Shaking Incubator

Shaking Incubator Accessories

<h2>What Are Shaking Incubator Accessories?</h2>
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Shaking incubator accessories are platform attachments and replacement components that secure culture vessels to the shaking deck, expand the range of vessel types a single incubator can accommodate, and maintain safe operation at high agitation speeds. The primary accessories are flask clamps (spring-type or magnetic-attachment systems) for Erlenmeyer flasks of specific volumes, tube racks for culture tubes and centrifuge tubes, microplate holders for 24-well, 96-well, and deep-well plate formats, universal platforms with non-slip surfaces for various container types, and adhesive mats for securing irregularly shaped vessels. Accessories are not universally interchangeable: platform slot patterns, clamp arm geometry, and attachment mechanisms vary by manufacturer and model, so confirm compatibility with the specific shaking incubator before ordering. Always match the flask clamp size to the exact flask volume in use; undersized clamps allow movement that damages cultures, and oversized clamps do not seat correctly in platform slots.
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<h2 dir="ltr">What You Will Find:</h2>
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<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">MultiTherm Touch blocks offer specialized holders for cryotubes, PCR plates, and centrifuge tubes up to 5ml.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Microplate blocks provide secure, uniform agitation for standard and deep-well 96-well plates.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Universal spring platforms offer a flexible solution for holding various bottle and flask sizes on a single surface.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Precision tube adapters allow you to mix 0.2ml to 2.0ml tubes with perfect stability and heat transfer.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Stainless steel shelves help you maximize your incubator&rsquo;s internal capacity for static or upright samples.</li>
</ul>
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<h2>How to Choose Shaking Incubator Accessories</h2>
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Flask clamp size and type
Flask clamps are specified by flask volume: 50 mL, 125 mL, 250 mL, 500 mL, 1 L, and 2 L are the standard sizes. One-piece stainless steel clamp construction is preferable to spot-welded or riveted designs for durability at high agitation speeds. For flasks 2 L and above, clamps with a secondary girdle ring provide additional security during prolonged shaking at 200 rpm or above. Magnetic clamp systems (such as MAGic Clamp-style designs) allow tool-free, rapid exchange between flask sizes without loosening bolts.
Tube racks
Tube racks for shaking incubators accommodate standard 10 mL, 14 mL, 17 mL, 50 mL, and culture tube formats, slotted into the platform deck. Adjustable tube racks that fit multiple tube diameters offer more flexibility than fixed-diameter designs. Confirm the number of tube positions and whether the rack base fits the specific platform slot pattern of your incubator.
Microplate holders
Microplate holders secure 96-well, 24-well, deep-well (2 mL per well), and skirted PCR plate formats to the shaking platform. Platforms designed for microplates typically operate at smaller orbit sizes (19 mm) and higher speeds (up to 400 rpm) compared to flask platforms. Confirm that the holder is rated for the plate format and the speed required by your protocol.
Universal platforms and adhesive mats
Universal platforms with rubber-coated surfaces provide a non-slip base for tissue culture flasks (T-25, T-75), Petri dishes, staining trays, and containers that do not fit standard clamps. Adhesive mats function similarly and are useful for microcentrifuge tube arrays or multiple small containers. Replace adhesive mats periodically as tackiness degrades with repeated use and autoclaving.
Platform compatibility
Before purchasing accessories, identify the platform slot pattern (tab-and-slot vs. screw-mount vs. magnetic) specific to your shaking incubator model. Accessories from the same manufacturer as the incubator are the safest choice; third-party platforms may fit universal tab-and-slot patterns, but should be verified before high-speed use.
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<h2>Specifications Context</h2>
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Stainless steel flask clamps are the preferred material for autoclavability and chemical resistance. Verify whether accessories can be autoclaved at 121 degrees C; not all rubber or plastic components on tube racks and mats withstand repeated steam sterilization. The load capacity of the platform (in kg per position) limits the total mass of vessel plus culture volume that can be safely agitated; exceeding this limit at high speed stresses the drive bearings. For heavy-use labs running continuous 24-hour shaking protocols, select clamps with single-piece construction and check the drive belt or brushless motor specifications for continuous-duty cycle ratings.&nbsp;
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Ready to optimize your incubator&rsquo;s capacity? Browse our accessories collection and <a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">reach out to the MBP team</a> for a friendly quote today.

Block, combination 15 x 0.5 and 20 x 1.5ml

H5000-CMB by Benchmark Scientific is a dual-format interchangeable block for Benchmark MultiTherm Touch and MultiTherm Vortex shaker-incubators, holding 15 × 0.5 ml and 20 × 1.5 ml tubes in a single block. Precision-contoured wells deliver uniform thermal transfer across all 35 positions from 0°C to 100°C. A practical choice for molecular biology labs that routinely use both 0.5 ml and 1.5 ml tubes in the same workflow.

Manufacture

Block, custom drilled, for tubes/vials up to 40mm tall

H5000-CU by Benchmark Scientific is a custom-drilled exchangeable block for the MultiTherm H5000 series thermoshakers, precision-machined to fit non-standard tube or vial formats up to 40 mm tall — supporting 0–100°C temperature control with simultaneous orbital mixing for cryovials, diagnostic tubes, septum vials, and other specialized containers. Contact MBP to specify tube dimensions and request a lead time.

Block, microplate, for MultiTherm Touch

H5100-MP by Benchmark Scientific is an exchangeable standard microplate block for the MultiTherm Touch™ H5100 shaker series, holding one SBS-footprint 96-well plate with a 0–105°C operating range. It delivers temperature-controlled mixing in 96-well format for ELISA incubation, cell-based assays, enzyme kinetics, and bead-based workflows.

Block, multipurpose for liquids, beads, etc. Chamber dimensions: 4 x 2.6 x 1"

H5000-WB by Benchmark Scientific is an open-well multipurpose interchangeable block for MultiTherm&trade; shakers. The 4 &times; 2.6 &times; 1-inch chamber holds liquids, beads, and miscellaneous small vessels for heating, cooling, and mixing over the 0&ndash;100&deg;C range. Compatible with Benchmark MultiTherm H5000-series instruments.

Combination block, 15x0.5ml and 20x1.5ml, for MultiTherm Touch

H5100-CMB by Benchmark Scientific is a combination heating block for the MultiTherm Touch (H5100-HCT), holding 15 × 0.5 mL and 20 × 1.5 mL microtubes simultaneously at 0–105°C. The 35-well exchangeable block allows concurrent incubation of two microtube formats in a single heating cycle, reducing tube transfer steps in molecular biology workflows.

Extra Stainless Steel Shelf

The H2300-SH by Benchmark Scientific is an extra stainless steel shelf (10.5 × 8 in / 26.7 × 20.3 cm) designed for the H2300-HC2 MyTemp Mini CO2 benchtop incubator. Autoclavable for sterile installation between culture runs. Available from MBP Inc. for cell culture labs across the USA and Canada.

Heated lid for MultiTherm Touch

H5100-HL by Benchmark Scientific is a heated lid for the MultiTherm Touch H5100 series of thermoshakers, providing active top heating up to 105°C across all H5100 block formats (0.2 ml to 50 ml tubes and microplates) to eliminate condensation and evaporation during PCR, enzyme digestion, and incubation protocols. Compatible with the full H5100 block lineup.

<h2>What Are Shaking Incubators?</h2>
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A shaking incubator is a laboratory instrument that integrates a temperature-controlled incubation chamber with a motor-driven shaking platform, enabling simultaneous incubation and agitation of liquid cultures, enzyme reactions, and biochemical assays. The shaking motion distributes oxygen and nutrients throughout the culture, prevents cell settling, and promotes faster, more uniform growth than static incubation. Orbital (circular) motion is the standard for most biological culture applications; reciprocating (linear back-and-forth) motion is used for higher-viscosity samples or applications requiring more vigorous mixing. Shaking incubators are used in bacterial and yeast suspension culture, recombinant protein expression in E. coli or Pichia, hybridization and wash steps in molecular biology protocols, and solubility studies in pharmaceutical development. Advanced models include brushless DC motors for long-term maintenance-free operation, programmable step sequences for multi-phase culture protocols, and refrigeration capability for cold-temperature protein expression down to 4 degrees C. Choose a shaking incubator over a static incubator when your culture requires aeration, cells tend to settle, or your protocol specifies a defined agitation speed in rpm.
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<h2>What You Will Find</h2>
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<ul>
<li data-section-id="7gw372" data-start="0" data-end="178">Benchtop &amp; Refrigerated Shaking Incubators: Incu-Shaker&trade; Mini, 10L, 20L, refrigerated (10LR/20LR), and CO₂ models for temperature-controlled culture incubation and shaking.</li>
<li data-section-id="aipkwp" data-start="180" data-end="320">Microplate &amp; Tube Shakers: Orbi-Shaker&trade; and Incu-Mixer&trade; systems for efficient mixing of microplates, PCR plates, and laboratory tubes.</li>
<li data-section-id="x9v3pj" data-start="322" data-end="521">MultiTherm&trade; Heating &amp; Shaking Systems: MultiTherm&trade; and MultiTherm&trade; Touch shakers with interchangeable blocks for PCR plates, cryotubes, centrifuge tubes, deep-well plates, HPLC vials, and more.</li>
<li data-section-id="rno1mp" data-start="523" data-end="696">Platforms &amp; Flask Holders: Spring platforms, microplate platforms, MAGic Clamp&trade; flask clamps, shelves, heated lids, CO₂ regulators, and other configurable accessories.</li>
<li><a href="../../equipments/temperature-control-equipment/incubators/shaking-incubator/shaking-incubator-accessories">Shaking incubator accessories</a>: Including replacement platforms, adapters, tube blocks, clamps, shelves, heated lids, and other compatible accessories to expand the functionality of your shaking incubator system.</li>
</ul>
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<h2>How to Choose a Shaking Incubator</h2>
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Orbital vs. reciprocating motion
Orbital shakers move the platform in a horizontal circular path, providing gentle, uniform agitation suitable for most cell cultures, bacterial suspensions, and biochemical assays. Reciprocating shakers move the platform in a linear back-and-forth motion at variable stroke lengths, generating higher shear forces appropriate for viscous media and dense suspensions. For general microbiology and cell culture, specify orbital motion; for high-viscosity or industrial-scale applications, reciprocating motion may be preferred.
Temperature range and refrigeration
Standard shaking incubators heat from ambient + 5 degrees C to 60 degrees C. Refrigerated models add cooling capacity, extending the range down to 4 degrees C or below, which is critical for recombinant protein expression protocols in E. coli, where low temperature reduces inclusion body formation. Confirm whether the model supports both heating and cooling, or heating only.
Speed range and orbit size
Shaking speed is expressed in revolutions per minute (rpm); most models cover 30 to 300 rpm. Orbit size (the diameter of the circular motion, typically 19 mm or 25 mm, with large-capacity models reaching 50 mm) determines aeration efficiency. Larger orbits improve oxygen transfer to cultures at lower rpm, which is gentler on sensitive cells. Smaller orbits at higher rpm are preferred for microplate-scale applications.
Capacity: flask size and platform load
Platform capacity specifies how many flasks of a given volume the unit accommodates. A common benchmark: a benchtop unit holds four 2 L Erlenmeyer flasks or twenty 125 mL flasks simultaneously. Ensure the platform accepts interchangeable clamp systems for the flask sizes used in your lab, and verify total load capacity in kg; high-speed operation with heavy flasks can stress the drive mechanism.
Control system and connectivity
PID temperature controllers are standard; advanced models add touchscreen interfaces, programmable step sequences linking consecutive temperature and speed profiles, USB or RS-232 data logging, and STEP programming for timed multi-phase culture runs. For regulated workflows, look for password-protected parameter lockout.
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<h2>Specifications Context</h2>
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Temperature uniformity in shaking incubators is harder to achieve than in static incubators because the shaking motion creates air currents inside the chamber. Forced-air circulation combined with a well-insulated chamber maintains uniformity to plus or minus 0.5 degrees C at setpoint under normal conditions. Orbit size affects flask choice: a 19 mm orbit with standard Erlenmeyer flasks at 250 rpm is a common general-purpose configuration for E. coli culture. Review the manufacturer's maximum flask volume and load per platform position; overloading a platform at high speed is a common cause of drive failure in shaking incubators.
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Do you want to cultivate your liquid cultures more effectively? View our selection of shaking incubators and <a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">get in touch with the MBP team</a> for a helpful quote right now.

Product Literature

Microtube Adapter, 20 x 1.5/2.0ml for microplate shakers BT1500 and H6004

Microtube Adapter, 20 x 0.5ml for microplate shakers BT1500 and H6004

Incu-Mixer™ MicroPlate Shakers

H6002 by Benchmark Scientific is the Incu-Mixer™ MP2, a heated microplate vortexer accepting two standard microplates simultaneously, with dual heated surfaces (base and lid) maintaining temperature from ambient +5°C to 70°C. Speed range is 100–1,200 RPM on a 2 mm orbit. Compatible with all standard plates up to 40 mm high and operates on a universal 100–240 VAC supply. Heated lid actively prevents condensation during extended incubation runs.

Temperature Range

Orbit

Mixing Speed (4-Plate)

Mixing Speed (2-Plate)

Temperature Increment

Temperature Accuracy

Temperature Uniformity

Speed Increment

Max. Plate Height (4-Plate)

Max. Plate Height (2-Plate)

Dimensions (4-Plate)

Dimensions (2-Plate)

Weight

Timer

Electrical (4-Plate)

Electrical (2-Plate)

Warranty

Incu-Mixer MP2™ Heated Plate Vortexer 115-240V (US Plug)

Incu-Mixer MP2™ Heated Plate Vortexer 115-240V European plug)

Incu-Mixer MP4™ Heated Plate Vortexer, 115V

Incu-Mixer MP4™ Heated Plate Vortexer, 230V

MAGic Clamp magnetic clamp, 3000mL Erlenmeyer (max. 4)

MAGic Clamp magnetic clamp, 2000mL Erlenmeyer (max. 5)

MAGic Clamp Tube rack, 30x15mL & 20x50mL tubes (max. 1)

MAGic Clamp magnetic clamp, 1000mL Erlenmeyer (max. 4)

MAGic Clamp magnetic clamp, 500mL Erlenmeyer (max. 6)

MAGic Clamp magnetic clamp, 250mL Erlenmeyer (max. 8)

MAGic Clamp magnetic clamp, 125mL Erlenmeyer (max. 12)

MAGic Clamp magnetic clamp, 50mL Erlenmeyer (max. 20)

MAGic Clamp magnetic clamp, 25mL Erlenmeyer

MAGic Clamp magnetic clamp, one microplate (max. 4)

MAGic Clamp™ Magnetic Clamps Accessories

MAGic Clamp™ Tube Rack, 30x15ml &20x50ml tubes (max. 4)

MAGic Clamp™ Tube Rack, 72x14mm culture tubes

MAGic Clamp™ Tube Rack, 32x15ml, tubes (max. 8)

MAGic Clamp™ Tube Rack, 15x50ml, tubes (max. 8)

MAGic Clamp™ Tube Rack, 4x500ml or 600ml conical bottles (max. 1)

MAGic Clamp™ Tube Rack, 12 x 1.5/2.0ml tubes, horizontal

MAGic Clamp™ Tube Rack, 4 x 15ml tubes, horizontal

MAGic Clamp™ Tube Rack, 2 x 50ml tubes, horizontal

MAGic Clamp™ tilted holder for 15mL and 50mL tube racks (max 8)

MAGic Clamp™ Tube Rack Accessories

Magic Clamp™ Patent Product

Incu-Shaker 20L with non-slip rubber mat

H3020 by Benchmark Scientific is the Incu-Shaker™ 20L, a high-throughput stackable shaking incubator with a 17.8 × 17.8 in. platform, 30–300 rpm orbital shaking (19 mm orbit), and a temperature range of ambient +5° to 60°C (±0.1°C accuracy). Holds up to four 5-liter Erlenmeyer flasks; stacks up to two units for doubled capacity. Touch-screen controls, non-slip rubber mat included. 115 V or 230 V, 480 W. 2-year warranty.

Speed

Temp. Range

Temp. Accuracy

Temp. Uniformity

Platform Dimensions

Dimensions

Height

Electrical

Incu-Shaker 20L with non-slip rubber mat, 115V

Incu-Shaker 20L with non-slip rubber mat, 230V

Incu-Shaker 20LR (Refrigerated) with non-slip rubber mat

H3022 by Benchmark Scientific is the Incu-Shaker™ 20LR, a refrigerated stackable shaking incubator with a temperature range of 4°C to 60°C (±0.1°C accuracy), 30–300 rpm orbital shaking on a 19 mm orbit, and a 17.8 × 17.8 in. (45 × 45 cm) platform holding up to four 5-liter Erlenmeyer flasks. Stacks up to 2 units. Brushless induction motor, touch-screen controls, non-slip rubber mat included. 115 V or 230 V, 480 W. 2-year warranty.

Incu-Shaker 20LR (Refrigerated) with non-slip rubber mat, 115V

Incu-Shaker 20LR (Refrigerated) with non-slip rubber mat, 230V

Incu-Shaker™ 10L with non-slip rubber mat

H2010 by Benchmark Scientific is the Incu-Shaker™ 10L stackable shaking incubator — 30–300 rpm, RT+5 to 60 °C (±0.1 °C accuracy), 45 × 45 cm platform, up to 5 × 2L flasks, 115/230V, 480W. 2-year warranty. Includes non-slip rubber mat.

Incu-Shaker™ 10L with non-slip rubber mat, 115V

Incu-Shaker™ 10L with non-slip rubber mat, 230V

Incu-Shaker™ 10LR (Refrigerated) with non-slip rubber mat

The H2012 Incu-Shaker™ 10LR by Benchmark Scientific is a refrigerated shaking incubator with a temperature range of ambient −12°C to 60°C, ±0.1°C accuracy, 30–300 rpm, 45 × 45 cm platform, and capacity for up to 5 × 2 L flasks. Includes MAGic Clamp™ system and non-slip rubber mat. 115V or 230V.