• Rotor is the rotating part of the centrifuge which, has fixed holes

that hold the test tubes or other container of the sample at an angle.
Different Types of Rotors
• Swing- Bucket Rotor – it holds the sample container in a horizontal
position during centrifugation so that the tube is aligned
perpendicular to the axis of rotation and the parallel to the applied
centrifugal field.
Used to separate large sample.
 The pellet is formed at the bottom of the container.
Sample Range : 36mL to 2.2 mL
Advantage: The sedimenting particle has longer distance to travel that
allow better separation and the supernatant is easier to withdraw.
• Fixed Angle Rotor – it hold the tubes at a stable angle relative to the
axis of rotation.
 Used for sedimentation with high centrifugal forces of up to and
more than 60 000 x g.
Sample Range: 0.2 mL to 1 mL
Advantage: It allow shorter sedimentation time in comparison to
swing bucket rotors which mean it has higher rotational speed and
higher centrifugal force.
• Vertical Rotor - the tubes are aligned vertically to the surface or
parallel to the axis of rotation.
 It has very low K factors, which is useful if the particle must only
move a short distance until it pellets.
Advantage: The time it required for the sedimenting particles to pellet
is small.