What can happen if a centrifuge rotor is not balanced properly?

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tubular centrifuge — centrifuge Figure 1: Tubular centrifuge

It is essential that a centrifuge rotor be well balanced to ensure the total mass is distributed evenly around the axis of rotation. When a rotor is not properly balanced, it creates unnecessary vibration and places excessive strain on the shaft and bearings.1

Proper balancing is a fundamental safety and operational requirement, as it ensures the resultant of all elemental forces acting on the rotor is zero. Failure to maintain this balance can compromise the integrity of the machine and its components during high-speed operation.1