Centrifuge and Rotor Safety Guide

Setting your Centrifuge:

1. When you receive your new centrifuge/ rotor record the purchase date of each rotor, along with manufacturing date and serial number.
2. Read the manuals for the centrifuge/ rotors and tubes before using the equipment.
3. Rotors must be used with the correct centrifuge (Kubota rotors in Kubota centrifuges
4. Maximum speed and sample density ratings designated by the manufacturer for each rotor are intended to prevent stress failures and should always be observed.
5. Sample loads must be balanced and swinging bucket rotors must not be run with missing buckets.
6. Set the proper run speed on each time to prevent overspeeding.
7. Use a titanium rotor if corrosive salt solutions will be used frequently.
8. Do not scratch or otherwise damage the aluminum oxide layer that protects the underlying metal.
9. Cleaning of Centrifuge

How to Clean your Centrifuge:

Clean all spills or breakage involving radiological, toxic, pathogenic or biological material immediately.

Rotor cavities and buckets must never be cleaned with an ordinary bottle brush with sharp wire ends. Use special plastic coated brushes.

Do not use alkaline detergents or cleaning solutions that may remove the anodized coating. Most commercially available solutions for radioactive decontamination are highly alkaline.

If corrosive materials have been run or spilled on the rotor, wash it immediately.

Only wash the buckets of a swinging bucket rotor. The body of the rotor should never be immersed: the hanger mechanisms are hard to dry and can rust.

Air dry the rotor after it has been cleaned and thoroughly rinsed with water.

Maintaining Rotors:

1. Store all fixed angle vertical tube and near-vertical tube rotors upside down, with the lids or plugs removed in a dry environment.
2. Swinging bucket rotors should be stored with the bucket caps removed.
3. Lubricate O-rings and threads as recommended by the manufacturer.
4. Observe warranty period and retirement recommendations for each class of rotor and consideration should be given to retiring the rotor when the warranty period has expired.
5. Rotors and accessories must be made non-radioactive, non-pathogenic, non-toxic and otherwise safe prior to maintenance or repair. A signed statement must be included with the equipment.

For more information, email us at info@acornsci.com or visit our website at www.acornsci.com.

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