Centrifuge
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A centrifuge is an apparatus that rotates at high speed and by centrifugal force separates substances of different densities. Centrifuges are commonly used for separating very fine suspensions from a fluid, that would normally be too fine to filter.
Contents
Design
A centrifuge consists of a body apparatus, where a rotor is attached. On the rotor, there is a support for attaching samples. The rotor is covered by a lid, for safety.
Availability
Centrifuges can be purchased from various online sellers.
Projects
- Separate extremely fine particles
DIY centrifuge
The simplest way to make a centrifuge is to connect a support to an electric motor. To control the speed, use a power regulator.
A small-scale centrifuge can be powered by an electric drill or drillpress.
The Paperfuge is a hand-powered, ultra-lightweight, very inexpensive centrifuge with a design based on a classic 'whirligig' toy. It is reportedly capable of separating plasma or malarial parasites from blood, and reaching centrifugal forces of 30,000 G or more.
Making more powerful centrifuges is dangerous, as it requires delicate machination.
