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Frequently Asked Questions About Centrifuges
FAQ
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MSE Centrifuges FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About MSE Centrifuges (FAQ)
All machines have a mechanical override. You need the tool provided with the centrifuge or a thin piece of metal such as a very thin screwdriver or small Allen key. If you don’t have the correct tool and you are improvising, then your makeshift tool needs to be 1.5mm in diameter and 3cm long. Always ensure the centrifuge has stopped and is disconnected from the supply. Insert the tool into the hole. The hole for the mechanical override is in different positions on different centrifuges as follows: Instructions for activating the Mechanical Override in our centrifuge models:
  • Micro Centaur Plus & Kestrel: Right-hand side on the main chassis. Push tool in about 3cm.
  • Micro Centaur R Right-hand side on the main chassis above the main switch. Unscrew and pull the plug to release using the tool provided.
  • Hawk Right-hand side on the main chassis above the main switch. Unscrew and pull the plug to release using the tool provided.
  • Hawk R Left-hand side on the main chassis. Use the tool provided to open the lid by turning counter-clockwise.
  • Harrier & Harrier R Right-hand side on the main chassis above the main switch. Unscrew and pull the plug to release using the tool provided.
  • Falcon 6/300 & 6/300R Top of lid 6cm from the front. Pivot toward you.
  • Cellsep 6/720R Right-hand side top of the lid, 22cm from the rear. Pivot to the right.

The centrifuge is designed to cut out if an out-of-balance occurs. First, check that the buckets are evenly balanced, the maximum allowed is generally about 5g.

Remove the buckets if it is a swing-out rotor and run the centrifuge with just the rotor in place. If the centrifuge now runs smoothly weigh the buckets to ensure they are of equal weight. Often the inserts/cushions get mixed up during the cleaning, thus making the overall bucket weights uneven.

Buckets, at times, do not swing out correctly during the run due to dirt or dried grease on the trunnion pins that the bucket sits on. Clean and lubricate trunnions and bucket slots.

Check that with the buckets on the rotor swing up to the horizontal position freely, then try the same with tubes in place. This is because the tubes may be too long and maybe catch on the rotor.

The imbalance detector may be too sensitive. All centrifuges in general will cut out at about 500 to 1000 rpm to prevent damage to the machine if an out-of-balance is detected.


The set-up of the imbalance detector will require an engineer.

Often users operate the centrifuge without performing a pre-cool. The motor in the centrifuge generates heat and the cooling comes from the rotor bowl.

It is unrealistic to start a centrifuge at ambient temperature and run it at full speed and expect the refrigerator to pull the temperature down to say 3 degrees on a 10-minute run.


We advise you to run the centrifuge with no samples in the rotor at the required temperature at a low speed such as 800 RPM for 15 minutes to allow the bowl and rotor to get to the set temperature. Then put samples in and run as normal.

After use, all refrigerated centrifuges should be left with the lid open to allow the frost on the inside of the bowl to evaporate.

If the lid is shut after use, the frost melts and remains in the bowl, this can cause corrosion and is the main reason for damage to the top bearings in the motor or drive assembly.

This can be a costly operator error, always leave the lid open.

Sometimes the out-of-balance switch jams in transit. Try to move the motor and rotor about.

Just by this action, the out-of-balance switch will reset itself and the problem is resolved.