OHAUS SHHSMPDG High-Speed Microplate Shaker
| Brand | OHAUS |
|---|---|
| Origin | USA |
| Manufacturer Type | Manufacturer |
| Origin Category | Imported |
| Instrument Type | Air-Bath Incubated Shaker / Microplate Shaker |
| Timer Range | 1 s – 160 h |
| Oscillation Mode | Orbital, 3.6 mm amplitude |
| Speed Range | 600 – 2,500 rpm |
| Capacity | 48 microplates |
| Tray Dimensions | 311 mm × 279 mm (L × W) |
| Control Interface | Digital LED Display |
| Tray Material | Die-Cast Aluminum |
| Power Consumption | 120 W |
| Dimensions (L × H × W) | 394 mm × 305 mm × 325 mm |
| Net Weight | 21.8 kg |
| Operating Environment | 4–40 °C, 20–80% RH (non-condensing) |
| Safety Certification | cULus |
| Power Supply | 230 V, 1 A, 50/60 Hz |
| Communication Port | RS232 |
| Programmable Pulse Function | 1–59 s interval |
Overview
The OHAUS SHHSMPDG High-Speed Microplate Shaker is an engineered platform for precise, high-throughput orbital agitation of standard and deep-well microplates (96-, 384-, and 1536-well formats), PCR plates, and small-diameter tubes up to 12.7 cm in height. Designed around a robust die-cast aluminum chassis and optimized for laboratory environments requiring reproducible mechanical agitation, the instrument operates on the principle of controlled orbital motion with a fixed 3.6 mm displacement radius—ensuring uniform energy transfer across all wells without splashing or cross-contamination. Its operational range (600–2,500 rpm) supports demanding protocols including cell lysis, enzymatic reaction homogenization, antigen-antibody binding acceleration, and suspension-based assay preparation. Unlike conventional low-speed shakers, the SHHSMPDG delivers centrifugal forces sufficient to disrupt membrane integrity while maintaining thermal stability via ambient air-bath operation—eliminating the need for integrated heating or cooling modules that compromise speed fidelity or increase maintenance complexity.
Key Features
- Orbital agitation at 600–2,500 rpm with constant 3.6 mm amplitude for consistent kinetic energy distribution across 48 microplates simultaneously
- Dual-mode timer: countdown mode (1 s–160 h) with automatic shutdown at zero, or cumulative runtime tracking in continuous mode
- Programmable pulse agitation: user-defined on/off intervals from 1 to 59 seconds to modulate shear stress during sensitive biochemical processes
- Integrated digital LED display showing real-time speed, elapsed time, and remaining timer duration—each parameter independently adjustable
- Die-cast aluminum tray structure ensures dimensional stability under sustained high-RPM operation and minimizes harmonic resonance
- RS232 serial interface enables external control and data logging via LabVIEW, Python, or custom SCADA systems for GLP/GMP-compliant workflows
- cULus-certified electrical architecture compliant with IEC 61010-1 for safe operation in Class I, Division 1 laboratory environments
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The SHHSMPDG accommodates ANSI/SLAS-standard microplates (including skirted, semi-skirted, and unskirted variants), deep-well plates (up to 2 mL well volume), and 0.2–15 mL conical tubes mounted on compatible adapters. Its 311 mm × 279 mm tray surface allows flexible plate arrangement—including staggered loading for heterogeneous plate types within a single run. The device meets ISO 13485 design control requirements for in vitro diagnostic (IVD) manufacturing support equipment and supports audit-ready documentation when paired with validated RS232 communication protocols. While not a regulated medical device itself, its performance consistency aligns with ASTM E2500-13 guidance for verification of ancillary lab instrumentation used in USP analytical instrument qualification (AIQ) frameworks.
Software & Data Management
No proprietary software is bundled; instead, the RS232 port provides ASCII-based command-response protocol (e.g., “SPEED=1800”, “TIMER=3600”, “START”) compatible with standard terminal emulators or custom scripts. Laboratories implementing 21 CFR Part 11 compliance may integrate the shaker into electronic lab notebook (ELN) or LIMS platforms using timestamped command logs and hardware-level response acknowledgments. Audit trails capture initiation time, target speed, programmed duration, pulse settings, and actual runtime—enabling retrospective verification of agitation parameters for QC batch records. Firmware does not store historical data internally; all state information resides transiently in volatile memory during operation.
Applications
- High-efficiency cell lysis in mammalian and bacterial cultures prior to nucleic acid extraction
- Homogenization of viscous reagent mixtures (e.g., agarose gels, antibody cocktails, lipid nanoparticle suspensions)
- Accelerated binding kinetics in ELISA, AlphaScreen, and TR-FRET assays
- Uniform dispersion of magnetic beads in automated nucleic acid purification workflows
- Pre-analytical sample equilibration for mass spectrometry and HPLC sample introduction
- Controlled agitation during crystallization screening and protein solubility assays
FAQ
Does the SHHSMPDG support temperature control?
No. It is an ambient-air orbital shaker only. For combined shaking and incubation, OHAUS offers separate incubated shaker models (e.g., HT Series).
Can it accommodate 384-well plates?
Yes—up to 48 standard-format plates per run, including 384-well plates, provided they conform to ANSI/SLAS footprint specifications.
Is the pulse function programmable per plate position?
No. Pulse timing applies uniformly across the entire tray; independent zone control is not supported.
What is the maximum load capacity in kilograms?
The rated mechanical load is 4.5 kg distributed across the tray surface. Overloading may affect speed accuracy and long-term bearing life.
How is calibration verified?
Speed calibration is performed at factory using NIST-traceable tachometry; users may validate performance with external optical tachometers per ISO/IEC 17025 internal calibration procedures.
