OHAUS Frontier FC5714 High-Speed Benchtop Centrifuge

Overview

The OHAUS Frontier FC5714 is a high-speed benchtop centrifuge engineered for precision, reproducibility, and operational efficiency in routine and advanced laboratory workflows. Operating on the principle of sedimentation under controlled rotational force, it delivers consistent relative centrifugal force (RCF) up to 18,624 × g at 14,000 rpm—sufficient for pelleting subcellular organelles (e.g., mitochondria, lysosomes), viral particles, and macromolecular complexes. Designed without active refrigeration, the FC5714 employs an optimized air-circulation architecture to minimize thermal drift during extended runs, ensuring sample integrity across multi-hour protocols. Its non-refrigerated configuration meets ISO 13485-aligned manufacturing standards and is validated for GLP-compliant environments where ambient temperature stability—not cryogenic preservation—is the primary thermal requirement.

Key Features

• Brushless induction motor with zero maintenance requirements and extended service life (>15,000 hr MTBF)
• Threadless Quick-Lock rotor mounting system enabling tool-free, repeatable installation with tactile and acoustic confirmation
• Intelligent rotor recognition: automatic detection of rotor type, maximum speed limit, and imbalance tolerance upon insertion
• Backlit LCD interface with intuitive rotary encoder + keypad navigation—fully operable with standard lab gloves
• Real-time display of critical parameters: actual RCF, elapsed time, remaining time, rotor temperature (ambient), and acceleration/deceleration status
• 99 programmable protocols stored onboard, each retaining rotor ID, speed ramp profile, brake settings, and run history timestamps
• Dual-layer safety architecture: mechanical imbalance detection per rotor profile, electronic overspeed cutoff, and explosion-proof brushless motor housing
• Airtight rotor options compliant with WHO BSL-2 and CDC/NIH biosafety guidelines for handling infectious agents and clinical specimens

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The FC5714 accommodates a broad spectrum of sample formats—from microcentrifuge tubes (0.2–2.0 mL) to conical centrifuge bottles (up to 100 mL)—across nine interchangeable horizontal and fixed-angle rotors. It supports common centrifugation applications involving blood fractionation, nucleic acid purification, protein precipitation, and extracellular vesicle isolation. All rotors are CE-marked and conform to ISO 21612:2018 (rotor fatigue testing) and DIN EN 61010-2-020 (safety requirements for centrifuges). The instrument complies with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 when paired with OHAUS CentriSoft™ software (optional), supporting audit trails, electronic signatures, and secure user access levels for regulated QC/QA labs.

Software & Data Management

While the FC5714 operates autonomously via its embedded controller, optional integration with OHAUS CentriSoft™ PC software enables centralized protocol management, remote monitoring, and export of raw run logs in CSV or PDF format. Each stored protocol includes rotor serial number, calibration date, operator ID (via login), and timestamped event log (start/stop, error codes, door cycles). Audit-trail functionality satisfies GMP documentation requirements per Annex 11 and supports internal validation protocols for method transfer between sites. Firmware updates are delivered via USB drive with cryptographic signature verification to ensure integrity.

Applications

• Clinical diagnostics: Serum/plasma separation from whole blood (EDTA/heparin tubes), PBMC isolation using density gradients
• Molecular biology: Plasmid DNA miniprep supernatant clarification, RNA pellet washing, CRISPR ribonucleoprotein complex pelleting
• Pharmaceutical QA: Filter integrity testing, excipient suspension homogenization, nanoparticle size distribution pre-analysis
• Industrial microbiology: Yeast/bacterial cell harvesting prior to lysis, phage titer concentration, fermentation broth clarification
• Academic research: Synaptosome enrichment, synaptic vesicle isolation, lipoprotein subclass separation (HDL/LDL/VLDL)

FAQ

Is the FC5714 suitable for BSL-2 applications?

Yes—when equipped with certified airtight rotors (e.g., FC5714-HR400), it meets containment requirements for moderate-risk biological agents per NIH Guidelines and EU Directive 2000/54/EC.
Does the instrument support variable acceleration and deceleration rates?

Yes—10 programmable ramp profiles are available, including “soft stop” for delicate pellets and rapid spin-down for high-throughput screening.
Can rotor calibration data be imported or exported?

Rotor-specific calibration constants (K-factor, Rmax, Rmin) are embedded and non-editable; however, full calibration reports (per ISO/IEC 17025) can be generated via CentriSoft™ for metrological traceability.
What is the mean time between failures (MTBF) for the brushless motor?

Rated at ≥15,000 operating hours under continuous duty cycle at 80% of maximum speed, per OHAUS MTBF certification report FC5714-MTBF-2023.
Is firmware upgrade capability available without external service intervention?

Yes—field-upgradable via signed USB firmware image; no password or service token required beyond administrator-level login credentials.