Parts and Accessories

An important accessory for the MiniBeadbeater-96 when temperature control is a concern**.  Typically, a vial filled with beads, sample and extraction media warms up ~10 degrees per minute of beadbeating.  Our 2 ml vial holder (capacity 48 vials) is machined out of high-heat-conductivity aluminum.

The vial holder is pre-cooled to low temperatures inside a refrigerator, a  -80º C freezer, or with liquid nitrogen.  During the beadbeating process, the chilled vial holder keeps the sample temperature at desired low temperatures.

A related application is ‘dry’ bead-grinding of fresh tissue by the cryopulverization technique.  The sample, beads, vials, and vial holder are all pre-chilled to liquid nitrogen temperatures before being processed in a Mini-BeadBeater-96.

The chambers are made of stainless steel and polypropylene plastic and can be autoclaved, if desired.

For small samples requiring more strict temperature control during beadbeating see our 15 ml chamber machined out of solid aluminum.

50 ml Small Chamber, 110803-50SS

* Nucleic acid extraction of microorganisms or tissues in the presence of nucleic acid extraction media generally do not require temperature control.

The two smallest chambers (10-30 ml and 20-80 ml) come with a outer polycarbonate jar that facilitates joining the Miniblender chamber to the Hamilton Beach blender motor and, if desired, can also serve as an ice-water jacket during blending to help keep the homogenate cold.

Because of the low energy demands required to drive these smaller blender chambers, a low-cost kitchen blender purchased from Walmart or like demestic supplier can be substituted for the more costly comercial grade blenders featured on our web site. However, make sure it is a Hamilton Beach brand blender.

Closed MiniBlender Chamber, 10-30 ml, 293030

Closed MiniBlender Chamber, 20-80 ml, 293080

Thick-walled aluminum chamber with Teflon rotor.  Working volume is 15 ml.  The chamber can be precooled and the superior heat capacity and large mass of the 1/2 inch thick aluminum walls keep the sample cold.  The SASC-15 can also be combined with the BeadBeater ice water jacket (the later comes standard with the BeadBeater) for the strictest of temperature control.  Containing no plastic component, the chamber is resistant to phenol/chloroform and acetone solvents.

Due to the high shaking energy of the Mini-BeadBeater series of cell disrupters, dense steel beads can break the standard polyethylene flange caps that are supplied with our stainless steel vials. The silicone rubber caps are also recommended when grinding tissue samples at liquid nitrogen temperatures.  Silicone rubber caps can be washed and serialized using standard procedures.

This low cost leaf punch is great for field work and saves time when doing multiple sampling.  The punch can be autoclaved.

NOTE: The Ultrablender is powered by a Hamilton Beach motor base….the same motor unit used in our BeadBeater and our model 909 Blade Blender. Compatible Hamilton Beach food blenders are also available from stores and on-line sources.