Orbital Shaker Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best orbital shaker for my application?
Our interactive selection guide will help you to find the right orbital shaker that is best suited to your needs.
At what speeds should I incubate my culture (bacteria, fungi, yeasts, cells, algae etc)?
These are general guidelines that should be optimised for your protocol. We recommend the following speeds for cultures: bacteria: 250 rpm, fungi: 200 rpm, yeast: 120-300 rpm, insect cells: 100 rpm, algae: 110 rpm.
Why are different platforms important?
Dependent on the size and number of the vessels required for your application, you may need different platforms. Orbital Shakers are available with multiple platform options, which are ordered separately to offer you the flexibility to choose the one that best suits the task in hand.
How do the shaker's agitation speed and orbit affect the growth of the culture?
In general, shaker speed and orbit affect both aeration and mixing of the culture. More aeration increases the oxygen transfer rate (OTR), which promotes cell growth. The size of the orbit has a linear effect on the OTR.
What is a water bath shaker used for?
A water bath shaker or shaking water bath is used for applications such as culturing cells, hybridisation and some other molecular biology assays to steadily shake and mix samples while maintaining a constant temperature. By providing excellent thermal transfer shaking water baths are another low-cost alternative to an incubated orbital shaker.