Abstract: A laser desorption ionization instrument for measuring the molecular weight of large organic molecules includes a time of flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. The time of flight mass spectrometer includes a sample lock for holding, under vacuum, a plurality of samples to be analyzed. A sample may be inserted into and removed from the sample lock and into the mass spectrometer without breaking vacuum in the spectrometer. Signal processing electronics of the LDIM instrument include means for identifying quasi-molecular species of a molecule being measured. The instrument includes improvements in ion optics, microchannel plate detectors, laser irradiation of samples, and preparation of samples for measurement.