Mike,

        I thought I should add on to what Steve Cooke already said.  We are
just now getting our CAPS automated carbonate prep system up to speed.  It
is performing with impressive results, including the acid dosing valve.
The precision of replicated standards is on the order of 0.01 o/oo for d13C
and 0.03 o/oo for d18O. Really.  HOWEVER, because of a leak in the external
inlet cold finger, sample size is limited to rather large (>3 mg) carbonate
samples.  That's a lot of forams.  I am confident that once the replacement
part arrives that sample size should decline (and probably that impressive
precision--let's be real).  I know the GEO 20/20 as it stands now can
analyze samples less than 50 nmoles (50 µg CaCO3) with reliable accuracy
when the internal cold finger is engaged.  The acid dosing valve will need
work in the future because it suffers from a "spitting" problem (i.e.,the
phenomenon where the acid dribbles into the next sample when it is being
evacuated). The redesign which involves a purge,should take care of this
problem.
        I have had considerable experience with the operation, maintenance,
and repair (and not necessarily in that order!) of the Finnigan Kiel
automated carbonate extraction device. I have spent a LOT of time working
on two different first generation Kiel devices.  So I feel I'm in a good
position to compare the two machines. I can't speak of the recent versions
of the Kiel (II and III), but I know the principles are the same.  It is
obvious that the relative simplicity of the CAPS will keep maintenance time
and costs down (think gold valve seats v. NuPro valves) and the results
don't seem to be compromised by the simple line (leaking CF excepted).
Because the micro-coldfinger on the Kiel was plumbed directly to the inlet
via a capillary, the GEO/CAPS system won't ever allow you to get down to
the sizes (10-20 µg) you can run on the Kiel.  Plus you can load the Kiel
with twice as many samples.  But, then there's the software...Nope, I'm not
getting into that can of worms.
        I have had very good experience with support for both machines to
this date.  Of course I have spent more time with the Kiel and thus have
had more need to get support, but the majority of the problems have been
resolved over the phone and through the mail.
        I'd rather not go on and on, so Mike, stop by in the lab and you
can check this out first hand.  Anyone else who happens by this note can
stop by too.  Ithaca is centrally isolated and right on the way to nowhere.

Jim






In response to Mike Cheathman's posting, we have had our Europa 20-20 for a
>bit over 2 years (we purchased the first machine) as a replacement for our
>aging (25yr old) VG602 and we are delighted with it.  It is easy to use and
>service, and about 10 times more sensitive than the VG602, and has good
>linearity.  Precision we have found to be  better than specified by Europa.
>Make sure that you have the modified inlet (standard on the GEO) as the
>original designed for continuous flow machines has too long a response time
>which will be noticeable if you try to run samples that are significantly
>enriched or depleted compared to the reference.  A useful modification would
>be to have a reference gas cylinder and gas pipette built in.
>
>The instrument is very easy to use - software clear, and we have made some
>suggestions to Europa for further ease of use which have been incorporated
>into later software versions.  The macros used to run the instrument in an
>automatic capacity are user writable - indeed, we wrote the ones Europa is
>currently using.
>
>Since our main interest is in carbonates, we have had Europa build us an
>automated on line preparation system (CAPS) using our basic design as they
>offered a price comparable to what we had estimated it would cost us to
>build one ourselves, and very much under the
>cost offered by either Finnigan Mat or VG.  We have thoroughly tested the
>CAPS and identified a few problems which we have passed on to Europa, the
>principal one being the reliability of the acid dosing system.  This we have
>redesigned and tested and have shipped a copy of to Crewe for Europa's
>evaluation.  If they like the design, they may either manufacture it under
>licence or we may supply them directly.  These matters are still under
>negotiation. The other points are relatively minor, and we're sure that
>Europa is addressing them for future instruments.
>
>We are currently testing the CAPS, and included in the test will be a
>determination of the minimum sample size. We suspect that 10ug however will
>be too small, although we have successfully run samples as small as a single
>specimen of the planktonic foramifera <italic>Globeratalia
>bulloides</italic>.  We are currently running planktic (mostly bulloides)
>and benthic (usually cibicides or uvigerinas) foraminifera, the usual rule
>of thumb being at least 10 benthics or 20 planktics
>
>Servicing has not really been a problem despite our distance from Europa -
>we have a really good electronics technician, who visited Europa for
>training at the time of purchase, and was supplied with relevant electronic
>schematics and drawings.  We have had to do nothing but basic routine
>maintenance on it so far, and have just replaced a turbo pump and some pilot
>valves.  If there is a trickier problem, email communication with Europa
>usually brings a prompt response.  Most of the minor repairs so far have
>required parts obtainable locally - only a water-damaged circuit board has
>needed factory spare parts, and that arrived within a week.
>
>In summary, the Europa 20-20 we have found to be a very accurate, reliable
>and easy to use instrument, and have had good support from the company, but
>we do have good on-site technical support.
>
>Steve Cooke
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Department of Earth Sciences                    phone +64-7-838-4024
>University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105,        fax   +64-7-856-0115
>Hamilton, New Zealand                           mob   +64-25-712-353
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------



Jim Burdett
Cornell Laboratory for Stable Isotope Analysis
120 Boyce Thompson Intitute
Tower Rd.
Ithaca NY  14853


Telephone:  (607)  254-6732
FAX:  (607)  254-1382