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.

Original Sources: https://globallabsupply.blogspot.com/2022/08/want-to-know-about-shaking-incubator.html