Micro-crystallography comes of age

► X-ray micro-beams permit structure determination from small or imperfect crystals. ► Robust micro-beams require source, optics and sample support to be extremely stable. ► Four different approaches to making a 1-20-μm beam have been implemented. ► A growing demand has led to ∼20 beamlines for micro-crystallography worldwide. ► Micro-beams enable data collection from LCP-grown crystals and crystals in situ.