Clean and in excellent condition. This unit was already in great working condition but we could not find the maintenance records so we went ahead and opened it up for full inspection, cleaning and lubrication. All bearings are in great shape. Belt appears to have been recently replaced. The main power cord looked a little tired so we replaced it with a heavier duty cable.
Inspected onsite:
- Timer: ✔
- Lid Closed Sensor: ✔
- Power Switch: ✔
- Specimen Clamp: ✔
- Bearings: ✔
- Belt: ✔
- Shaker Connection Joints: ✔
- Motor: ✔
- Power Supply: ✔
Maintenance Conducted:
- Replaced Power Cable
- Lubricated Connection Joints
Manufacturer Description
The BioSpec Mini-BeadBeater-96 is a high-energy, high-throughput mechanical cell disrupter engineered for rapid, non-thermal lysis of demanding biological samples. Utilizing a unique, proprietary multi-directional shaking motion, this instrument dramatically out-performs standard vortex mixers by forcefully agitating disposable microplates or vials filled with small ceramic, glass, or steel beads. The intense impact mechanics achieve near-100% cell wall disruption of tough matrices—such as yeast, fungi, spores, and fibrous tissue—in under three minutes. Built with heavy-duty components and a solid steel platform, the Mini-BeadBeater-96 is a dependable, low-maintenance workhorse for modern high-volume genomic, proteomic, and microbiological extraction workflows.
Technical Specifications
- Capacity: Holds one standard 96-well deep-well microplate, or up to 36 standard 1.5mL to 2.0mL microcentrifuge tubes
- Shaking Frequency: Generates up to 2100 oscillations per minute (fixed high-energy speed)
- Disruption Mechanism: Multi-directional, high-displacement horizontal shaking axis
- Timer Control: Integrated 0 to 5-minute manual dial timer with an automatic shut-off function
- Chassis Construction: Cast iron and heavy-gauge steel housing to minimize benchtop migration during high-speed operation
- Electrical Requirements: 115 VAC, 60 Hz (Standard US Outlet)
- Value-Add: Designed with a versatile, universal quick-clamp hold-down assembly that secures deep-well plates or microtube racks without requiring the purchase of specialized proprietary adapters.
System Compatibility
The Mini-BeadBeater-96 functions as a universal extraction platform compatible with standard laboratory consumables:
- Microplates: Accepts standard 96-well deep-well plates (reinforced square-well designs are highly recommended for steel bead use).
- Vial Formats: Accommodates standard 0.5 mL, 1.5 mL, and 2.0 mL polypropylene microcentrifuge tubes when used in a matching 96-well format tube rack.
- Bead Media Compatibility: Optimized for use with BioSpec zirconia-silica, chrome-steel, and glass lysis beads ranging from 0.1 mm to 2.5 mm in diameter.
Applications
Perfect for scaling up high-yield nucleic acid and protein extractions:
- Genomics & Transcriptomics: Fast, simultaneous isolation of DNA/RNA from high-throughput plant tissue, seed samples, or animal biopsies.
- Microbiology: Complete lysis of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, environmental soil microbes, and environmental water filters.
- Mycology: Rapid disruption of thick chitin walls in fungal mycelia and stubborn yeast cultures.
- Forensics: Efficient, cross-contamination-free pulverization of bone, hair, and teeth fragments in sealed environments.
