Shaking Incubator Accessories

What Are Shaking Incubator Accessories?

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.

What You Will Find:

• MultiTherm Touch blocks offer specialized holders for cryotubes, PCR plates, and centrifuge tubes up to 5ml.
• Microplate blocks provide secure, uniform agitation for standard and deep-well 96-well plates.
• Universal spring platforms offer a flexible solution for holding various bottle and flask sizes on a single surface.
• Precision tube adapters allow you to mix 0.2ml to 2.0ml tubes with perfect stability and heat transfer.
• Stainless steel shelves help you maximize your incubator’s internal capacity for static or upright samples.

How to Choose Shaking Incubator Accessories

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.

Specifications Context

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. 

Ready to optimize your incubator’s capacity? Browse our accessories collection and reach out to the MBP team for a friendly quote today.