Best Centrifuges play an important role in the laboratory. But they must be used correctly to provide the best performance. One of the most important things a technician does when working with a centrifuge is to balance the rotor. Unbalanced rotors can affect centrifuge performance. affect the reliability of test results. It may even cause irreversible damage to your device. The good news is that you can avoid all of these problems simply by following a few key tips for balancing your centrifuge.
Why is it important to balance a centrifuge
Centrifuges spin thousands of times per minute. This means the slightest weight imbalance around the rotor is amplified. and may cause the instrument to start shaking. This affects its performance and reliability and shortens its useful life. In a worst-case scenario, a centrifuge explosion that could injure laboratory personnel. So before starting the centrifuge, it must be loaded correctly. Balancing the centrifuge prevents potential damage to the instrument. And is critical for safe operation.
How to balance a centrifuge
Take a 12 tube angle rotor for an example. No matter how many centrifuge tubes you need to centrifuge, always symmetrically placed them around the center of the rotor as the following picture shows.
centrifuge balance chart
How to balance centrifuge with 3 tubes (Figure 3 below)
There are two ways of three-pipe balancing. The first option is to insert the three sample tubes side by side and create three equalization tubes directly opposite the sample tubes.
Alternatively, the three sample tubes can be evenly spaced around the rotor.
How to balance a centrifuge with 5 tubes (Figure 5 below)
To balance five tubes, create a balance tube and place two sets of three tubes opposite each other.
How to balance 7 tubes in a centrifuge (Figure 7 below)
To balance seven tubes, create a balance tube and place two sets of four tubes opposite each other.
How to balance swinging bucket centrifuge
To load centrifuges with swinging rotors, make sure that all rotor positions are equipped with buckets, even if you leave them empty. Running the instrument without a bucket may damage the rotor. Also, you need to check that the bucket can swing smoothly.
When loading the tube into the bucket, be sure to load the opposing bucket symmetrically. to avoid imbalance in the center of rotation. Most importantly, each barrel must be balanced on its pivot. If your sample tube number does not meet one of these criteria, please use Balance Tube to help.
Conclusions，Balancing the centrifuge and using the correct centrifuge tubes are the most important aspects of centrifugation safety (besides regular maintenance). Make sure you know how to ensure trouble-free and safe operation of your centrifuge.