Shakers

Choose a shaker by orbit, speed and load. A 3 mm orbit suits microplates and small flasks, 19 to 25 mm orbits swirl culture flasks, and 51 mm orbits carry heavy loads at lower speed. OHAUS covers each: Endeavor 5000 light-duty shakers (50 to 1,200 rpm, 1 to 4 kg), heavy-duty orbital shakers (15 to 500 rpm, 16 to 68 kg), incubating and cooling models, the reciprocating shaker, rocking and waving shakers (1 to 75 rpm), the high-speed microplate shaker (up to 48 plates) and the Extreme Environment Shaker for use inside incubators. OHAUS models show their price and can be ordered online; the Labnet Orbit LS (3 to 60 rpm) and Orbit 300 are quoted.

Laboratory shaker FAQ

What orbit do I need?

3 mm for plates and small volumes, 19 to 25 mm for flasks and cultures, 51 mm for heavy loads at lower speed. A method validated on one orbit does not carry over to another at the same rpm: the Endeavor 5000 comes in 3 mm (100 to 800 rpm) and 20 mm (50 to 300 rpm) versions with the same 4 kg capacity. See our orbital shaker guide.

How much load can a shaker carry?

Less than the headline figure once you run fast: the incubating heavy-duty ISHD16HDG holds 16 kg at 75 rpm but 2.3 kg at 500 rpm. Add up the platform, clamps, flasks and liquid, and compare that with the capacity at your working speed.

Can I put a shaker inside an incubator?

Only a model built for it. The Endeavor 5000 can run in incubators and cold rooms; for CO2 and humidity, the Extreme Environment Shaker has an IP65-rated motor and a remote touchpad outside the incubator. Incubating shakers heat their own chamber instead.

Where are the platforms and clamps?

Flask clamps, microplate clamps, universal and dedicated platforms, racks and mats are under Laboratory Accessories; confirm they fit your model.