Centrifuge Safety Guide

• Always run centrifuge with ALL buckets in place
• Always load buckets symmetrically
• Always balance adjacent and opposing loads within manufacturer’s recommended tolerance
• Always balance the centrifuge tubes (by weight, not just by eye), and put the balanced tubes in opposing positions in the rotor

Attachment to Centrifuge

• Superspeed rotors must be locked down to the centrifuge drive by tightening the lock knob
• Lowspeed rotors must be fastened by locking pin
• General purpose, small benchtop, and micro-centrifuges must be fastened by locking nut or other mechanism as specified by manufacturer
• Rotor can fail due to excessive speed, causing catastrophic failure of centrifuge, injuring user – know the speed limits of the rotor and don’t exceed these. Max speed varies from one rotor to another; large rotors cannot be spun as fast as small ones

Always double check that your rotor is locked down before pressing start !

Swinging Bucket Rotors

• Buckets must be placed properly on the swinging arms
• Swinging bucket rotors must have all buckets in place
• Buckets should be cleaned and lubricated regularly to ensure a free swing out during the run

For swinging bucket rotors, gently swing out each bucket to ensure a free easy motion. Always double check before pressing start.  

Centrifuge tubes can break in rotor due to excessive wear and tear or inappropriate use, causing imbalance of rotor, catastrophic failure of centrifuge, injuring user. Each tube has a Xg resistance, ensure you use the correct tubes for the sample type and the centrifuge you are using.

• Always make sure caps, adapters, o-rings and tubes are not degraded
  • Body caps must be in good condition
  • Discard all caps that have damaged or worn threads. Any wear on cap must be regarded as dangerous
• O-rings are not insignificant. They are an integral part of the rotor and tube design - they must be in place to run safely
• Lubricate O-rings with vacuum grease, replace immediately if there is any sign of damage

• All rotors are designed with a maximum load tolerance at the maximum speed
• If the maximum load is exceeded then the maximum speed MUST be derated – ALWAYS check this in the manual and use the formula below
• Ultraspeed swinging bucket rotors used for gradient work – density of sample should be verified against speed and temperature to prevent point load failure

• Surface corrosion - caused by long term exposure to moisture or chemicals
• Stress corrosion - surface corrosion that is allowed to propagate until micro-cracks form deep into the structure of the rotor

How to prevent surface corrosion:

• Clean rotors between every use
• Thoroughly dry rotors between uses
• Remove adapters between runs
• Never use metallic objects to open or remove parts that may scratch the anodized surface
• Use cleaning substances /sterilisation methods that are chemically compatible with the rotor material. If your application is corrosive consider an alternative rotor material such as carbon fibre!

• Rotors are exposed to high g-forces and do wear out
• The molecular structure of the rotor changes as the metal elongates repeatedly – eventually they will fail!
• All rotors need to be retired – even when they appear to be in good condition. Metallic parts fatigue over repeated uses with no visible signs of wear

Have your rotors inspected regularly by a trained technician.

• Is my rotor corrosion-free and the anodising intact?
• Is the rotor within its service life?
• Are the o-rings in place and not de-graded?
• Are samples balanced and loaded?
• Is the rotor secure?
• Are the tubes matched to the correct adapters?
• Are the tubes chemically compatible with what you are running in them?
• Correct usage-filling levels.
• Remove all bottles and adapters.
• Keep it clean - For general purposes clean with mild non-alkaline detergent and rinse with water.
• Turn upside-down on paper towel to allow complete drying.
• Make sure your rotors are inspected yearly by a trained professional.

Prevention is always the best policy.