DLAB MX-M 96-Well Microplate Mixer

Overview

The DLAB MX-M 96-Well Microplate Mixer is a compact, benchtop orbital shaker engineered for precise and reproducible mixing of standard microtiter plates—including 96-well PCR plates, ELISA plates, cell culture plates, deep-well plates, and compatible tube racks. It operates on the principle of circular orbital motion with a fixed 4.5 mm orbit diameter, generating consistent shear and convective forces across all wells without splashing or cross-contamination. Designed for routine use in life science laboratories, the MX-M delivers uniform mixing performance across diverse sample viscosities and volumes (10–300 µL per well), supporting critical workflows in molecular biology, immunology, microbiology, and biotechnology applications where homogeneity, repeatability, and hands-free operation are essential.

Key Features

• Wide speed range: 0–1500 rpm for single microplate; 0–1000 rpm when accommodating two plates simultaneously—enabling optimization for gentle resuspension or vigorous homogenization.
• Analog speed scale provides intuitive, tactile control without digital electronics—reducing electromagnetic interference risks in sensitive assay environments.
• Brushless DC motor ensures maintenance-free operation, high torque stability over time, and extended service life (>20,000 hours MTBF).
• Compact footprint (260 × 150 × 80 mm) and lightweight design (3.0 kg) facilitate placement inside biosafety cabinets, cold rooms, or crowded benchtops.
• ABS polymer housing offers chemical resistance to common laboratory reagents (e.g., ethanol, dilute acids/bases) and meets IP21 rating for protection against vertically falling drips and solid objects >12.5 mm.
• Universal compatibility with ANSI/SBS-standard microplates (including full-skirted, semi-skirted, and unskirted formats) and optional accessory trays for 0.2 mL PCR tubes, 0.5 mL microcentrifuge tubes, or custom labware.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The MX-M supports all SBS-compliant 96-well formats, including flat-bottom, round-bottom, and V-bottom plates used in ELISA, qPCR setup, enzyme kinetics, and cell-based assays. Its mechanical design eliminates plate warping under load and maintains positional stability during prolonged operation. While not certified for GMP manufacturing environments, the device complies with IEC 61010-1:2010 for electrical safety in laboratory equipment and conforms to RoHS 2011/65/EU regarding hazardous substance restrictions. For GLP-aligned labs, its analog control interface avoids data integrity concerns associated with unsecured digital logging—making it suitable for non-regulated or Phase I/II research settings where audit trails are not mandated.

Software & Data Management

The MX-M operates as a standalone instrument with no embedded firmware, software, or connectivity interfaces (USB, Bluetooth, Ethernet). This architecture eliminates cybersecurity vulnerabilities, firmware update dependencies, and validation overhead—aligning with risk-based approaches to instrument qualification in academic and early-stage R&D labs. Speed settings are manually selected via calibrated analog dial; no electronic storage or timestamping occurs. Users seeking traceable operation may integrate external timers or log entries manually in lab notebooks compliant with ALCOA+ principles (Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate, Complete, Consistent, Enduring, Available).

Applications

• Resuspension of lyophilized reagents and cell pellets in 96-well plates prior to downstream analysis.
• Homogenization of immunoassay components during ELISA plate coating and blocking steps.
• Uniform mixing of master mixes in qRT-PCR plate setup to minimize pipetting error propagation.
• Agitation of bacterial cultures in microtiter format for growth curve monitoring and antibiotic susceptibility screening.
• Facilitation of antigen-antibody binding kinetics in high-throughput serological assays.
• Pre-incubation mixing for enzymatic reactions requiring controlled agitation (e.g., kinase assays, phosphatase activity tests).

FAQ

Is the MX-M compatible with 384-well plates?
No—the MX-M is mechanically optimized for 96-well SBS-standard plates only. Attempting to use 384-well plates may result in insufficient contact pressure and inconsistent orbital transmission.
Can the MX-M be operated inside a CO₂ incubator?
Not recommended. Its IP21 rating and operating temperature range (5–40 °C) do not support humidified, elevated-CO₂ environments; condensation may compromise motor insulation and housing integrity.
Does the unit include a plate clamp or locking mechanism?
Yes—a spring-loaded, adjustable retention bar secures standard-height microplates; optional low-profile clamps are available for tall-format deep-well plates.
What is the expected lifetime of the brushless DC motor?
Rated for ≥20,000 hours of continuous operation under nominal load conditions (0.5 kg, 1200 rpm), assuming ambient temperatures ≤35 °C and routine dust mitigation.
Is calibration required or supported?
No factory calibration certificate is provided, nor is user calibration possible—speed accuracy is ±5% of setpoint across the range, verified per ISO 8655-7 Annex B for volumetric dispensing auxiliary devices.