Benchtop Microplate Shaker

What is the Benchtop Microplate Shaker?

A benchtop microplate shaker is a compact single-plate unit for routine mixing in assays. It is chosen for individual workstations where one plate is handled at a time during routine laboratory assays.

Overview

The benchtop microplate shaker holds one standard 96-well plate on a small platform with clips or a rubber mat, at speeds of 100 to 1200 rpm and an orbit of about 2 mm. A brushless motor drives an eccentric bearing, and closed-loop control holds speed against load. Controls are simple: a speed knob or digital setting and a timer or short-run button, with pulse mode on some models. Power is low, usually 20 to 60 W, and the unit is small enough to sit beside a plate reader. It suits ELISA, immunoassays and cell assays where plates are mixed one at a time, and it is common on shared assay benches in clinical and research laboratories.

How does it work?

A microplate shaker moves a small platform at high frequency with a short orbit, typically 1.5 to 3 mm, so each well is agitated without splashing liquid out of the small volume. A brushless motor turns an eccentric bearing, and the platform is held by plate clips or a rubber mat so plates and deep-well blocks stay in place. Speed is set from about 100 to 1500 rpm and held by closed-loop control, and timers or short-run buttons provide the pulses used in assay protocols. The small orbit and high frequency create vigorous mixing at low amplitude, which is effective for resuspending pellets and mixing reagents in wells. Some models accept two or four plates at once, and platforms may be interchangeable for tubes or microtubes.

What are the key features?

• Platform for one standard 96-well plate
• Speed 100 to 1200 rpm with about 2 mm orbit
• Clips or rubber mat to hold the plate
• Digital or analog speed setting with timer
• Pulse mode on some models
• Low power of 20 to 60 W

What are the technical specifications?

A typical benchtop microplate shaker configuration offers plate capacity of 1×96-well plate, speed range of 100–1200 rpm, orbit diameter of 2 mm, speed accuracy of ±5 rpm, timer range of 1 s to 99 min and pulse mode of Optional. Values are indicative of the product class; the exact figures for each configuration are confirmed on the quotation and the calibration documents supplied with the instrument.

Which applications is it used for?

The Benchtop Microplate Shaker is used in ELISA plate mixing, immunoassay incubation, cell assay mixing and sample preparation before reading. Across the wider Microplate Shakers class, laboratories also deploy it for ELISA plate mixing and washing, cell-based assay mixing and immunoassay incubation.

Which standards and certifications apply?

Relevant standards and methods include IEC 61010-1, IEC 61010-2-051 and ISO 9001. Certification candidates for this model are CE, ISO 9001 manufacturing and RoHS; each is to be confirmed for the specific configuration before shipment, and certificates are supplied only where they have been issued.

Place the shaker on a level surface close to the reader or washer so plates are not carried far, and ensure plates are fully seated in the clips before starting. Do not exceed the speed rating for the plates in use, since very high speeds can splash contents or loosen seals on covered plates. Balance the platform when more than one plate is loaded. Clean spills and spills of reagents promptly, since salts and proteins corrode the platform and clips. Check clips, mats and bearings on schedule, and keep covers or seals in good condition to prevent cross-contamination between wells.

How do I select the right Benchtop Microplate Shaker?

Select the benchtop microplate shaker for one plate at a time on an individual workstation. Multi-plate models suit higher throughput. In the RFQ, specify plate type, speed range, orbit, timer or pulse mode and noise limits.

How does it compare with other Microplate Shakers variants?

Choose a microplate shaker when plates, deep-well blocks or strip wells must be mixed quickly in small volumes, as in ELISA, immunoassays and cell assays. Set the speed range from the task, using moderate speeds for gentle mixing and higher speeds for resuspension. Match the platform to the plate type and count, checking that clips or mats hold plates securely at high speed. Decide between single-plate and multi-plate platforms, and whether a timer, pulse mode or program storage is needed. Confirm the orbit suits the well volume, since too large an orbit splashes small volumes, and check noise, footprint and power supply before ordering.