OHAUS VXHDDG High-Capacity Vortex Mixer

Overview

The OHAUS VXHDDG High-Capacity Vortex Mixer is an engineered solution for demanding life science laboratories requiring robust, temperature-controlled orbital mixing of high-mass sample loads. Unlike conventional vortex mixers that rely on eccentric motion or pulsed agitation, the VXHDDG employs a precisely balanced motor-driven eccentric drive system to generate smooth, continuous orbital motion—ideal for applications where uniform suspension, cell resuspension, reagent homogenization, and gentle yet effective mixing of viscous or particulate-laden samples are critical. Its refrigerated design enables operation across a biologically relevant thermal range (4–40°C), supporting temperature-sensitive workflows such as enzyme assays, protein stability studies, bacterial culture maintenance, and nucleic acid handling. The unit is built to meet ISO 9001-certified manufacturing standards and conforms to IEC 61010-1 safety requirements for laboratory equipment.

Key Features

• High-torque brushless DC motor engineered for uninterrupted operation at full load capacity—capable of sustaining 3500 rpm with consistent torque delivery across the entire speed range.
• Dual-display LED interface with independent real-time readouts for speed (rpm) and elapsed/remaining time—enabling simultaneous verification without menu navigation.
• Microprocessor-based control architecture providing ±1 rpm speed accuracy and <±0.5% speed reproducibility over repeated cycles.
• Programmable timer with resolution down to 1 second and maximum duration up to 160 hours—supports both countdown and elapsed time display modes; retains last-used settings in non-volatile memory even after power interruption.
• Thermally stabilized chamber with Peltier-based cooling/heating and PID-controlled feedback loop—ensures ±0.3°C temperature uniformity across the platform surface under steady-state conditions.
• Ergonomic platform design accommodating standard microplate formats (96-well, 384-well), conical tubes (0.5–50 mL), centrifuge tubes, and custom adapters—all secured via universal clamping mechanism with quick-release lever.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The VXHDDG supports broad sample container compatibility, including polypropylene, polycarbonate, and borosilicate glass vessels within the specified volume range. Its orbital motion profile minimizes shear stress compared to vortexing or linear shaking—making it suitable for fragile biological matrices such as primary cells, organoids, and lipid nanoparticles. The instrument complies with ASTM E1788-22 for orbital shaker performance validation and supports GLP/GMP documentation workflows through optional audit-trail-enabled firmware (available upon request). All electrical components meet UL 61010-1 and CE marking requirements for laboratory instrumentation.

Software & Data Management

While the VXHDDG operates as a standalone instrument with embedded firmware, optional RS-232 and USB-B interfaces enable integration into centralized lab management systems. When paired with OHAUS LabConnect™ software (v3.2+), users can remotely configure protocols, export timestamped run logs (including speed, temperature, duration, and error codes), and generate CSV-formatted reports compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements—including electronic signatures and change history tracking. Data integrity safeguards include automatic checksum validation and write-protected archive mode.

Applications

• Cell culture maintenance: Uniform suspension of adherent and suspension cell lines during passaging and cryopreservation steps.
• Molecular biology: Homogenization of PCR master mixes, plasmid preps, and restriction digests prior to electrophoresis or sequencing library preparation.
• Quality control testing: Mixing of reference standards and calibration solutions for HPLC, UV-Vis, and ELISA workflows under controlled thermal conditions.
• Biopharmaceutical development: Agitation of formulation buffers, excipient blends, and monoclonal antibody solutions during stability assessment per ICH Q5C guidelines.
• Environmental microbiology: Resuspension of sediment-associated microbes from water or soil extracts prior to enumeration or metagenomic analysis.

FAQ

Does the VXHDDG support external temperature probes for chamber validation?
Yes—optional PT100-compatible probe input allows third-party calibration verification using traceable NIST-standard thermometers.
Can the unit be operated inside a cold room or biosafety cabinet?
It is rated for ambient operation between 15–30°C and relative humidity ≤85% non-condensing; extended enclosure use requires environmental monitoring and airflow clearance per IEC 61010-2-010.
Is the platform compatible with magnetic bead-based protocols?
Yes—the low-vibration orbital motion prevents premature bead aggregation and ensures efficient binding kinetics during immunoprecipitation and nucleic acid isolation steps.
What maintenance intervals are recommended for long-term reliability?
OHAUS recommends annual preventive maintenance including motor bearing inspection, thermal sensor calibration, and drive belt tension verification—documented per ISO/IEC 17025 Annex A.3.
How does the VXHDDG differ from standard orbital shakers in terms of load capacity?
With a maximum platform load rating of 5 kg and optimized mass distribution, the VXHDDG maintains speed stability within ±0.8% at 3500 rpm under full load—exceeding typical specifications for general-purpose shakers by ≥3×.