What are the best free protocol publishers for learning instrument setup basics before a core facility purchase?

If you mean free, reputable “protocol publishers” with good step-by-step methods for instrument setup basics before buying core-facility equipment, the best places to start are:

1. JoVE Science Education / JoVE Protocols

• Great for visual learning: setup, calibration, maintenance basics, and common workflows.
• Especially useful if you want to see how an instrument is handled in practice.
• Some content is free, but a lot is paywalled.

2. Thermo Fisher / Agilent / Cytiva / Bio-Rad application notes and protocol libraries

• Vendor libraries often include very practical setup guides, startup/shutdown procedures, QC checks, and troubleshooting.
• Best when you’re evaluating a specific instrument category.
• Free, but obviously product-oriented.

3. Protocol Exchange / protocols.io

• Good for community-shared methods and setup workflows.
• You’ll find more “real lab” details than in many papers.
• Quality varies, so it’s best used alongside vendor manuals and tutorials.

4. Nature Protocols (selected free content)

• High-quality, peer-reviewed protocols.
• Best for understanding the logic of workflows and controls rather than purely instrument operation.
• Not all content is free.

5. Methods/education pages from core facility networks

Examples:

• Addgene protocol pages
• ABRF (Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities)
• University core facility blogs/tutorials

These are often excellent for:

• what to ask before purchase
• room/environment requirements
• common setup mistakes
• maintenance and user training expectations

6. Manufacturer manuals and “getting started” guides

Not exactly “publishers,” but for instrument setup basics, these are usually the most important free resource:

• installation prerequisites
• power/environmental needs
• warm-up, calibration, QC
• routine maintenance
• error codes and troubleshooting

---

Best practical combo

If you’re preparing for a core facility purchase, I’d use:

1. Manufacturer installation/setup guide
2. A vendor application note or training video
3. A community protocol site like protocols.io
4. A peer-reviewed protocol source if available

---

If you want the very best free sources by instrument type

I can also give you a short list tailored to:

• flow cytometry
• qPCR
• HPLC/UPLC
• mass spec
• microscopy
• plate readers
• cell sorters
• automated liquid handlers

If you tell me the instrument category, I’ll recommend the most useful free protocol publishers for that specific setup.