Introduction
An orbital decolorizing shaker is a laboratory shaker that provides the orbital shaking motion, used for the decolorizing and the destaining applications, such as the destaining of the electrophoresis gels, and it is used in the biology, the biochemistry, the molecular biology, and the many other laboratories. The orbital decolorizing shaker consists of a shaking platform with the holders, a motor with the eccentric mechanism, which provides the circular orbital motion, a speed control, and the housing, and it shakes the samples in the circular orbital motion, with the speed adjustable, providing the gentle agitation for the decolorizing and the destaining; the orbital decolorizing shaker is used for the destaining of the polyacrylamide gels, for the staining and the destaining of the gels, for the washing of the blots, for the mixing, for the hybridization, and for many other applications, and it is available in various sizes; the orbital decolorizing shaker is an essential instrument for the gel processing. Orbital decolorizing shakers are used in the biology laboratories, in the biochemistry laboratories, in the molecular biology, in the research, and for many other applications. With their orbital motion, orbital decolorizing shakers are essential for the gentle destaining.
Orbital Decolorizing Shaker LORDS-T2012
Orbital Decolorizing Shaker has a 10 mm orbital diameter for smooth and uniform agitation. It operates within a speed range of 70 to 400 revolutions per minute for precise mixing control...
Orbital Decolorizing Shaker LORDS-T2020
Orbital Decolorizing Shaker has a 20mm orbital diameter for smooth, consistent mixing. It supports a maximum load of 2kg, ensuring stable operation with common lab vessels. A brushless D...
Orbital Decolorizing Shaker LORDS-T2011
Orbital Decolorizing Shaker comes with a 4mm orbital diameter for light, controlled agitation. It handles up to 2.5 kg of weight, making it suitable for delicate mixing routines. The adj...
Orbital Decolorizing Shaker LORDS-T2010
Orbital Decolorizing Shaker features a 10 mm orbital diameter for smooth, uniform motion. It supports a maximum load capacity of 7.5 kg, compatible with a wide range of vessels. The shak...
Standards
IEC 61010-2-051:2018-Particular requirements for laboratory equipment for mixing and stirring
Complies with the above standards, but is not limited to them.
Features
1. Orbital decolorizing shaker for gentle orbital agitation of gels, blots, stains and samples in molecular biology labs.
2. Compact orbital shaker with smooth, low-speed motion for staining, decolorizing, washing and incubation.
3. Suitable for molecular biology, biochemistry, clinical, research, academic and industrial laboratories.
4. Includes shaker body, platform, non-slip mat, speed controller, timer, power supply and operation manual.
5. Supports gentle orbital mixing of Western blots, gels, stains, antibodies, washes and general lab samples.
FAQ
Q1: What testing scenarios is this shaker mainly applied to?
A: The orbital decolorizing shaker is used in molecular biology, biochemistry, clinical, research, academic, and industrial laboratories to provide gentle, low-speed orbital agitation (typically 10-100 RPM, small orbit 5-20 mm) of gels, blots, membranes, and samples in trays, dishes, and containers, supporting staining, decolorizing, washing, antibody incubation, and general gentle mixing. It supports molecular biology (Western blot (antibody incubation (primary/secondary antibody on membrane - gentle orbital shaking ensures even antibody coverage, reduces background, improves signal; typically room temp or 4 degrees C (if shaker is cold-room compatible or placed in cold room), decolorizing (Coomassie blue-stained protein gels - destaining solution (methanol/acetic acid) with orbital agitation removes excess stain, clarifies background; the shaker is specifically called "decolorizing" for this application), staining (Coomassie, silver stain, Ponceau S - even stain coverage), washing (PBST/TBST washes between antibody steps, membrane washes), Southern/Northern blot (hybridization, washing), ELISA (microplate incubation - gentle mixing improves binding; some models hold microplates), gel drying/prep, protein biology (gel staining/destaining, in-gel digestion (trypsin digestion of gel pieces with gentle mixing), antibody labeling, protein purification (wash steps), cell biology (fixation/permeabilization, staining (immunofluorescence washes), general sample mixing), clinical (sample mixing, reagent incubation, serology), and general laboratory (gentle mixing of samples in trays, dishes, bottles; hybridization; any application requiring low-shear, gentle orbital agitation).
Q2: What standards does the shaker comply with?
A: The orbital decolorizing shaker follows relevant IEC, ISO and GB/T standards including IEC 61010 (safety requirements for electrical laboratory equipment), and applicable laboratory equipment standards. The hardware complies with EMC standards (IEC 61326). For regulated use (clinical, GMP), follow applicable equipment management and calibration requirements. Calibration verifies shaking speed (RPM) with tachometer and timer accuracy. These are general laboratory equipment, not medical devices unless specified.
Q3: What is the warranty period for the whole shaker and key components?
A: The whole orbital decolorizing shaker is covered by a 12-month warranty. The motor, drive mechanism, platform, controller, timer, and housing are covered, while non-slip mat (wear/replaceable), platform accessories (trays, clamps), power cord, and fuses are consumables/accessories. Damage from improper use, liquid spillage (corrosion - clean promptly; these shakers are often used with liquids (stains, buffers) - spill-resistant design is important), motor/bearing failure, dropping, or unauthorized repair is excluded. Extended warranty may be available. Motors/bearings last 5-10 years with normal use; non-slip mats degrade over time (replace if cracked/sticky).
Q4: Is this device difficult to operate? Is professional training required?
A: Operation is very simple (place samples on platform, secure, set speed/time, start). No professional training required for basic use. We provide operation manuals. Proper setup (place on stable, level surface (shakers vibrate - unstable surface causes movement, noise; ensure bench is solid), ensure adequate ventilation (motor generates heat - do not block vents; if using in cold room (4 degrees C) or incubator (37 degrees C), verify shaker is rated for that temperature/humidity (standard shakers may have electronics that fail at temperature extremes or condensation - use cold-room/incubator-rated model), connect power), sample loading (select appropriate platform accessories (non-slip mat for trays/dishes, microplate holder for 96-well plates, flask clamps if needed), ensure samples are securely placed (loose trays can slide, spill; use non-slip mat, tape, or dedicated holders; cover trays/dishes to prevent evaporation and spills (parafilm, lid), balance the load (distribute weight evenly across platform (unbalanced load causes vibration, noise, wear; if odd number, balance with blank vessel), do not overload (follow max platform weight), speed setting (set speed based on application: very gentle (10-30 RPM for antibody incubation, delicate blots, small volumes), gentle (30-60 RPM for decolorizing, washing, general), moderate (60-100 RPM for more vigorous mixing, larger volumes; decolorizing shakers typically max ~100-150 RPM (not high-speed - these are gentle shakers, not for cell culture suspension which needs 100-300 RPM), start at low speed and increase gradually (prevents spills, splashing), set timer if needed (1 min to continuous; for decolorizing, check periodically (15-60 min) until desired background cleared; for antibody incubation, 30-60 min at room temp or overnight at 4 degrees C), operation (monitor initially (check for excessive vibration, movement, spills; if shaker walks across bench, reduce load/speed or secure unit), do not leave valuable/hazardous samples unattended for long periods without verification; for overnight runs (4 degrees C antibody incubation), ensure shaker is cold-room rated and samples are covered/secured), post-operation (stop, wait for platform to stop before removing samples, remove samples carefully (check for leaks, spills, condensation), clean platform (wipe with mild detergent/70% ethanol, especially after spills (stain residue (Coomassie, silver) can contaminate future experiments; Coomassie stains plastic permanently - clean immediately; allow to dry), maintenance (regular cleaning (weekly or per SOP - wipe platform, exterior, remove spills immediately; clean/replace non-slip mat (can become stained, sticky, or cracked - replace if needed; mats can be washed), speed verification (every 6-12 months with tachometer), motor/bearing inspection (listen for unusual noise (grinding, squealing indicates bearing wear; check for overheating), troubleshooting (excessive vibration/noisy (unbalanced load - rebalance; worn bearings - service; loose platform - tighten; damaged motor mount), speed inaccurate (calibrate, service motor/controller), shaker moves/walks (unstable surface, unbalanced load, too high speed - stabilize, rebalance, reduce speed), no power (check outlet, fuse, power cord; call service), motor overheating (overloaded, blocked vents, continuous high-speed use - reduce load, clear vents, allow cool-down), and safety (do not overload (platform weight capacity specified - overloading damages motor/bearings, causes imbalance), do not use with volatile/flammable solvents near ignition sources (motor can spark - use fume hood or explosion-proof shaker; decolorizing solutions often contain methanol (flammable) - use in fume hood or well-ventilated area), do not place hands near moving platform while operating (pinch hazard, especially with trays), secure all vessels (loose glassware can break and cause injury/contamination; Coomassie/silver stains can stain skin/clothing - wear gloves, lab coat), chemical safety (decolorizing solution (methanol/acetic acid), stains (Coomassie, silver - toxic, handle with care; dispose per regulations), cold room use (condensation can damage electronics - use rated model, protect from moisture) are important for reliable and safe shaking.
Q5: What is the typical lead-time for order delivery?
A: Standard models require 7-30 working days. In-stock units can ship within 3-7 working days. Custom configurations or large built-to-order systems may require additional time, and we confirm the exact schedule before order confirmation.
Q6: Is regular calibration required? What is the recommended calibration cycle?
A: Shaking speed (RPM) verification recommended every 6-12 months using calibrated tachometer or optical RPM meter (verify at multiple settings (e.g., 20, 50, 100 RPM); accuracy typically +/- 5-10% for analog, +/- 2-5% for digital; if significantly off, service/adjust). Timer accuracy (if equipped) every 6-12 months. Routine functional check before each use (turn on, verify smooth rotation, no unusual noise). Full maintenance annually (motor, bearings, drive mechanism, electrical). For regulated labs (GMP, ISO 17025, CLIA), follow applicable equipment maintenance schedules and maintain records. Orbital decolorizing shakers are low-maintenance, gentle-use instruments; speed verification ensures reproducible mixing for experiments (especially antibody incubation and decolorizing where speed affects signal/background).
Q7: Are supporting consumables universal?
A: Non-slip platform mat (replacement - specific to platform size; silicone/rubber mat), microplate holders (for 96-well plates - standard size, may be universal or platform-specific), tray/dish holders, flask clamps (if needed), tape (for securing vessels - laboratory tape), power cord, and fuses are available from laboratory supply companies, though platform-specific accessories (holders, mats) may be manufacturer-specific (verify compatibility with platform dimensions and mounting system). Long-term consumable cost is minimal (occasional mat replacement, holders if lost/broken).
Q8: Can I customize parameters or supporting accessories?
A: Customization includes platform size (small (20x20 cm to 30x30 cm) for trays, blots, small dishes; medium (30x40 cm) for general use; large for multiple trays/high-throughput), orbit diameter (small orbit (5-10 mm) - gentle, for blots, microplates, small volumes; medium orbit (10-20 mm) - general decolorizing, washing; decolorizing shakers typically have small-to-medium orbit for gentle mixing), speed range (0-100 RPM (standard decolorizing shaker - gentle), 0-200 RPM (more versatile), 0-300+ RPM (general orbital - beyond decolorizing; for cell culture use higher speed models)), speed control (analog (dial, simple, durable) or digital (LED display of actual RPM, memory presets, soft-start/stop, timer, alarm)), temperature compatibility (room temp only (standard) or cold-room/incubator rated (4-40 degrees C - for 4 degrees C antibody incubation or 37 degrees C incubation; important for Western blot (primary antibody often overnight at 4 degrees C - shaker must work in cold room)), construction (platform material (stainless steel (durable, corrosion-resistant, easy to clean - good for stain/buffer spills), plastic (lightweight, low cost)), housing (metal (durable) or plastic (lightweight, low cost)), spill-resistant design (gaskets, raised edges - protects electronics from spills (important for decolorizing/staining applications)), accessories (non-slip mat, microplate holder, tray/dish holder, flask clamps, humidity dome (for microplates - prevents evaporation), sticky pads, tape), safety (overload protection, soft-start, timer with auto-shutoff, audible alarm, emergency stop), certifications (CE, cULus, FCC), language and accessories. Additional platform accessories can be ordered separately.
Q9: Does the purchase include on-site installation and commissioning service?
A: Standard delivery includes orbital decolorizing shaker, non-slip mat, power cord, and instruction manual. On-site installation is not required (plug-and-play - place on bench, secure samples, set speed, start). On-site training not included (operation is intuitive). Remote guidance provided.
Q10: What types of samples are compatible with this equipment?
A: The orbital decolorizing shaker gently agitates various samples in trays, dishes, plates, and vessels including protein gels and blots (SDS-PAGE gels (Coomassie staining/destaining, silver staining, zinc staining), Western blot membranes (PVDF, nitrocellulose - antibody incubation (primary/secondary), washing (PBST/TBST), Ponceau staining, stripping/reprobing), agarose gels (staining/destaining), in-gel digestion (gel pieces with trypsin)), molecular biology assays (ELISA (96-well plate incubation - antibody/antigen binding, washing), Southern/Northern blot (hybridization, washing), colony lifting, hybridization), cell biology (fixation/permeabilization, immunofluorescence staining/washing, cell staining, gentle cell suspension (if low speed)), clinical/diagnostic (sample mixing, reagent incubation, serology/immunology assays, blood banking (some applications)), and general laboratory (gentle mixing of reagents/samples in trays, dishes, bottles, beakers; washing steps; incubation; any low-shear mixing application). NOT suitable for: High-speed vigorous mixing (decolorizing shakers are gentle (max ~100-200 RPM); for cell suspension culture (100-300 RPM) or vigorous mixing, use standard/high-speed orbital shaker), large volumes (>1-2 L per vessel or total platform load beyond capacity - use larger/floor-standing shaker), high-viscosity materials (gentle orbital cannot mix thick pastes - use overhead stirrer), live cell suspension culture requiring aeration (decolorizing shakers have small orbit and low speed - insufficient aeration for cell culture; use dedicated incubator shaker with larger orbit and higher speed), very small volumes (<100 microliters in microplates (evaporation risk - use humidity dome or sealed plates; orbital shaking may cause edge effects), and flammable/volatile solvents (unless in fume hood or with explosion-proof shaker - decolorizing solution (methanol/acetic acid) is flammable - use in fume hood or well-ventilated area). IMPORTANT: Orbital decolorizing shaker fundamentals: (1) What it is: A small, gentle orbital shaker specifically designed for low-speed, low-shear agitation of gels, blots, and samples in trays/dishes. The name "decolorizing" comes from its most common use: destaining Coomassie blue-stained protein gels (the shaker gently agitates destaining solution to remove excess stain from gel background while leaving protein bands stained). (2) How it differs from standard orbital shakers: - Lower speed range (typically 0-100 or 0-200 RPM, vs 0-300/500 for standard orbital). - Smaller orbit (5-15 mm, vs 25-50 mm for cell culture shakers). - Designed for trays/dishes (not large flasks). - Often more compact and affordable. - May have spill-resistant design (since used with liquids/stains). - Not designed for cell suspension culture (insufficient speed/orbit for aeration). (3) Key applications in molecular biology: - Coomassie blue destaining: The #1 use. After staining SDS-PAGE gel with Coomassie Brilliant Blue (R-250 or G-250), the gel is placed in destaining solution (methanol:acetic acid:water, typically 40:10:50 or 30:10:60) and gently shaken. The destain removes unbound Coomassie from gel background, leaving blue protein bands. Shaking speeds up destaining and ensures even background clearing. Time: 30 min to several hours (or overnight with gentle shaking). Adding paper towel or Kimwipe to destain helps absorb stain (speeds destaining). - Antibody incubation (Western blot): After blocking, membrane is incubated with primary antibody (diluted in blocking buffer) in a tray or hybridization tube. Gentle orbital shaking (20-50 RPM) ensures even antibody distribution over membrane, improves binding, reduces background. Typically 1 hour at room temp or overnight at 4 degrees C (cold room). Secondary antibody incubation: 30-60 min at room temp with shaking. - Washing (Western blot): Between antibody steps, membrane is washed 3-5 times with PBST or TBST (5-10 min each) with gentle shaking to remove unbound antibody (reduces background). - Silver staining: Silver stain protocol involves multiple steps (sensitization, silver, development, stop) each requiring gentle agitation. - Ponceau S staining: Quick reversible stain for total protein on membrane (5-10 min with shaking, then destain with water/TBS). - ELISA: 96-well plates can be incubated on orbital shaker (if microplate holder available) to improve reagent mixing and binding kinetics (optional - many ELISAs are static incubation). - In-gel digestion: Excised gel pieces are destained, reduced, alkylated, and digested with trypsin in tubes with gentle mixing (orbital shaker or rotator). (4) Destaining tips: - Use fresh destain solution (used destain becomes saturated with Coomassie and is less effective). - Add crumpled Kimwipe/paper towel to destain (absorbs free Coomassie, speeds destaining - but don not let towel touch gel bands directly? Actually towel is placed in solution, not on gel). - Change destain 1-2 times during process. - Gentle shaking (not vigorous - can damage fragile gels, especially thin gradient gels or high-percentage gels). - Warm destain (37 degrees C) speeds destaining but can increase background (optional). - Do not over-destain (can fade weak bands - monitor and stop when background is clear but bands still visible). (5) Cold room use: Many Western blot protocols call for overnight primary antibody incubation at 4 degrees C. If placing shaker in cold room (4 degrees C, high humidity), verify the shaker is rated for cold room use. Standard shakers may have: - Electronics that fail at low temperature (capacitors, displays). - Condensation forming on/in electronics (short circuits, corrosion). - Lubricants that thicken at low temp (noisy, slow). Cold-room-rated shakers have sealed electronics, moisture-resistant components, and appropriate lubricants. If using a standard shaker in cold room, protect from moisture (place on dry surface, cover loosely with plastic bag with ventilation? Actually covering can trap moisture - use rated model). (6) Common errors: - Too high speed (can damage fragile gels, cause spills, sloshing; decolorizing needs gentle agitation, not vigorous). - Not securing trays (sliding, spills - use non-slip mat). - Unbalanced load (vibration, walking, wear). - Using non-cold-room-rated shaker in cold room (electronics failure). - Not cleaning after Coomassie/silver spills (stains permanently damage platform/mat, contaminate future experiments - clean immediately). - Overloading (motor strain, imbalance). - Forgetting to cover samples (evaporation, spills, contamination - use lids/parafilm). - Confusing with cell culture shaker (decolorizing shaker is too slow/small orbit for cell suspension aeration). (7) Maintenance: These are simple, reliable instruments. Main issues: non-slip mat degradation (stains, stickiness, cracking - replace), bearing wear (from years of use - listen for noise), and electronics (if used in cold room/humid environment). Clean regularly, verify speed annually, and replace mat as needed.
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