A benchtop shaking incubator is laboratory equipment
that helps the sample heat and time distribution. Users can use the shaking
incubator to study temperature-sensitive or heat-resistant bacteria, plants,
etc. The benchtop shaking incubator has four sets of steering plates for
horizontal agitation. The shaking speed ranges from 3 to 36 cycles per minute
with a high amount of accuracy. It also has four sets of preloaded stainless
steel balls for vertical agitation and a magnetic stirring bar to maximize
mixing in open vessels and containers. And it’s heated by heating belts
equipped with thermostatically controlled fans that ensure uniform temperature
distribution.
Basic:
The two different types of shaking incubators are
transmission and absorption. Transmission shaking incubators have a set of sheets
that has food-grade stainless steel balls attached to them and connected with
cables to a power pack inside the incubator, which causes the stainless steel
balls to vibrate at an oscillating rate; this action generally causes particles
in a sample solution to mix thoroughly and distribute evenly in every part of
the container. The other type is an absorptive shaking incubator with plates
that rotate at high speed while driven by an electric motor.
Shaking
Incubator:
A benchtop
shaking incubator is an instrument that mixes the growth medium and culture
in a petri dish at a specific speed. It accomplishes this by having a cushioned
turning mechanism based on an eccentric weight and spring assembly that
generates linear vibrations. In addition to the mixing, a shaking incubator can
be used by users to increase the rate at which specific chemical reactions
occur due to heat generation from friction between the shaking mechanism and
its support.
Shaking incubators can also be used in the retail
industry to keep aisles clear and at an average temperature. In addition, the
shaking incubator can be used in hospitals wherein the equipment keeps the
temperature of a patient's room uniform. Other applications include
pharmaceutical, agri-business and other scientific research.
Different
types of benchtop shaking incubators:
1.
Transmission
Incubator:
A shaking incubator that uses stainless steel balls
can be used to mix the petri dish at a rate of up to 10 to 20 cycles per
minute. It also has four sets of preloaded stainless steel balls for vertical
agitation, which significantly improves the speed and distribution of the
required substrate. The transmission shaking incubator is widely used in labs
because it can generate a high vibration amplitude and provides even
distributions of heat at all locations across the plates. It has been developed
from a transmission type, which uses a rack-and-pinion mechanism made from
plastic or hardened steel to overcome the resistance that comes from shaking
pans on moving tables.
2.
Absorptive
Incubator:
The absorptive shaking incubator has plates that
rotate at high speed while driven by an electric motor. Its most common use is
to mix a liquid in an open vessel. However, it can also be used by scientists
to mix media placed in a container or a tube on moving tables, shelves or even
vertically.
Benefits
of using a benchtop shaking incubator:
A benchtop shaking incubator is a perfect piece of
equipment to help establish incubation conditions in the lab. It is a valuable
instrument for scientific research and experiments. This device can help you to
grow bacteria, fungus, mould or any other microorganisms without disturbing the
atmosphere in the incubator by using a lab benchtop shaking incubator. The
device provides a favourable environment for cell growth because it can be
controlled by adjusting carbon dioxide levels, temperature and humidity.
Working
principle:
The shaking incubator has various unique components
that help to mix and distribute the cultural media reasonably. It is made up of
cages to hold the stainless steel balls, which will move around at high speeds
in the incubator. The shaking incubator is divided into two parts, one is
fixed, and the other is moving. The fixed part has a cage section and stainless
steel balls fitted into it; the shaking portion contains an internal fan that
helps distribute the culture media evenly across the interior of the cage
section. Of course, any standard type of bacteria or microorganism has
different needs for growth conditions such as temperature, pH levels and
nutrients, etc.
Need
of the day:
The benchtop shaking incubator is an essential piece
of equipment for research laboratories. This instrument plays a significant
role in determining the growth and development of microorganisms. It also
allows you to prevent contamination and germs from entering your laboratory. So
it is highly recommended to buy this equipment for safer and many efficient
experimentations.
You might have seen that some incubators like manual
benchtops, rotary shakers, piston shakers and shelf incubators are available in
the market. Still, due to high cost and bulkiness, these are not preferred by
everyone. But nowadays, you will get various types of affordable benchtop shaking incubators that
are readily available on Global Lab Supply.
Bottom
Lines:
In addition to providing cost-effectivity and increased capacity, a benchtop shaking incubator has become an essential item for scientific research. So if you are doing any experiment related to microbial growth, you should buy this device at Global Lab Supply to obtain the required results and save time in laboratories.