Abstract: A nebuliser comprises an outlet aperture and a liquid capillary. A method of operating the nebuliser comprises supplying a gas to the outlet aperture, measuring a flow rate of the gas supplied to the outlet aperture, and determining a position of the liquid capillary relative to the outlet aperture based on the measured flow rate.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer comprising: a vacuum chamber; and an ion inlet assembly for transmitting analyte ions into the vacuum chamber; wherein the spectrometer is configured to operate in a cooling mode in which it selectively controls one or more gas flow to the ion inlet assembly for actively cooling the ion inlet assembly.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer comprising: a vacuum chamber; and an ion inlet assembly for transmitting analyte ions into the vacuum chamber; wherein the spectrometer is configured to operate in a cooling mode in which it selectively controls one or more gas flow to the ion inlet assembly for actively cooling the ion inlet assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bench-top time of flight mass spectrometer. In embodiments, there is provided a solvent bottle mounting assembly configured so that a user can press a solvent bottle onto the solvent bottle mounting assembly in order to mount the solvent bottle to the mass spectrometer. Other embodiments relate to a vacuum arrangement comprising first and second vacuum chambers with respective first and second vacuum pumps wherein a backing line for the second vacuum pump is connected to the first vacuum chamber such that the second vacuum pump is backed to the first vacuum chamber. Also disclosed in a method of manufacturing a lens plate or electrode wherein a substrate is chemically etched to reduce a sharp cusp to provide a smoother edge profile.