It is Inexpensive to Operate Unlike many of today's analytical techniques, the Prodigy DC Arc is exceptionally inexpensive to operate. There are no special lamps, no chemicals, glassware or sample cones to replace. There are no expensive vacuum components to fail or maintain and you don't need Ph.D. scientist to run it. Apart from your sample, some graphite electrodes, small quantities of argon or oxygen gas, there are few consumables associated with the Prodigy DC Arc. This means the overall cost of ownership will be very low when compared to other techniques.