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The highest quality autogrid/c-clip rings
Use Case: Single Particle Analysis
Microscopes: Autoloader-based cryoTEM imaging (Krios, Glacios, Arctica, Tundra)
Benefits: Provide rigid structure to assemble around the flimsy cryoEM grid that can safely be manipulated by autoloader
Advantages of NanoSoft Version:
The original Autogrid Rings, also often called C-clip Rings, or less often O-rings or Washers, were introduced with the high-throughput, autoloader-based cryoEM instruments from Thermo Fisher (FEI), to provide a robust carrier for frozen TEM grids for handling with the autoloader robotics. Vitrified TEM grids are assembled, ubiquitously called "clipped", and held into the Autogrid Ring with a c-clip (sometimes called a spring). This assembly is carried out with a clipping tool and a clipping station, all under liquid nitrogen, or some people prefer the cold gas phase above liquid nitrogen.
NanoSoft has developed a manufacturing process with cutting edge technologies, along with multiple inspection processes, including a visual inspection on 100% of rings by NanoSoft experts, all of which results in unmatched Autogrid Ring dimensional consistency and surface quality. Thermo Fisher autogrid rings, and another 3rd party supplier's autogrid rings, were found to be 5x more variable than NanoSoft's (see graphs). More concerning, 30% of the rings from the 3rd party competitor (of 100 inspected by NanoSoft's quality team) would have been rejected by NanoSoft's quality standards, due to significant surface defects, including some that affect thermal contact with the grid and could result in sample devitrification (see groove in surface circled in red in "Other 3rd Party" images at right). Not all 3rd party autogrid rings are equal.
NanoSoft has priced Autogrid Rings well below the Thermo Fisher price, however price is not everything. Don't jeopardize your cryoEM simply for a better price - balance better pricing with the highest quality to never have microscope downtime. 100,000's of NanoSoft Autogrid Rings have now been successfully used in autoloaders - trust the highest quality autogrid rings available.
Autogrid Rings made specifically for samples that needed to be milled in a dual beam/Focused Ion Beam prior to imaging in a TEM were introduced to enable handling within autoloaders post-milling. The original FIB Autogrid Rings from Thermo Fisher Scientific (FEI) included a small notch on the flat side of the ring. The notch was at a shallow angle such that the ion beam for milling could reach more of the grid at shallow angles. Furthermore, for optimal tomography of samples downstream from FIB milling, a 90 degree rotation of the sample is required between the FIB and TEM. The OEM FIB Autogrid Rings have surface markings to aid in this orientation visually in cryo workstations.
NanoSoft's FIB Autogrid Rings have a patented design, whereby rather than a small notch with an angled face (see circled in red in image below), there is an angled face around the entire circumference of the ring. This geometry provides a major improvement for milling. Less sample area at the edge of the grid is blocked from ion beam access, so more cells/sample is available for milling/imaging versus the Thermo Fisher FIB Autogrid Ring. Furthermore, lower angled milling is possible across large areas of the grid, such that larger lamellae are possible.
In addition to milling benefits, the NanoSoft FIB Autogrid Ring has signficantly darker markings on the surface, such that the orientation of the sample visually under LN2 in workstations is much easier.
A second type of autogrid ring made specifically for FIB milling applications with downstream TEM imaging or tomography, called a TomoGrid, has been described by Thermo Fisher Scientific since the announcement of their high-throughput Arctis cryoFIB. To enable higher throughput milling of thick samples and downstream TEM analysis, an autoloader cassette is used to load samples into the Arctis FIB (amongst other system optimization), enabling the insertion of 12 samples simultaneously into the system, instead of the 2 samples loaded manually onto shuttles used on traditional cryoFIBs, e.g. Aquilos or Hydra. Furthermore, to ensure appropriate sample orientation with this higher throughput, the TomoGrid has two flat, parallel sides, providing surfaces that can be used as a datum to orient the samples appropriately with certainty, instead of orienting by eye as with the FIB Autogrid Ring. To date (February 2026) there are no public announcements of the TomoGrids being openly available for purchase from Thermo Fisher, however NanoSoft is already making high-quality, consistent TomoGrids. If interested, please reach out to NanoSoft and your Thermo Fisher sales representative.
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