How to Choose a Laboratory Shaker: 2026 Buying Guide

The right shaker depends on the motion your protocol needs and what you're shaking. Choosing comes down to three decisions: shaking motion, speed, and holders. This guide maps each to the Yamato Scientific MK-161 and SA-300/320/400 shakers.

1. What shaking motion?

• Rotary / orbital — gentle, even mixing for cell culture and suspensions (SA-320, MK-161 rotary mode).
• Reciprocating / horizontal — back-and-forth motion for extraction and dissolution (SA-300, MK-161 reciprocate mode).
• Elliptical — a blend of orbital and reciprocating (MK-161).
• Double-sided vertical — high-capacity simultaneous shaking (SA-400).

For flexibility, the MK-161 switches between rotary, elliptical, and reciprocate motion in one compact unit, and fits inside the IN-604W incubator for shaking incubation.

2. Speed and capacity

Model	Motion	Speed	Notable capacity
MK-161	Rotary / elliptical / reciprocate	20–200 rpm	Compact, incubator-compatible
SA-300	Vertical / horizontal	20–300 rpm	40 mm width
SA-320	Rotary, horizontal/rotary	20–210 rpm	40 mm width
SA-400	Double-sided vertical	20–300 rpm	6 × 1 L + 4 × 2 L

3. Which holders?

• "A" configurations — separating-funnel holders (4 on SA-300/320, 6 on SA-400) for extraction.
• "B" configurations — an adjustable Erlenmeyer-flask holder for culture and mixing.
• Test-tube and other holders are available; glassware not included.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which shaker motion should I choose?

Rotary/orbital (SA-320, MK-161) for gentle culture mixing; reciprocating/horizontal (SA-300, MK-161) for extraction; double-sided vertical (SA-400) for high capacity. The MK-161 offers all three primary motions.

Can a shaker go inside an incubator?

Yes — the compact MK-161 fits inside the Yamato IN-604W incubator for temperature-controlled shaking incubation.

What is the difference between the SA "A" and "B" models?

"A" ships with separating-funnel holders for extraction; "B" ships with an adjustable Erlenmeyer-flask holder for culture and mixing. Holders are interchangeable.

How many samples can the SA-400 shake at once?

The double-sided vertical SA-400 shakes 6 × 1 L and 4 × 2 L liquid-sample holders simultaneously.

Source: Yamato Scientific MK-161 and SA-series documentation. LabSupplies.com is an authorized Yamato dealer — genuine units, full manufacturer warranty, in stock, ships from USA.