3 MAINTENANCE
3.1 Service and maintenance
3.1.1 Maintenance and cleaning
Maintenance:
Maintenance of the centrifuge is confined to keeping the rotor, the rotor chamber and the rotor
accessories clean as well as to regularly lubricating the rotor insert bolts of a swing out rotor (if
available).
Vaseline, available in nearly each store, is the most suitable lubricant. The Vaseline must be free of resin
and acids. Lubricants containing molycote and graphite are not allowed.
Please pay special attention to anodized aluminium parts. Breakage of rotors can be caused even by
slightest damages.
In case of rotors, buckets or tube racks getting in touch with corrosive substances the concerned spots
have to be cleaned carefully.
Corrosive substances are for instance:
• Alkalis
• Alkaline soap solutions
• Alkaline amines
• Concentrated acids
• Solutions containing heavy metals
• Water-free chlorinated solvents
• Saline solutions, e.g. salt water
Cleaning:
Thorough cleaning not only has its purpose in hygiene but also in avoiding corrosion based on pollution.
In order to avoid damaging anodized parts such as rotors, reduction plates etc., only pH-neutral
Detergents with a pH-value of 6-8 may be used for cleaning.
Alkaline cleaning agents (pH-value > 8) must not be used.
After cleaning, please ensure all parts are dried thoroughly, either by hand or in a hot-air cabinet
(max. Tempe 50°C).
It is necessary to coat anodized aluminium parts with anti-corrosion oil regularly in order to increase their
life-spans and reduce corrosion predisposition.
Due to humidity or not hermetically sealed samples, condensate may be formed. The condensate
has to be removed from the rotor chamber with a soft cloth regularly.
The maintenance procedure has to be repeated every 10 to 15 runs, but at least once a week.
CLS-EQ-104 October 2013 , Document 01, Revision 02
