Abstract: A bead furnace has a furnace with a furnace chamber 4 and opening 6. A closure assembly 20 is provided on closure assembly 22. The closure assembly has a blank closure element 26 and an active closure element 32 on different sides of the closure assembly, each matching the opening 6. A crucible holder 44 with a detent for holding a crucible and a mold holder 60 for holding a mold are provided on the active face. The closure assembly moves between two states, a load state with the blank closure element 26 in the furnace opening and an operation state with the active closure element 32 in the furnace opening with the crucible and mold in the furnace. The closure assembly can agitate the crucible contents and then tip the crucible to pour fused contents into the mold.

Abstract: An apparatus for presenting a sample of material for analysis by a laser-based analyzer comprises a chamber, a first window for admitting laser radiation to the chamber, sample presentation means for presenting a sample such that said laser radiation can impinge upon the sample, and a plurality of second windows (76,78,80,82) for receiving radiation emitted from the sample, said plurality of second windows (76,78, 80,82) adapted to pass radiation emitted from the sample to a plurality of detector means. The apparatus further includes a gas inlet (98) and a gas outlet (100) to enable the atmosphere inside the chamber (52) to be controlled.