OHAUS FRONTIER™ FC5515 Micro-Ultracentrifuge

Overview

The OHAUS FRONTIER™ FC5515 is a high-performance benchtop micro-ultracentrifuge engineered for precision separation of small-volume biological samples in regulated and research-intensive laboratory environments. Operating on the principle of sedimentation under controlled centrifugal force, the FC5515 delivers reproducible RCF (Relative Centrifugal Force) up to 21,953 × g at 15,200 rpm—enabling efficient pelleting of subcellular organelles, nucleic acids, viruses, and macromolecular complexes. Designed and manufactured in Germany under stringent ISO 9001-certified quality systems, this instrument meets the mechanical and thermal stability requirements essential for GxP-aligned workflows. Its compact footprint (287 × 393 × 292 mm) and integrated refrigeration system support seamless integration into biosafety cabinets, cold rooms, or shared core facilities without compromising cooling performance—even during extended runs at maximum speed.

Key Features

• Intelligent Rotor Recognition & Dual-Mode Parameter Entry: Automatically detects rotor type and recalculates RPM/RCF in real time; users may input either rotational speed (rpm) or RCF directly—eliminating manual conversion errors and ensuring compliance with protocol-defined force thresholds.
• Advanced Thermal Management: Eco-friendly, non-CFC refrigeration system maintains sample integrity across –20 °C to +40 °C; achieves rapid pre-cooling (≤10 min from ambient to +4 °C) and sustains stable +4 °C chamber temperature during full-speed operation, validated per IEC 61010-2-020 thermal load testing.
• Threadless Snap-On Rotor System: Patented mechanical coupling eliminates threaded rotor installation—reducing operator-induced misalignment, preventing rotor ejection under imbalance, and enabling one-handed rotor exchange compliant with EN 61000-6-2 EMC safety standards.
• Brushless Induction Motor Architecture: Zero-maintenance drive system ensures long-term torque consistency, minimizes vibration transmission, and reduces axial deformation risk under repeated high-load cycling—critical for maintaining rotor concentricity over >10,000 operational hours.
• Multi-Level Safety Enforcement: Triple-layer protection includes electronic lid interlock (EN 61010-1 Class I), adaptive imbalance detection (<0.5 mm displacement threshold), and hardware-based overspeed cutoff—each independently verified per UL 61010-1 Annex BB.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The FC5515 supports a broad range of primary sample containers—including PCR tubes (0.2 mL), microcentrifuge tubes (1.5 mL, 2.0 mL), and conical tubes (5 mL)—with certified compatibility for autoclaving (121 °C, 20 min) of all standard rotors. Its fixed-angle rotor configuration (e.g., FA-45-6-30, FA-24-10-17) is validated for use with common molecular biology reagents (e.g., phenol-chloroform, guanidinium thiocyanate) and diagnostic matrices (e.g., whole blood, CSF, serum). The instrument complies with key regulatory frameworks including ISO/IEC 17025 for calibration traceability, FDA 21 CFR Part 11-ready audit trail logging (when paired with OHAUS CentriSoft™ v3.2+), and GLP/GMP environmental monitoring requirements for temperature-stable operation in Class II BSCs.

Software & Data Management

OHAUS CentriSoft™ software (Windows/macOS compatible) provides secure, role-based access control for method creation, execution, and electronic record retention. Each run logs timestamped metadata—including actual vs. setpoint rpm/RCF, real-time temperature profile, acceleration/deceleration curves, and imbalance event flags—with optional export to CSV or LIMS-compatible XML. Audit trails meet ALCOA+ principles (Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate) and support 21 CFR Part 11 compliance when configured with digital signature and electronic lockout features. Protocol libraries are encrypted and version-controlled, allowing lab managers to enforce standardized centrifugation SOPs across multi-user installations.

Applications

• Isolation of exosomes and extracellular vesicles from cell culture supernatants (100,000 × g equivalent via RCF scaling)
• Pelleting of plasmid DNA post-alkaline lysis and ethanol precipitation
• Clarification of bacterial lysates prior to affinity chromatography
• Preparative separation of ribosomal subunits in structural biology pipelines
• Routine clinical centrifugation of capillary blood microsamples (e.g., hematocrit, PBMC isolation)
• High-throughput nucleic acid extraction workflows requiring consistent 1.5 mL tube processing

FAQ

Does the FC5515 support rotor autoclaving?
Yes—standard aluminum and composite rotors are rated for steam sterilization at 121 °C for 20 minutes; rotor certification documents are provided with each unit.
Can RCF be displayed and set independently of RPM?
Yes—the dual-line LCD interface allows direct RCF entry and real-time RCF display, with automatic RPM recalculation based on loaded rotor geometry.
What is the minimum run time increment?
The timer resolution is 1 second, supporting precise short-duration spins (e.g., 30 s “pulse” centrifugation) required for RNA pellet recovery.
Is remote monitoring supported?
CentriSoft™ enables networked status polling and email/SNMP alerts for completion, error, or temperature deviation events—compatible with institutional IT security policies.
How is rotor lifetime tracked?
Each rotor contains an embedded RFID tag storing cumulative run hours, max speed history, and maintenance log entries—accessible via CentriSoft™ for preventive maintenance scheduling.