Rotating inclined plane agitator

Quick Answer: The Rotating inclined plane agitator is a tube mixer with a large disc of tube clips mounted at an angle on a stand; as the tilted disc turns, the tubes roll and invert gently, mixing many small samples at once.

What Inclined Plane Means Here

The name translates a French catalogue term for an agitator whose rotating plate sits on a slope; in English catalogues the same instrument is more often called a tilted-disc or inclined rotator. The photo shows exactly that: a wide disc lined with small clips around its rim and an inner ring, carried at an angle on a blue metal stand.

Tilting the disc changes the motion. On a vertical disc each tube swings through fully upright and fully inverted positions, while on an inclined disc the tubes also rock sideways as they travel round, so the contents wash along the tube walls in a gentler, rolling pattern. That suits samples that should be mixed but not violently inverted, and it keeps settled cells or particles in suspension.

The large disc holds many small tubes at once, which makes it practical for batches of blood or cell samples. Discs of this style are replaceable; the MDRX rotor disc is listed separately, and its compatibility with this agitator should be checked. Speed and disc capacity for this unit are not given in the title.

Where an Inclined Rotator Helps

• Keeping batches of small blood tubes mixed while they wait for analysis
• Maintaining cell or bacterial suspensions evenly before plating or counting
• Gentle mixing of tubes containing fragile aggregates or precipitates
• Incubating many small samples with a reagent at room temperature

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Load tubes around the whole disc rather than on one side, so the angled disc stays balanced.
• Check that the stand fixings and the disc hub are tight before long runs.
• Wipe the clips and disc with a suitable disinfectant after handling biological samples.

Why Choose LabEquip

Haematology training labs and cell-culture groups that mix many small tubes choose an inclined disc rotator for its gentle rolling motion. The Rotary mixer SB2/SB3 offers a vertical-disc alternative, and both are in General Lab Products.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a rotating inclined plane agitator the same as a tilted-disc rotator?

Yes. The product name comes from a French catalogue term, and English suppliers usually call this instrument a tilted-disc or inclined rotator. It is a disc of tube clips that turns while set at an angle.

What does the tilt change compared with a vertical disc?

A vertical disc fully inverts each tube on every turn. A tilted disc adds a sideways rocking, so the liquid rolls along the tube walls more gently, which suits delicate samples and settled suspensions.

Which tube sizes fit the clips?

The photo shows small clips spaced closely around the disc, the style used for small tubes. Measure your tubes’ outside diameter and compare it with the clip size before ordering.

Can the angle of the disc be adjusted?

Some inclined rotators allow the angle to be changed and others are fixed at one tilt. Check whether the supplied model has an adjustable angle if your method depends on one.

How should the tubes be sealed?

Use tubes with secure caps and check them before starting; on a tilted disc a leaking tube drips onto the clips below it. Laboratory film around the caps adds protection for long runs.

Why does the disc wobble?

An uneven load or a loose hub usually causes it. Spread tubes evenly around the disc, tighten the hub and stand fixings, and stop the unit if the wobble persists.

Last Updated: September 2026