A disposable frame in a multianvil 6–6 assembly for a cubic-type multianvil press

We have recently developed a unique frame for high-pressure experiments using a multianvil press in a 6-6 compression assembly. This provides breakthrough efficiency (a 90% reduction in time) when setting up (or exchanging) a sample. Such improvement is of critical importance when using joint-research facilities, such as a synchrotron radiation facility, where machine time is severely limited. The critical ingredient of the assembly was a plastic frame employed as a substitute for a previously used metallic frame. However, unlike a metallic frame, a plastic frame was found to deteriorate and be not reusable after a blowout. This situation led us to develop an inexpensive frame (a 40% reduction in cost) suitable for experiments, in which a blowout finish may be anticipated. We propose the adoption of both the previous and the newly developed frames as the situation demands.