JEIO TECH CRT-350 Programmable Tilting Orbital Shaker

Overview

The JEIO TECH CRT-350 is a precision-engineered programmable tilting orbital shaker designed for consistent, low-shear mixing across diverse life science and bioprocessing workflows. Unlike conventional horizontal orbital shakers, the CRT-350 employs a motor-driven tilt mechanism that enables continuous adjustment of the oscillation plane from 0° (fully horizontal) to 90° (near-vertical), facilitating both gentle suspension homogenization and efficient resuspension of pelletized cells or precipitates. Its core motion profile follows a true orbital trajectory (not reciprocating or rocking), ensuring uniform shear distribution and minimizing sample foaming or wall adhesion—critical for sensitive biological samples including bacterial cultures, mammalian cell suspensions, ELISA plates, and antibody conjugation reactions. The unit operates without integrated heating or cooling elements, making it suitable for placement inside refrigerated incubators, cold rooms, or laminar flow hoods where ambient temperature control is externally managed.

Key Features

• PID-controlled microprocessor system ensures high-speed stability and reproducibility—even at minimum 2 rpm—with minimal speed drift (< ±1 rpm over 24 h).
• Stepless 0–90° tilt-angle adjustment allows method-specific optimization: horizontal mode (0–30°) for gentle suspension; intermediate angles (45–75°) for enhanced mixing efficiency in viscous media; near-vertical orientation (80–90°) for rapid re-solubilization of settled particles.
• Vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) with light-sensitive capacitive keys provides high-contrast, glare-free readability under dimmed lab lighting or glovebox conditions.
• Robust polypropylene (PP) chassis offers inherent resistance to common laboratory solvents (e.g., ethanol, isopropanol, dilute acids/bases) and facilitates wipe-down decontamination between runs.
• Stepper motor drive with built-in thermal overload protection and self-diagnostic error reporting (e.g., stall detection, overcurrent flagging) ensures operational continuity and extends service life beyond 20,000 hours MTBF.
• Non-slip rubber feet and dynamically balanced drive train reduce structural transmission of vibration—measured < 0.15 mm/s RMS at 70 rpm—preserving adjacent instrumentation integrity.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The CRT-350 supports modular platform configurations via standardized M4 threaded mounting points. Optional accessories include aluminum tube racks (for 1.5 mL, 5 mL, 15 mL, and 50 mL formats), conical flask clamps (stainless steel or polypropylene), and stackable rack adapters enabling dual-tier operation—up to 108 × 1.5 mL tubes simultaneously. All rack designs maintain ISO 8573-1 Class 4 air purity compatibility when used in cleanroom environments. The device complies with IEC 61000-6-3 (emission) and IEC 61000-6-4 (immunity) standards, carries CE marking per Directive 2014/30/EU (EMC) and 2014/35/EU (LVD), and meets RoHS 2011/65/EU substance restrictions. While not certified for GMP manufacturing use out-of-box, its deterministic timer logic, non-volatile parameter memory, and absence of battery-backed clocks make it suitable for GLP-aligned research documentation when paired with external audit trails.

Software & Data Management

The CRT-350 operates as a standalone instrument with no proprietary software dependency. All parameters—including speed, tilt angle, and timer duration—are stored in non-volatile EEPROM and retained after power cycling. The VFD interface logs last-run settings automatically and displays real-time elapsed time during active operation. For laboratories requiring electronic records per FDA 21 CFR Part 11, integration with third-party Lab Information Management Systems (LIMS) is achievable via optional RS-232 or USB-to-serial adapters (not included), enabling timestamped command logging and remote start/stop triggers. No firmware updates are field-installable; calibration verification is performed using NIST-traceable tachometers and digital inclinometers during annual preventive maintenance.

Applications

• Cell culture maintenance: Gentle agitation of suspension-adapted CHO or HEK293 lines in shake flasks (50–250 mL) at 25–45 rpm and 15–25° tilt.
• Molecular biology: Hybridization buffer mixing for Southern/Northern blotting; post-PCR cleanup bead resuspension; plasmid miniprep lysate homogenization.
• Clinical diagnostics: Uniform mixing of serum/plasma samples prior to centrifugation; reconstitution of lyophilized immunoassay reagents.
• Biopharmaceutical QC: Solubility testing of protein formulations under accelerated stability conditions (e.g., 25°C/60% RH incubator placement).
• Environmental microbiology: Extraction of microbial DNA from soil slurries using bead-beating-compatible tube racks at 60–70 rpm and 45° tilt.

FAQ

Can the CRT-350 be operated inside a CO₂ incubator?
Yes—its ambient-only thermal design and PP housing tolerate 5–40°C operating temperatures and humidity up to 80% RH non-condensing. Ensure adequate airflow around the unit to prevent localized heat buildup from the stepper motor.
Is the tilt angle calibrated at the factory?
Each unit undergoes angular verification using a digital inclinometer traceable to NPL standards; calibration certificate available upon request (additional lead time applies).
What is the maximum flask size supported with stainless-steel clamps?
The AAA23556 clamp accommodates up to 300 mL Erlenmeyer flasks (standard taper 24/40); larger vessels require custom fixture validation.
Does the timer support countdown interruption and resume?
No—the timer is non-interruptible once initiated; stopping the unit resets the counter. For multi-stage protocols, external programmable timers are recommended.
Are replacement VFD modules available for field service?
JEIO TECH supplies full-display assemblies (P/N: CRT-VFD-REPL) through authorized distributors; installation requires torque-controlled screwdriver and ESD precautions.