======DIY Centrifuge======


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**Alternative titles:** Homemade Centrifuge Options
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
 See links below for several DIY centrifuges:


  * Paper/String “Paperfuge”: hand-powered whirligig using a button, string, and a cardboard disc; ultra-low cost, very high RPM for capillaries.
  * Wire-Swing Enhancement: adds a wire cradle so tubes hang vertical post-spin; adaptable to hand-powered, ceiling-fan, or rotary-tool drives.
  * Salad-Spinner Centrifuge: manual spinner with tube holders (combs/putty/bands); ~600–950 RPM; safe, low cost, larger capacity.
  * Microplate Spinner: pull-cord salad spinner with cable-tied plate inserts; quick plate clearing.
  * Dremel-Driven Rotor: 3D-printed rotor on a rotary tool; up to ~35,000 RPM; requires strict guarding, balancing, and adherence to tool limits.

Test by centrifuging a dirt/water mixture.

====Links==== 
DIY Centrifuge | Class 9 Science Lab Experiment - Cbse Academic Unit: 
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📄 How to Make a Lab Centrifuge - LabSupNet: [[https://labsup.net/blogs/blog/how-to-make-a-lab-centrifuge?srsltid=AfmBOoraGLJGQliUf_8SgAh7lYT5DaZgEkOPedEEl3VcVIJROPtzA05W]]\\


====Variations====
  * Add a wire “swing-out” cradle so tubes return vertical after spin, reducing remixing.
  * 3D print interchangeable rotors for different tube sizes (capillary, 1.5 mL, 15 mL) with generous safety factors.
  * Build a clear polycarbonate shield or use a lidded salad spinner as secondary containment.
  * Explore “salting out” or viscosity changes to compare separation efficiency across designs.
  * Incorporate a simple optical tachometer (reflective tape + light sensor) for accurate RPM measurement.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Always wear safety glasses; use a sturdy cover/shield around any spinning rotor.
  * Balance tubes precisely; never run with an unbalanced load (excess vibration can cause ejection or breakage).
  * Inspect rotors, hubs, and mounts before each run; retire any part with cracks or fatigue.
  * Keep hands, hair, and loose clothing away from moving parts; never open the lid while spinning.
  * Do not exceed tool or material ratings (e.g., Dremel speed limits, 3D-printed plastic strength); avoid ad-hoc power-tool hacks that lack guarding.
  * Use sealed tubes for bio/chem samples and follow proper decontamination and waste procedures.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Which design gives the highest RCF for your resources? (RCF scales with radius and the square of RPM; small-radius devices need much higher RPM to match larger rotors.)
  * Why must loads be balanced? (Unbalanced forces cause large torques and vibration, risking mechanical failure and poor separation.)
  * Why might a slower device still be useful pedagogically? (It demonstrates sedimentation principles safely and cheaply, even if quantitative separations take longer.)
  * How do swing-out vs. fixed-angle rotors affect pellets? (Swing-out forms pellets at tube tips with clearer supernatant; fixed-angle forms sidewall pellets that may resuspend more easily.)