From: Dr. Neil Errington <neil.errington@nottingham.ac.uk>
  To  : rasmb@bbri.org
  Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 09:08:25 +0100

Re: Quartz windows

>Hello Everyone,
>
>We are interested in purchasing quartz windows from a
>supplier in the UK at a cheaper price than from
>Beckman.  The company is TSL Group plc from Tyne &
>Wear.  Have others used these folks before for quartz
>windows?  How good is the data, interference and
>absorbance?  Any problems with the windows insofar as
>higher fragility, less scratch resistance, etc?
>
>Any information returned will be appreciated.
>
>Jason-Thomas Eppel
>Madeline A. Shea Laboratory
>Department of Biochemistry
>University of Iowa, IA, USA
>===
>"The limitation of tyrants is the endurance of those they oppose."
>    -----Frederick Douglass
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com
>

Dear Jason

there was no return address with your mail so I sent it back to the group.

We use these windows all the time in the XL-A, though not in the XL-i for
interference work (we stick to sapphire windows for that). I have had very
little trouble with the windows from TSL, the only problem is when running
at very high speed (55-60000rpm) for long periods. The absorbance data
becomes more noisy at these speeds and the windows are prone to damage in
prolonged use. They have never failed during a run at high speed but some
very fine cracks appeared when run continuously at 60k for 25-30 hours.
Given the much reduced cost of these windows and these few problems I think
them well worth using. If you run routinely at very high speed however, you
may experience problems more often.

Hope this helps

Neil Errington


**************************************************
Dr Neil Errington
Manager, NCMH Business Centre
School of Biological Sciences
University of Nottingham
Sutton Bonington
Leicestershire.
LE12 5RD. UK

Tel: +44 (0)115 951 6156
Fax: +44 (0)115 951 6157
URL: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/ncmh/business

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