Benchmark Scientific

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>
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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, 384 well plate, for MultiTherm Touch

The H5100-384 by Benchmark Scientific is an interchangeable block for a single 384-well plate on the MultiTherm Touch Vortex Mixer (H5100 series). Temperature range 0–105°C, instrument speed up to 3,000 rpm. Extends MultiTherm Touch to high-density 384-well plate workflows.

Manufacture

Dry Baths Accessories

<h2>What Are Dry Bath Incubator Accessories?</h2>
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Dry bath accessories are the secondary components that extend or optimize the functionality of a dry block heater: aluminum insert blocks that define the tube format capacity; heated lids that eliminate condensation; external temperature reference probes for calibration verification; and carrying and storage cases for portability. Because the aluminum insert block physically determines which tube formats the dry bath can process, insert block selection is the single most impactful purchase decision after the base unit itself. Most manufacturers supply one insert format as standard with the base unit; labs processing multiple tube formats must purchase additional inserts separately. Select accessories based on the tube formats used in your primary protocols, confirming that inserts are brand- and model-compatible before ordering.
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<h2 dir="ltr">What You Will Find:</h2>
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<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Specialized Heating Blocks: High-conductivity aluminum blocks tailored for everything from 0.2ml PCR strips and 1.5ml centrifuge tubes to larger 50ml conical vessels.
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<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Custom &amp; Solid Block Options: Versatile solid blocks suitable for slides or custom machining, alongside blocks specifically drilled for HPLC vials and cuvettes.
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<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Precision Monitoring &amp; Power: External temperature probes for direct sample tracking and 12V vehicle adapters to maintain thermal control during mobile laboratory work.
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<h2>How to Choose Dry Bath Accessories</h2>
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Aluminum insert blocks: format selection
Insert blocks are precision-machined from aluminum to accept specific tube formats with tight well tolerances (typically within plus or minus 0.1 mm of the tube's outer diameter). Common formats include: 24 wells for 0.5 mL tubes; 15-16 wells for 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tubes; 12-15 wells for 2 mL microcentrifuge tubes; 8-strip configuration for 0.2 mL PCR strip tubes; 12 wells for 15 mL conical tubes; 6 wells for 50 mL conical tubes; and a flat surface (no wells) for microplates or irregular vessels. Inserts are not universally interchangeable across brands; confirm the insert fits the specific dry bath model's block holder dimensions and, for models with auto-recognition, that the insert carries the required auto-recognition contact.
Insert material and thermal conductivity.
Aluminum (Al 6061 alloy) is the standard material for dry bath inserts due to its high thermal conductivity (approximately 167 W/m K), low density, and machinability for tight tolerances. Some specialty inserts for aggressive chemical applications use hard-anodized aluminum or stainless steel, with lower thermal conductivity but better chemical resistance. Always use manufacturer-supplied or manufacturer-approved aluminum inserts; after-market inserts with inferior tolerances reduce thermal contact and degrade temperature uniformity.
Heated lid accessories
Heated lid accessories for dry baths are sold separately for many base unit models or as an upgrade kit. When selecting a heated lid, confirm: (1) it fits the specific block footprint and height of your dry bath model; (2) the lid temperature range covers the required anti-condensation temperature (typically 60-110 degrees C); (3) the lid temperature is independently controlled from the block; and (4) the lid surface material is non-reactive with samples. For protein and enzyme protocols, a lid temperature 5-10 degrees C above the block temperature is the typical starting point.
External temperature reference probe
An external calibration probe (typically a thin RTD or thermocouple probe rated for direct insertion into a tube well, connected to a calibrated digital reference thermometer) verifies that the temperature inside the well matches the instrument's displayed setpoint. External probe verification is required for GLP-compliant and regulated laboratory protocols (ISO 9001, CLIA, cGxP) and is good practice annually for any research dry bath. Confirm that the probe diameter fits the insert well format (most probes are 2-5 mm diameter; well diameter varies by tube format) before ordering.
Carrying case for portable dry baths
Mini and portable dry bath models (Labnet PR1MA Mini, and similar) are available with dedicated carrying cases for field applications: point-of-care diagnostics, on-site environmental sampling, and field isothermal PCR or LAMP assays using a 12 V DC automotive power adapter. Carrying cases provide impact protection, secure block holder positioning, and cable management for field use.
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<h2>Specifications Context</h2>
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Aluminum insert block well tolerances of plus or minus 0.1 mm ensure full circumferential contact between the tube outer wall and the block well, maximizing heat transfer and minimizing temperature gradients between the sample and the block setpoint. A loose-fitting insert with 0.5 mm or more of air gap between tube and well reduces heat transfer and can introduce a temperature lag of 1-3 degrees C compared to the block setpoint, systematically underheating samples. Heated lid accessories eliminate condensation-related volume errors of 5-15% that can occur in short (&lt;10 microliter) enzyme reactions at 37-55 degrees C over 30-60 minute incubations. Auto-recognized interchangeable block inserts (where the dry bath unit automatically detects which format insert is installed) are a standard feature on Labnet and similar mid-range dry bath models, improving setup speed and reducing configuration errors.&nbsp;
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Enhance your dry bath setup today&mdash;check out our full range of blocks and <a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">reach out to the MBP team</a> for a quote.

Block, 4 x 15ml centrifuge tubes

BSH100-150 by Benchmark Scientific is a precision-machined aluminum dry bath block for four 15 ml conical centrifuge tubes, compatible with the MyBlock&trade; Mini dry bath (BSH200 and BSH300 series). It enables dry, contamination-free isothermal incubation of 15 ml tube-format samples from ambient temperature up to 100&deg;C.

Block, 40 x 0.2ml tubes or 5 PCR strips of 8 tubes each

BSH100-02 by Benchmark Scientific is an aluminum dry bath block for the MyBlock™ Mini (BSH100/BSH200), holding 40 × 0.2 mL individual PCR tubes or 5 strips of 8 in a single 32 mm block. Temperature range is ambient +5°C to 150°C at ±0.2°C accuracy — for isothermal denaturation, restriction digestion, primer annealing, and enzyme heat-inactivation in PCR tube format outside the thermocycler.

Block, 48 X hematocrit tubes, 1.9mm (not compatible with cover)

BSWHEM by Benchmark Scientific is a precision-machined aluminum dry bath block for 48 x 1.9mm hematocrit tubes. Fits Benchmark Scientific BSH5002 myBlock II and BSH1001 dry bath platforms. Cover-incompatible — select this block for open-top hematocrit incubation workflows.

Block, 48 x 0.2ml tubes or 6 PCR strips of 8 tubes each

BSW02 by Benchmark Scientific is an aluminum dry bath block for 48 x 0.2 ml PCR tubes or 6 PCR strips of 8 tubes each, compatible with the BSH1000 Series, BSH5000 MyBlock Series, and BSH6000 IsoBlock digital dry baths. Supports pre-PCR denaturation, reverse transcription, isothermal amplification, and NGS library prep incubation workflows. Order at mbpinc.net/quickorder using catalog number BSW02 or contact customerservice@mbpinc.net.

Block, 4x50ml, for MultiTherm Touch

The H5100-500 by Benchmark Scientific is a 4-position block for 50 mL conical tubes, designed for the MultiTherm Touch Vortex Mixer (H5100 series). Temperature range 0–105°C, up to 3,000 rpm. Extends the MultiTherm Touch to the largest tube format in the H5100 block lineup.

Block, 5 x 50ml centrifuge tubes

The BSW50 by Benchmark Scientific is a precision-machined aluminum dry bath block for 5 x 50 mL centrifuge tubes. Block dimensions: 3 x 3.75 x 3.25 in. (7.6 x 9.5 x 8.2 cm). Fits BSH1000, BSH5000 MyBlock, and BSH6000 IsoBlock series dry baths. Conical cavities match 50 mL tube profile for consistent temperature uniformity. Sold individually.

Block, 54 x 0.5ml

H5000-05 by Benchmark Scientific is a precision-contoured 54 × 0.5 ml exchangeable block for the MultiTherm H5000 series thermoshakers, supporting 0–100°C and 200–750 rpm for high-throughput enzymatic reactions, PCR setup, and bead-based assay workflows in 0.5 ml microtube format. Interchangeable with other H5000-series blocks for multi-format flexibility.

Block, 6 x 50ml

H5000-500 by Benchmark Scientific is a precision-contoured 6 × 50 ml exchangeable thermoshaker block compatible with the MultiTherm H5000 series, supporting temperatures from 0 to 100°C and speeds of 200–750 rpm. Precision-contoured wells ensure uniform thermal transfer across all six positions. Ideal for cell lysis, enzymatic digestion, and hybridization protocols requiring simultaneous heating and agitation of 50 ml conical tubes.

Block, 6 x 5ml centrifuge tubes (17mm diameter)

The BSH100-5MT by Benchmark Scientific is a machined-aluminum dry bath block holding 6 × 5ml conical centrifuge tubes (17mm OD) for use with the MyBlock Mini dry bath incubator (BSH100 series). It provides uniform heat transfer across all six wells for enzymatic digestions, hybridization reactions, protein incubations, and sample thawing directly in 5ml conicals—no water bath required.

Block, 8x15ml, for MultiTherm Touch

H5100-150 by Benchmark Scientific is an interchangeable block for the MultiTherm Touch™ shaking incubator (H5100 series), holding eight 15 mL conical tubes over a 0–105 °C temperature range. Precision-contoured wells deliver uniform thermal contact while the instrument's orbital drive (200–3,000 rpm, 3 mm orbit) provides continuous mixing. Tool-free block swaps allow rapid format changes between 15 mL tubes and other H5100 block configurations on the same instrument.

Block, 8x5ml centrifuge tubes, for MultiTherm Touch

The H5100-5MT by Benchmark Scientific is an interchangeable block for the MultiTherm Touch platform, configured for 8 × 5 mL centrifuge tubes with a temperature range of 0–105°C and shaking speed up to 1,000 rpm — instrument sold separately.