0700
From: Ron Nieman <nieman@asu.edu>
Jeff,
We have a dedicated 200 and several workstations, just for undergrads.
Hands on as much as possible. In real crunches, T.A. assists, or we use
elaborate macros to simplify the process, but undergrads do their own data
analysis and processing on workstations. Everything from general organic
through advanced biochem, pchem, etc. 4 years, 7-900 students/year, ca.
20-30 hrs/wk use. Description on the lab can be found in my web site.
Good Luck
Dr. Ronald A. Nieman
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Box 871604, Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287-1604
(602) 965-3613 nieman@asu.edu
Fax: (602) 965-2747
http://asnmr4.la.asu.edu/nmr
www.asu.edu/clas/chemistry
www.public.asu.edu/~nieman
---------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 03 Nov 1997 22:45:42 CST
From: Robert D Scott <scott@iastate.edu>
Jeff,
We've got two EM-360 magnets with a console manufactured by
Anasazi instruments. The permanent magnets are low maintenance,
the console commands are a lot like the old Nic,,, but you can
automate it so they just push a few keys and plots come out,
and the consoles seem to be rock solid. Because they are pulsed
and the samples are concentrated, data is collected fast
so the lines are short (the EM360 lines were long) and the
students can run their own samples. We bought one,
and it was so popular that next year we bought another.
They are trying to have everyone collect nmr data in the organic labs
to make them more like the real world so they get used a lot during
the semester, idle most of the summer. I could ask if you want a
more accurate number. Undergraduates can use the
research instruments if they work in a research group but few do.
The pchem lab uses one of the research instruments (Bruker AC200) to
do a vt keto/enol experiment, about 10 3 hour blocks/year.
You can tell this to anyone.
dave scott
iowa state university
515-294-4057
----------------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 07:51:16 -0500
From: Jack Martin Miller <jmiller@sandcastle.cosc.BrockU.CA>
>(1) how many NMRs are used for the undergraduate chemistry lab program?
1 a Bruker AC 200
>(2) approximately how many students make use of NMR in the UG chem lab prog?
~65 hands on at various levels and samples for perhaps another 80
>(3) are they dedicated to the UG chem lab program?
not entirely -- some research as well, but in term research use tends to be
in the evenings and weekends. - mostly solutions work on nucleii not
available on the 300 solutions probe, e.g. boron.
>(3a) if yes to (3), does your school have separate NMRs for research?
Avance 300 5 nucleii solutions probe and full multinuclear cp/mas
>(4) what are the NMRs used for the UG chem lab program (make, model, year)?
Bruker AC 200 built in 1984 --- we bought it in 1986 --- was a Bruker
Canada demo unit.
>(4a) if any of your NMRs are more than five years old, do they break down
> mid-semester and does this cause problems?
main problem was disk drive --- we had seriously considered the tecmag
console replacement, but with the purchase of the 300 two years ago (at
which time we retired the old WP80CW proton only teaching machine which had
become very unreliable) we negotiated an upgrade with SCSSI bus and new
large disk drive and other upgrades --- this solved the major unreliability
problem. We have had a few console wirewrap problems and a few other
quircks but nothing we couldn't fix ourselves --- have never paid for a
service call on the machine --- have had a few board swaps. We managed to
move the magnet at field about 12 feet for the instalation of the new 300.
>(5) do you have any relevant (and humorous) anecdotes on this subject?
it has survived a tube breaking and leaking HF into the system and use with
our home built mas probes prior to the purchase of the 300. Also survives
students dropping a tube in when there already is one in the probe. It
still has a bug that it has had from the time we got it --- at the height
of the summer heat and humidity for about a week long period, as regular as
clockwork the decoupler is prone to lock on at random--- board swaps under
warranty seemed to fix it but back the next year -- usually we'd clean the
board contacts and try to discharge the offending component and the problem
would go away for another year.
Supercon magnet quenches are the equivalent of iron magnet cooling systems
getting plugged -- eg 25 years ago I had occasion to pump acid into the
plugged cooling coils of an old A60 at about 7-8000 psi with a hydraulic
pump -- and it survived for another 8 years. There appear to be a couple of
vendors who will do a FT upgrade on old permanent magnet systems --- these
should make ideal teaching machines -- if all that is needed is proton ---
my guess is that nobody remembers how to build probes for these things if
one wanted a proton/carbon probe though for UG work dewars and VT don't
usually enter the picture.
>(6) can I distribute your information?
yes
Jack Martin Miller
Professor of Chemistry
Adjunct Professor of Computer Science
Brock University,
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, L2S 3A1.
Phone (905) 688 5550, ext 3402
FAX (905) 682 9020
e-mail jmiller@sandcastle.cosc.brocku.ca
http://chemiris.labs.brocku.ca/~chemweb/faculty/miller/
------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 04 Nov 1997 09:59:56 -0800
From: Jim Breeyear <jbreeyea@zoo.uvm.edu>
> (1) how many NMRs are used for the undergraduate chemistry lab program?
2 NMRS
> (2) approximately how many students make use of NMR in the UG chem lab prog?
15
> (3) are they dedicated to the UG chem lab program?
NO
> (3a) if yes to (3), does your school have separate NMRs for research?
> (4) what are the NMRs used for the UG chem lab program (make, model, year)?
ARX-500 1993, WM-250 1981 Techmag upgraded
> (4a) if any of your NMRs are more than five years old, do they break down
> mid-semester and does this cause problems?
Not usually
> (5) do you have any relevant (and humorous) anecdotes on this subject?
> (6) can I distribute your information?
YES
Jim Breeyear Manager Inst. Lab.
Chemistry Dept Cook Building
Univ. of Vermont
Burlington, Vt. 05405
Tel:802-656-0196
-------------------------------
From: "leonard charles dickinson" <charlie@telemann.pse.umass.edu>
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 09:40:56 -0500
> (1) how many NMRs are used for the undergraduate chemistry lab program?
Less than One
> (2) approximately how many students make use of NMR in the UG chem lab prog?
6 or so affiliated with research groups: one classes has a module of one or
two sessions on the AC200 ( our least advanced NMR)
> (3) are they dedicated to the UG chem lab program?
No such machine
> (3a) if yes to (3), does your school have separate NMRs for research?
> (4) what are the NMRs used for the UG chem lab program (make, model, year)?
> (4a) if any of your NMRs are more than five years old, do they break down
> mid-semester and does this cause problems?
AC200 is just keeps on going...
> (5) do you have any relevant (and humorous) anecdotes on this subject?
> (6) can I distribute your information?
Yes
|Dr. L.Charles Dickinson voice mail and office (413)577-1428 |
|Director of NMR Instrumentation lab telephones(413)545-0630, -5413 |
|Conte National Center for Polymer Research 577-2622 (622Conte) |
|Department of Polymer Science and Engineering fax (413)5450082 |
|University of Massachusetts office Conte Rm A428 |
|Amherst MA 01003 USA charlie@telemann.pse.umass.edu |
-----------------------
Date: Tue, 04 Nov 1997 09:52:02 -0500
From: Robert Santini <santini@chem.purdue.edu>
Hi Jeff,
FYI -- We have a Gemini 200 1-H/13C spectrometer dedicated to undergraduate
labs. It is used on the off-hours by some graduate students.
--Bob Santini
Robert E. Santini, Director of Instrumentation
Department of Chemistry, BRWN-1393
Purdue University
W. Lafayette, IN 47907-1393
E-mail santini@chem.purdue.edu
Voice: (765) 494-5227
Facsimile: (765) 494-9388
-------------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 11:30:05 -0500 (EST)
From: Juergen Schulte <schulte@binghamton.edu>
> (1) how many NMRs are used for the undergraduate chemistry lab program?
One for hands-on experience (Bruker AC-300),
one which I am using for demonstrations (Bruker AM-360).
> (2) approximately how many students make use of NMR in the UG chem lab prog?
Spring: 4 groups of 3 students with ten 3-hour assignments each.
15 groups of 10 students: demonstration only
Fall: 16 groups of 3 students with two 3-hour assignments each.
15 groups of 10 students: demonstration only
Summer: 5 groups of 10 students: demonstration only
> (3) are they dedicated to the UG chem lab program?
AC-300 maybe 25%
> (3a) if yes to (3), does your school have separate NMRs for research?
> (4) what are the NMRs used for the UG chem lab program (make, model, year)?
Bruker AC-300, 1985
> (4a) if any of your NMRs are more than five years old, do they break down
> mid-semester and does this cause problems?
No major incidents yet.
> (5) do you have any relevant (and humorous) anecdotes on this subject?
The gauges that are used to measure the height of the samples in the
spinner (at least the ones we have with our Bruker NMRs) have one design
flaw: they seem to give some students the impression, that they have to
insert the whole thing into the magnet.
Of course it is just too heavy to eject it with the sample lift, and it
fits so snugly, that you have to remove the probe and the shim assembly
from the magnet before you can get to it.
After having done this twice, I thaught, it might be a good idea to wrap
some tape around it to make its diameter bigger.
> (6) can I distribute your information? >
Sure.
Juergen Schulte ! !
NMR Specialist U
Department of Chemistry ~
SUNY Binghamton Phone: (607) 777-4405
Binghamton, NY 13902-6016 Fax: (607) 777-4478
schulte@binghamton.edu schulte@chemiris.chem.binghamton.edu
----------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 09:13:42 -0800 (PST)
From: leroy@sundown.sdsu.edu (F. LeRoy Lafferty)
Hi Jeff,
This is LeRoy Lafferty from San Diego State University, responding to your
questionnaire.
Q1: We have one nmr used for UG teaching.
Q2: Approximately 60 to 80 students each semester use this nmr.
Q3: No. This nmr is used for both UG work and research.
Q3A: We have two other nmr's dedicated to research.
Q4:
UG/RES: Varian GEMINI 2000-BB 1990
RES: Varian INOVA 500 1995
RES: Chemagnetics A-200 1984
Q4A:
GEMINI 2000 Only one major breakdown. The summer of
1996 we had a bad cable / back plane connection
that took Varian one month to find.
A-200 The electronics have had it! But, I and an
electronic technician keep it running. The
magnet is in outstanding shape. The boil-off
rates are still the same as when it was new, 13
years ago.
Q5: GEMINI 2000 This instrument is over-worked. Also, it is
abused by UG's. We need a good reservation
system. In the near future, we will be using a
sample changer. We try to get students to
remotely process data, using Power Macs
running X-Windows. At the moment I would
like to trash the variable temperature system.
The software needs to re-booted weekly because
of "out of memory" problems. The software
does not seem to make "freed-up" memory
available for future uses. If I did not "baby" this
instrument (ie. liq He every 7-8 weeks), it would
be down often.
Q6: Yes.
LeRoy
F. LeRoy Lafferty, Ph.D. (619) 594-5989
Director of Analytical Services leroy@sundown.sdsu.edu
Chemistry Department
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-1030
---------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 11:23:30 -0600
From: Steve Philson <philson@chem.umn.edu>
> (1) how many NMRs are used for the undergraduate chemistry lab program?
One 200 MHz with auto-sampler.
> (2) approximately how many students make use of NMR in the UG chem lab prog?
Hundreds.
> (3) are they dedicated to the UG chem lab program?
No.
> (3a) if yes to (3), does your school have separate NMRs for research?
Several.
> (4) what are the NMRs used for the UG chem lab program (make, model, year)?
Originally, a Bruker AC-200 with auto-sampler, vintage ca. 1986. A year and
a half ago the console was upgraded to a (used) Varian Unity, along with a
new Varian sample changer.
> (4a) if any of your NMRs are more than five years old, do they break down
> mid-semester and does this cause problems?
There is a similar 300 MHz instrument with sample changer that can serve if
the 200 goes down (though this possibility has only existed since the
upgrade).
> (5) do you have any relevant (and humorous) anecdotes on this subject?
> (6) can I distribute your information?
Yes.
Our department used to use devoted CW machines for the undergrad labs, but
we decided in '85 when we purchased the Bruker AC's that the auto-sampler
could serve us for running the undergrad lab samples. We ultimately ended
up using it for research as well, but it did serve the goal we had in mind
quite well. I'm not sure if the CW instruments are even still usable, or if
anyone remembers how to use them. We tried several modes of operation, but
ended up having the T.A.s from the undergrad labs set up the samples on the
changer (we normally have them wait until after 4 p.m. if they are setting
up several dozen at a time). The students weren't really learning much
about NMR by setting up their own samples, and even the minimal training
needed for the autosampler was quite a burden on us, given the volume of
students. It was also too easy for one mistake to stop the entire system,
so that no subsequent samples were run unless someone was around to correct
the error.
Good luck.
Steve Philson philson@nmr.chem.umn.edu
Director NMR Lab 612-626-0297
Chemistry Dept. University of Minnesota
---------------------------
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 12:46:48 -0700
Jeff,
>(1) how many NMRs are used for the undergraduate chemistry lab program?
-1 Varian 300 Gemini-2000BB (dedicated)
-1 Varian EM360
>(2) approximately how many students make use of NMR in the UG chem lab prog?
- 50
>(3) are they dedicated to the UG chem lab program?
yes
>(3a) if yes to (3), does your school have separate NMRs for research?
yes
>(4) what are the NMRs used for the UG chem lab program (make, model, year)?
1992 Varian Gemini-300BB upgraded in 1997 to Gemini-2000 Data system
>(4a) if any of your NMRs are more than five years old, do they break down
> mid-semester and does this cause problems?
yes, yes...our Gemini is broken right now. We zerox the way you do and
hope none of the parents call up to complain about the exhoribitant tech
fees we charge.
>(5) do you have any relevant (and humorous) anecdotes on this subject?
nothing humorous about it! 'course, looking back that will change.
>(6) can I distribute your information?
please cut my name and institution.
----------------------
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 11:50:31 -0800 (PST)
From: "T. Pratum" <pratum@u.washington.edu>
Jeff:
> (1) how many NMRs are used for the undergraduate chemistry lab program?
1 NMR for course work.
> (2) approximately how many students make use of NMR in the UG chem lab prog?
I would guess it is about 200/quarter.
> (3) are they dedicated to the UG chem lab program?
One instrument (dpx200) has priority for UG teaching, but is also used for
research in the evenings, weekends and quarter breaks.
> (3a) if yes to (3), does your school have separate NMRs for research?
Most NMRs are used for research purposes (750, 2x500, 2x300, 200)
> (4) what are the NMRs used for the UG chem lab program (make, model, year)?
Bruker dpx200, vintage 1995.
> (4a) if any of your NMRs are more than five years old, do they break down
> mid-semester and does this cause problems?
The instrument used for this purpose is not old enough to have too many
problems, but it has had some that have caused delays in coursework.
> (5) do you have any relevant (and humorous) anecdotes on this subject?
Sorry, nothing here
> (6) can I distribute your information?
Sure, no problem.
Tom Pratum
Dept of Chemistry
Box 351700
Univ of Washington
pratum@u.washington.edu
http://weber.u.washington.edu/~pratum
------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 04 Nov 1997 14:08:22 -0700
From: Kenner Christensen <kenner@U.Arizona.EDU>
(1) Two
(2) About 500 total. We get two batches of 400 samples and several
smaller batches of samples per semester which we run on an autosampler. In
addition about 100 undergraduate students in the majors level courses are
trained to run their own samples on the Gemini-200. The T-60 is used only
for p-chem instrumentation labs.
(3) Yes, but graduate students can run the Gemini at lower priority than
undergraduates. We have three additional research spectrometers.
(4) Gemini-200 (1993), T-60 (1970)
(6) yes
Kenner Christensen
Chemistry Department NMR Facility
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona 85721
(520) 621-2308
------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 04 Nov 1997 08:18:36 -0800 (PST)
From: Wayne Steinmetz <WSTEINMETZ@POMONA.EDU>
Pomona is a small liberal arts college and the department rarely distinguishes
between research and instructional equipment. We only have one NMR. Our first
NMR, a Varian A60, provided faithful service for ca. 20 years. It was replaced
with a Varian FT80A, a dog which gave problems from the beginning. The FT80A
was replaced with a QE-300 which has served us well for 9 years. The QE-300
is an orphan child and is showing its age. It will replaced in December with
a Bruker 400 MHz unit with a DPX Avance console, single-axis gradient
accessory, and an inverse-detection probe. Both NSF and internal funds
were used to finance the latest purchase. Our previous NMR's were
purchased using internal funds.
------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 04 Nov 1997 15:50:38 -0800
From: Chris Greenwood <cgreenwo@uvic.ca>
Dear Dr. Simpson,
We recently replaced three ancient Perkin-Elmer R12's used for
undergraduate teaching with a reconditioned Bruker AC250. It was becoming
increasingly difficult to find replacement parts for the R12's, and
maintenance was increasing. In addition, UVic runs an extensive CO-OP
program, with most of our better students enrolled. We were finding that
students returning from work terms with (for example) pharmaceutical
companies where they used state-of-the-art instrumentation were somewhat
scornful of the old CW instruments they were expected to use during their
University term.
Three years ago we installed an AC300 with an automatic sample changer as a
routine 1H/13C instrument for the researcher in the Department, and have
been very pleased with the results. The instrument has proved to be a real
workhorse with virtually no down-time except for routine maintenance, and
so we decided to use the same system for the undergraduate NMR, although
finances dictated a used system rather than a new one.
With respect to your specific questions:
1. We have one undergraduate instrument.
2. It is used by approximately 70 students in the Fall term,
approximately 100 students in the Spring term, and by approximately 20
students in the Summer term (we run some courses in the Summer to
accommodate CO-OP students).
3. Although it is officially an undergraduate instrument, and
undergraduates have priority, research personnel are allowed to use it
during off-hours.
3a. Yes, we have 3 NMR's for research, all made by Bruker; we have a
WM250 (circa 1979), used for routine heteronuclear work; an AMX360
(circa 1989), used primarily for non-routine spectra; and an AC300
(circa 1994), used for routine 1H/13C.
4. The undergrad instrument is a reconditioned AC250 with a new sample
changer, installed late spring 1997.
4a. In general, we have had very few major breakdowns with any of the
instruments. However:
-The magnet o-ring failed on the WM250 in the early 1980's. It
has been trouble free since then, with no increase in helium
boil-off or other signs of trouble.
-The hard disk on the undergraduate NMR failed several months
after installation. It was replaced under warranty, but we were
out of service while Bruker located a replacement (a potential
source of problems with a reconditioned instrument). As we have
two of these instruments in the Department, our Instrument Shop
located a source selling the drives and has bought two of them
as spares. If the drive were to fail again, I would anticipate
that the instrument would be out of service for only about 24
hours. This would consist of an hour or two to replace the
drive, an overnight disk test and 2-3 hours of my time to
completely reload the software, including all my customized
automation software which is backed up on floppies.
5. Sorry, no relevant anecdotes!
6. Yes you may summarize my information.
May I also offer some suggestions:
1. I strongly recommend using an automated system for undergraduate
teaching, with a basic printout from the instrument. Such a instrument
is incredibly efficient, and can produce vast quantities of spectra. If
users want further information, they can call the spectra over to a PC
and do further manipulation there. We use WIN-NMR, which we have found
to be very robust and relatively user-friendly.
2. A basic system (such as the AC) is much less complicated than a
high-end NMR, and will probably yield fewer problems.
3. Before we bought the research AC, I visited Varian for a demo. The
applications chemist seemed to be very particular about the positioning
of samples in the tray of the sample changer. The Varian changer works
by moving the robot arm from sample to sample, necessitating careful
positioning. The Bruker carousel moves, and is somewhat less finicky
(probably better for undergraduates).
4. After conversations with a number of people who had used bar- code
readers, we opted for a menu-driven system. It is more obvious to the
user whether or not they have done the right thing. This is
particularly true if your students run samples in a wide variety of
solvents. In addition, the system is inherently simpler (less to go
wrong).
5. After the demos, I did think that Varian's software was definitely
more user-friendly, but Bruker's was acceptable. We had a terrible demo
from Varian, so nice software was unfortunately not enough to sell us on
the instrument.
6. After nearly 3 years with our first system of this sort, I have found
that minimal routine maintenance keeps the system nearly trouble-free.
This includes keeping the robot arm well-lubricated and changing the
sample pincher o-ring quarterly -- both easy to schedule around a Lab
program.
I hope that this information is of use to you.
Regards,
Chris Greenwood
Chemistry
------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 05 Nov 1997 07:32:58 -0400 (EDT)
From: RDUDLEY <rdudley@ARSERRC.Gov>
Jeff,
I find it very interesting that the T60 is still working. It is one
of the best CW instruments ever made.
While I am not in an acedemic position I do work with a number of
schools in the Philadelphia area. Many still have 60 Mhz CW
instruments with computers. I have alway felt that they should spend
the extra money and get a 200 MHz FT NMR spectrometer. We have a
Gemini-200 in our lab. It has only C13 and proton capabilities, but
it is open to anyone in our research center. It has been used and
abused by a large number of people and students from several local
colleges and it just keeps on going. In five years we have had only
teo problems, on while under warrenty (bad cable) and one we had to
pay for ourselves (heater circuit in probe went).
I should also mention that we can train just about anybody to run the
spectrometer in 10 minutes. For the whole 2-D menu 20 minutes.
Bob Dudley
rdudley@arserrc.gov
------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 1997 09:41:47 -0800 (PST)
From: lew cary <lcary@chem.unr.edu>
Jeff: We have an ancient varian em360 only for ug's. It is used in organic
chem lab. For higher level ug courses we have used the least used research
instruments such as an AF80. It was given to another college. So, nowadays
we schedule blocks of time on our QE300/Tecmag because its so easy to use.
We have not experienced much down time.
I would like to replace the QE with a mercury400 or so. Money
however seems to be available for teaching equipment, and not as easily
for research upgrades. So, I may try to get a mercury for ug use and then
use it for research too.
We have an aging GN300 and few use it because of ease of use (not
to mention s/n).
If you come up with any funding ideas I would welcome your
suggestions. Cheers, Lew
------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 09:31:43 -0500
From: Thomas Gallaher <gallahtn@jmu.edu>
Jeff,
I hope some of the following will be useful in your quest for an NMR:
(1) how many NMRs are used for the undergraduate chemistry lab program?
Two
(2) approximately how many students make use of NMR in the UG chem lab
prog? ~100/semester
(3) are they dedicated to the UG chem lab program? No, both instruments
are used for teaching and research.
(4) what are the NMRs used for the UG chem lab program (make, model,
year)?
Our first instrument(~10 years old now) was a Bruker AC-200 which
recently has been upgraded to an AMX console with an Indy computer. Our
new(summer '97) NMR is a DRX-400. Both instruments are equipped with
5mm BB probes. We run quite a few multi-nuclear experiments. Current
projects include 2H, 7Li, 27Al, 195Pt, and 31P as well as the usual
proton and carbon experiments. The research students do their on probe
tuning, etc. The rookies don't touch the probe.
(4a) if any of your NMRs are more than five years old, do they break
down
mid-semester and does this cause problems? We had very good service on
the AC system. It was used very heavily and rarely failed. It will
take a couple of years to know how reliable the upgraded, and new
instrument, turn out to be.
(5) do you have any relevant (and humorous) anecdotes on this subject?
We had one student insert the depth gauge, spinner and NMR tube all into
the probe! I had to take out the shim stack to remove everything. No
damage was done but I soon had our shop fabricate several depth gauges
with LARGE flat bases.
(6) can I distribute your information? yes
If I can provide any additional information please feel free to email
me.
Good luck,
Tom
Thomas N. Gallaher Phone: 540-568-3683
James Madison University FAX: 540-568-7938
Department of Chemistry, MSC 7701 email: gallahtn@jmu.edu
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
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