Thermo Scientific Orbital Shaker with Photoelectric Control
| Brand | Thermo Fisher |
|---|---|
| Origin | South Korea |
| Manufacturer | Thermo Fisher Scientific |
| Product Type | Air-Jacketed Incubated Orbital Shaker |
| Model | Thermo Scientific Photoelectric-Controlled Air-Bath Orbital Shaker |
| Timer Range | 1 min – 99 hrs 59 min or Continuous |
| Oscillation Speed | 50–300 rpm |
| Temperature Range | Up to 60 °C |
| Platform Count | 1 |
| Compliance | Designed for GLP-compliant labs |
Overview
The Thermo Scientific Photoelectric-Controlled Air-Bath Orbital Shaker is an engineered platform for precise, reproducible incubation and agitation of biological samples under controlled thermal and mechanical conditions. Utilizing a robust air-jacketed heating system and closed-loop PID temperature regulation, the unit maintains stable setpoint temperatures up to 60 °C—ideal for applications requiring non-CO2, low-heat incubation environments such as microbial growth, enzyme kinetics, solubility studies, and cell culture maintenance. Its orbital motion follows a consistent circular trajectory (25 mm diameter standard), delivering uniform mixing without vortexing or splashing—critical for sensitive suspension cultures and low-volume assays. The photoelectric speed sensing system continuously monitors rotational velocity in real time, enabling dynamic feedback correction to maintain ±1 rpm stability across the full 50–300 rpm range—even under variable load conditions.
Key Features
- Photoelectric speed detection with real-time RPM feedback and automatic PID compensation for high-speed accuracy and long-term repeatability
- Air-jacketed thermal architecture with aluminum alloy heating block and insulated chamber walls for rapid warm-up (<15 min to 37 °C) and minimal temperature gradient (<±0.3 °C at 37 °C, measured at center)
- Dual-mode timer: programmable interval from 1 minute to 99 hours 59 minutes, or continuous operation with auto-restart after power interruption
- Compact footprint (W × D × H: 420 × 420 × 220 mm) designed for seamless integration into standard laboratory refrigerators (non-CO2) and benchtop incubators
- Single-platform configuration with universal clamping system compatible with flasks (50–2000 mL), tubes (15–50 mL), microplates (96-well), and custom carriers
- Front-panel LED display with intuitive rotary encoder interface; all parameters stored in non-volatile memory
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
This shaker accommodates standard microbiological and biochemical vessels including Erlenmeyer flasks (up to 2 L), test tubes, centrifuge tubes, and multiwell plates—enabling parallel processing of heterogeneous sample sets. It operates within ISO/IEC 17025-accredited workflows and supports Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) documentation requirements through traceable parameter logging (when paired with Thermo Fisher’s ChronoLog™ data capture module). While not intrinsically certified for GMP manufacturing environments, its design meets essential criteria for analytical method validation per USP and ASTM E2500-22 guidelines on equipment qualification. Temperature and speed performance are verified using NIST-traceable thermistors and optical tachometers during factory calibration.
Software & Data Management
The shaker operates as a standalone instrument but integrates with Thermo Fisher’s ChronoLog™ software suite via RS-232 or optional USB-to-serial adapter. ChronoLog enables remote monitoring, automated parameter logging (timestamped temperature, RPM, elapsed time), and export to CSV or PDF for audit trails. When deployed in regulated environments, the system supports 21 CFR Part 11 compliance through user-level access control, electronic signatures, and immutable audit logs—provided the host computer and network infrastructure meet platform-specific validation requirements.
Applications
- Microbial cultivation (E. coli, yeast, Bacillus spp.) in shake flasks under aerobic conditions
- Protein expression optimization requiring precise temperature–agitation coupling
- Cell-based assay development involving suspension-adapted lines (e.g., CHO-S, Sf9)
- Solubility and dissolution profiling of pharmaceutical compounds in buffer systems
- Enzymatic reaction kinetics where oxygen transfer rate and thermal homogeneity are limiting factors
- Pre-incubation steps in molecular biology workflows (e.g., ligation, transformation recovery)
FAQ
Is this shaker suitable for use inside a standard laboratory refrigerator?
Yes—the unit’s compact dimensions and absence of external condensation pathways allow safe placement in non-CO2 refrigerated incubators operating between 4 °C and 60 °C.
Does it support external temperature probes for chamber mapping?
No built-in probe port is provided; however, third-party calibrated PT100 or thermistor probes can be inserted through the chamber’s ventilation slots for validation purposes.
Can multiple units be synchronized for parallel experiments?
Synchronization is not natively supported; each unit operates independently with local parameter storage.
What safety certifications does it carry?
CE marked per EN 61010-1:2010 and RoHS 2011/65/EU compliant; electrical safety tested to IEC 61010-2-020 for laboratory equipment.
Is firmware upgradeable in the field?
Firmware updates require authorized service personnel and proprietary diagnostic hardware; no end-user flash capability is provided.
