Functions & use of clamp systems
Function of our clamping systems
- Exerts the required vertical force on the sandwich cover, compressing the silicon and thus sealing off the wells.
- Secures microplates tightly in your incubator shaker, while also structurizing your incubator shaker platform space.
General information
Our clamping systems have holes in the groundplate which allow the clamping system to be screwed onto most platforms of incubator shakers. The maximum total weight (partially determined by the number of clamps) that can be loaded onto an orbital shaking without causing excessive wear to the shaker (or movement/trembling of the whole shaking cabinet) is dependent on the shaking frequency, shaking amplitude and the quality (flatness, stability) of the floor. The clamps are supplied with ten 8 mm long screws (+ ten plastic blue rings) for attachment on Kuhner and Infors shakers. For attachment on New Brunswick/eppendorf shakers, 12 mm long screws and white rings are supplied. Put the blue or white rings/washers between the groundplate and the shaker platform to thermally insulate the groundplate from the shaker to some extent (the shaker platform may be slightly warmer than the air in the shaker cabinet).
Use of fixed height clamps for deepwell MTPs + covers only (CR17xx series)
1. Slide the sandwich cover + MTP into the clamp (attached onto an orbital shaking platform), and turn the handle from the "OPEN" position to the "CLOSED" position.
2. Shake under appropriate conditions (depending on filling volume and desired OTRs, see hydrodynamics and oxygen-transfer rates).
Use of height adjustable, universal clamps (CR18xx and CR16xx series)
1. Place one deepwell MTP + sandwich cover, or a pile of maximally 3-4 MTPs + sandwich covers into the clamp (which has been screwed onto the shaking platform of an appropriate orbital shaker)
2. Screw down the (pile of) MTPs + sandwich covers down using the clamp system with the cross-nut (see photo and drawing). Stop turning the cross-nut when friction is felt (the clamp systems with a cross-nut, as supplied from March 2013 onwards, has a protection system against overtightening). The force exerted is then approx 400 N, which is a suitable force for sandwich covers with a solid silicone layer inside. For sandwich covers with spongy silicone (less force required), turn back (release) the cross-nut a half or full turn (180-360 degrees).
3. Shake under appropriate conditions (depending on filling volume and desired OTRs). see hydrodynamics and oxygen-transfer rates).