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Lab Shakers

Lab Shakers


Laboratory Shakers

There are many different types of laboratory shakers on the market. Many of these are bench top machines. Some have a very specific purpose and others are general and can be adapted to suit many different needs.

Laboratory rockers are quite simple machines with usually a single purpose. They can be mini rockers, no larger than 30cm square, or larger platforms. Smaller models can easily fit into a small space on the bench and can be used for a multitude of functions.

They can have a gentle rocking action, such as a see-saw mode, or a gentle gyratory motion. Many have a speed control and timer settings. Rockers such as these are used where a low foaming mixing is required. They are ideal for use in DNA extractions and in histological procedures such as staining delicate wax slides which need slow, careful mixing. The platform should be a high friction surface, or a non-slip mat can be used to ensure that even rocking is achieved of the solution within the container, whether that is a culture flask or a staining dish.

A rocking shaker provides a further dimension to the mix. It can rock the containers and shake them at the same time by providing a vibrating mode. The shaking frequency can be altered to provide a very slow shake, such as seven rotations per minute, to a high thirty rpm. When choosing a shaker it is important to note the maximum loading weight it will take. If it becomes overloaded, then it will not be able to provide the correct agitation each time and may vary the experimental conditions.

A tilt-table shaker can be adjusted to give a permanent tilt to the platform while also providing a rocking motion. The table tilt can be adjusted within a range. It is also important to note how the shaker will be cleaned. Will the platform need to be regularly autoclaved? Will it be able to withstand daily cleaning with 70% alcohol or other laboratory cleaning agents for example?

Western blots, or hybridisation experiments may benefit from an orbital rotation. This can also be useful for staining and destaining gels. Rockers with a bi-directional orbital rotation are useful to ensure even coverage and even staining. Check the length of the timer, choosing  a shaker with a 24 hour timer or longer will allow for all experimental requirements. Certain histological staining techniques might need gentle shaking for a few days. Choose a rocker which does not have a belt or pulley system. A direct drive assembly will provide a continuous, more even and reliable performance over its lifetime.

Incubator shakers consist of a laboratory shaker within an insulated, temperature controlled environment. Usually, these have a shaking or rocking platform as the base of the incubator and a high, static shelf which can also house petri dishes which do not require shaking. It is important to note that there is adequate insulation to avoid significant heat loss with a double, or even triple-pane viewing window. The temperature circulation system within such an incubator must ensure that there is a uniform temperature in all parts of the chamber. It is also important to consider the presence of a cut-out safety feature in case the incubator should accidentally overheat for any reason.

Incubator shakers are also available as orbital shakers within the incubation chamber. These are very useful for suspension culture experiments. The length of the timers should be chosen for the experimental conditions required. Timers on these can vary from between a week to ten days. 

If visibility within the incubator is important, then a system with three or four viewing panels should be chosen. Easy loading is often possible because of the presence of a pull-out platform. This also ensures that cross-contamination is reduced. Finally, it is important that all containers can be securely held onto the shaking platform for the whole duration of the incubation. Exchangeable clamping systems can ensure that many different sizes and shapes of vessel can be accommodated. Other alternatives are a non-slip surface or a friction mat.

For a really advanced incubator shaker, choose a programmable, variable speed model. These can be stacked on the bench or on the floor. They can be programmed to control changes in temperature or speed. They can have a variable running time on different shelves within the incubator. Many models also have an internal receptacle for allowing an extra piece of equipment inside such as an extra shaker.

Incubating shakers may require constant cleaning and decomanitation between experiments. Because of their nature, they provide the perfect environment for growing a variety of cells and this includes many common contaminants. Many incubators can now be purchased which have built-in UV decontamination settings.

Refrigerated shakers can function over a range of -20 degrees C to 4 degrees C. They are usually larger because of the extra fans and cooling units incorporated into the design, but smaller bench top models are available. These can be quite noisy machines, but large fans and adequate insulation can reduce much of the internal noise.

Tube shakers can hold a variety of different tubes including vacutainers. They have strong, secure housings for holding a different number of tubes depending on their size. They can be programmed to provide rotation and speeds of up to 100 rotations per minute. As well as this, they are capable of producing variable speed oscillations. These can be very good alternatives to flat platform shakers if tubes are routinely needed. They have a small footprint and are versatile in the number and size of tubes they can house.

Waterbath shakers are an alternative to incubator shakers. If a closed environment is not required, they have the advantage of being more easily accessed and are useful for a variety of different types of experiments including hybridisations and cell cultures. They are cost-effective and provide a highly regulated and controlled, even temperature throughout. 

Choosing the right laboratory shaker for the job depends on the space available, the experimental conditions required and the number of people who will be using it. There is a shaker available for any conditions.