A
laboratory shaker is one of the vital pieces of equipment found in lab. It
is used for blending, mixing or agitating liquid samples in test tubes,
flasks, bottles and bowls. A typical lab shaker consists of a housing and
control panels. The housing contains the motor. The control panels are
attached with a agitation platform.
The platform is designed in a manner to hold beaker, flasks or tubes. The
sample is mixed by the shaking motion of the platform. The platforms can
have simple grooves or basket style holders. In shakers, that has platforms
with simple grooves the flasks and tubes are supported horizontally. In case
of basket style holders the sample holders are kept upright.
Laboratory Shakers offer some advantage in comparison to mixers. The mixers
show a tendency to shred or damage constituent sample materials, while
laboratory shakers normally do not show any such problem and keep the sample
material intact after mixing. There are many types of laboratory shakes
available which are primarily categorized in terms of their shaking motion.
Some types of Shakers are available with a temperature control system so as
to perform incubating, fostering or retarding reactions or for maintaining
stasis.
Types of Shakers
Reciprocating Shakers
Reciprocal Shakers are perfect for general purpose shaking needs of a
laboratory. These Shakers are designed for simple operation and easy
maintenance. Reciprocal Shakers work in a Reciprocal motion alternating
backward and forward and apart from general mixing needs they can be also
used for staining and washing blots.
Rocking Shakers
Rocking Shakers typically feature a rocking or seesaw motion. They display
some amazing features that make them very popular. Rocking Shakers are very
suitable for mixing of gels and blotted membranes. They provide the precise
agitation required for gels and blotted membranes. Rocking shakers are known
to provide faster and a more consistent mixing than orbital, nutating, or
reciprocating shakers.
Orbital Shakers
Out of all the varieties of Laboratory Shakers, Orbital Shakers are the most
common. Orbital Shakers trace their name due to an orbital (circular
gyrating) shaking motion displayed by them. This motion is sufficient enough
to mix liquids properly in flasks. Mostly incubator style shakers belong to
this genre. Typical Orbital Shakers consists of a flat table or platform
that is is moved by an electric motor. Flasks with liquid are positioned on
this table and with a swirling motion of the shaker the liquid in the flask
is stirred and mixed. Two sizes of Orbital Shakers are available, small and
large as also analog and digital models. Both large and small size Orbital
Shakers are integrated into automated fluid handling systems.
