Plate-based laboratory workflows create a different set of centrifugation requirements than conventional tube processing. PCR plates, microtiter plates, assay plates, and other multiwell formats need controlled acceleration, consistent horizontal separation, and—in many biological applications—reliable temperature control. The Thermo Scientific Sorvall Legend XTR Refrigerated Centrifuge with BIOLiner swing-bucket rotor and microplate carriers provides a flexible platform for exactly this type of work.
This particular Sorvall Legend XTR includes the Thermo Scientific BIOLiner swing-bucket rotor, Cat. No. 75003667, along with two microplate carriers, Cat. No. 75003796. With the microplate configuration installed, the system operates at up to 3,500 RPM and 2,739 × g, making it well suited for PCR, molecular biology, assay preparation, cell-based screening, plate washing, and other workflows requiring controlled centrifugation of multiwell plates.
The Legend XTR itself is considerably more versatile than a dedicated plate centrifuge. With other compatible rotors, the refrigerated platform can reach 15,200 RPM and approximately 25,000 × g, while high-capacity swing-bucket configurations can process bottles, conical tubes, blood collection tubes, and other laboratory vessels. This allows laboratories to begin with a plate-focused configuration while retaining the ability to expand the centrifuge into additional workflows later.
Refrigeration from -10°C to +40°C helps protect temperature-sensitive samples during centrifugation and makes the Legend XTR useful in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, molecular biology, genomics, cell biology, and research laboratories.
At American Instrument Exchange, each refurbished centrifuge is professionally inspected, cleaned, and tested before shipment. Our technicians evaluate drive performance, bearings, braking, controls, lid and safety systems, refrigeration, and overall mechanical operation. Because this unit includes the BIOLiner rotor and microplate carriers, the centrifuge and rotor configuration are tested together before shipment.
Features of the Thermo Scientific Sorvall Legend XTR
Includes BIOLiner swing-bucket rotor, Cat. No. 75003667
Includes two microplate carriers, Cat. No. 75003796
Maximum speed with included BIOLiner configuration: 3,500 RPM
Maximum RCF with included BIOLiner configuration: 2,739 × g
90-degree swing-out rotor geometry
Designed for plate-based and general-purpose laboratory centrifugation
Refrigerated temperature range: -10°C to +40°C
Maximum centrifuge platform speed: 15,200 RPM, rotor dependent
Maximum platform RCF: approximately 25,000 × g, rotor dependent
Broad rotor ecosystem for tubes, bottles, conicals, blood tubes, and plates
Auto-Lock III tool-free rotor exchange system
SMARTSpin rotor management technology
Direct-access pre-cooling function
Adjustable speed, time, and temperature
Set and actual operating parameters displayed during centrifugation
Parameters can be adjusted during a run
CFC-free refrigeration system
Compact benchtop design
115V / 120V electrical configuration
90-day warranty included from American Instrument Exchange
Refurbished and tested by American Instrument Exchange
This particular configuration is especially useful for laboratories that want more capability than a small dedicated plate spinner but do not want to dedicate an entire centrifuge solely to microplates.
A Refrigerated Centrifuge Built for Plate-Based Workflows
The advantage of the Thermo Scientific Sorvall Legend XTR Refrigerated Centrifuge for plate processing is not simply that a microplate fits inside it.
Plate-based research frequently involves samples that are sensitive to temperature, centrifugation force, acceleration, and braking. The refrigerated XTR allows laboratories to control chamber temperature while the swinging-bucket geometry brings plates into a horizontal position during centrifugation.
This can be useful during workflows involving:
PCR and qPCR preparation
Nucleic acid purification
Cell-based assays
ELISA and immunoassay preparation
Plate washing and residual-liquid removal
Sample collection at the bottom of wells
Genomics workflows
Proteomics sample preparation
High-throughput screening
Pharmaceutical research
Assay development
For laboratories running these procedures repeatedly, having a full-size refrigerated centrifuge configured for plates can provide considerably greater workflow flexibility than relying on a small specialty plate centrifuge.
BIOLiner 75003667 Rotor and Microplate Carriers
This particular Legend XTR includes the Thermo Scientific BIOLiner swing-bucket rotor, Cat. No. 75003667, with two microplate carriers, Cat. No. 75003796.
The BIOLiner rotor provides:
3,500 RPM maximum speed
2,739 × g maximum RCF
90-degree swing-out geometry
Broad accessory compatibility
Microplate-processing capability with appropriate carriers
Compatibility with additional BIOLiner buckets and adapters
Optional biocontainment configurations
Autoclavable rotor construction up to 121°C, subject to manufacturer limitations
The ability to use different buckets and carriers is an important distinction. The 75003667 is not simply a dedicated microplate rotor—it is a multipurpose swinging-bucket rotor system.
With the appropriate BIOLiner rectangular buckets, the same rotor architecture can provide up to 4 × 750 mL capacity and support a wide range of tube and bottle adapters. This gives laboratories the potential to expand beyond plate processing without necessarily replacing the entire rotor.
Customers should verify the exact carriers, lids, adapters, and other accessories included with the individual centrifuge before purchase.
Why Swinging-Bucket Geometry Works Well for Microplates
During operation, the BIOLiner buckets swing outward until the plates are positioned approximately horizontally.
This orientation is particularly useful for multiwell formats because centrifugal force acts perpendicular to the plate surface, directing liquid toward the bottom of the wells.
That can help laboratories:
Collect droplets from plate walls
Bring reaction mixtures to the bottom of wells
Remove residual liquid following plate washing
Improve consistency before plate reading
Process precipitates or cells in multiwell formats
Prepare PCR plates before thermal cycling
A fixed-angle rotor is usually preferable when maximizing centrifugal force is the priority. For plates, however, horizontal swing-out geometry is often the more useful design.
Refrigeration for Temperature-Sensitive Plate Applications
The Thermo Scientific Sorvall Legend XTR Refrigerated Centrifuge provides a temperature range of -10°C to +40°C and includes a direct-access pre-cooling function.
Temperature control can be particularly important when plates contain:
DNA or RNA samples
Proteins
Enzymes
Cell suspensions
Biological reagents
Temperature-sensitive assay components
The centrifuge can be pre-cooled before samples are loaded, helping reduce unnecessary exposure of temperature-sensitive plates to ambient conditions.
The refrigerated design also expands the XTR beyond plate processing. With another compatible rotor, the same centrifuge can support refrigerated tube or bottle workflows without requiring a second temperature-controlled centrifuge.
Common Applications for the Sorvall Legend XTR
With the included BIOLiner rotor and microplate carriers, common applications include:
PCR plate centrifugation
qPCR sample preparation
Microtiter plate processing
Molecular biology
DNA and RNA purification
Genomics workflows
Proteomics
ELISA preparation
Cell-based assays
Pharmaceutical screening
Drug discovery
Assay development
Biotechnology research
Clinical research
Plate washing workflows
General refrigerated laboratory centrifugation
Adding different compatible rotor accessories can extend the centrifuge into cell culture, blood processing, conical-tube centrifugation, microbiology, and other general-purpose laboratory applications.
More Than a Dedicated Microplate Centrifuge
One of the strongest arguments for choosing the Legend XTR instead of a dedicated plate centrifuge is what the instrument can do when the laboratory's needs change.
The XTR platform supports numerous rotor configurations. Depending on the installed rotor, laboratories can process:
Microplates
PCR plates
Blood collection tubes
15 mL conical tubes
50 mL conical tubes
Larger laboratory bottles
High-speed fixed-angle samples
Compatible fixed-angle rotors allow the XTR to reach substantially greater centrifugal forces than the included BIOLiner.
For example, Thermo's HIGHConic II configuration can operate above 15,000 × g, while other compatible fixed-angle rotor options allow the Legend XTR platform to approach its maximum performance.
This means a laboratory purchasing the centrifuge primarily for plate processing today can potentially configure it for cell harvesting, conical tubes, or higher-speed separations later.
Available rotor inventory changes regularly. Customers interested in additional Legend XTR rotors should contact American Instrument Exchange regarding current availability and compatibility.
Auto-Lock III and SMARTSpin Rotor Management
The Legend XTR incorporates Thermo Scientific's Auto-Lock III rotor system, which allows compatible rotors to be installed and removed without tools.
For a multipurpose centrifuge, this can provide a meaningful workflow advantage. A laboratory can remove the BIOLiner and install another compatible rotor without relying on rotor tools or complicated installation procedures.
Easy rotor removal also improves access to the centrifuge chamber for routine cleaning and inspection.
SMARTSpin technology manages operating characteristics based on the rotor and bucket configuration, optimizing acceleration, braking, and residual load imbalance for the installed rotating system.
Together, these technologies make the Legend XTR particularly well suited to shared laboratories where the centrifuge may serve several applications rather than remaining permanently configured for a single protocol.
Specifications compiled from Thermo Scientific manufacturer literature, technical documentation, and American Instrument Exchange product information.
Power Requirements and Installation Considerations
The 120V Sorvall Legend XTR can be installed in many U.S. laboratories without the specialized high-voltage electrical service required by larger floor-model centrifuges.
However, the refrigerated XTR is a substantial benchtop instrument.
It measures approximately 29.3 inches wide × 26.4 inches deep × 14.2 inches high and weighs approximately 255.7 pounds. The centrifuge should therefore be installed on a sturdy, level laboratory bench or dedicated centrifuge stand capable of supporting both its static weight and the dynamic loads generated during operation.
Approximately 35.4 inches of vertical clearance is required with the lid open.
Adequate clearance should also be maintained around the centrifuge for ventilation and proper refrigeration performance.
American Instrument Exchange prepares larger centrifuges for secure freight shipment to help protect the drive system, chamber, controls, refrigeration components, and included rotor during transit.
Refurbished Thermo Scientific Centrifuges from American Instrument Exchange
A refrigerated centrifuge should be evaluated as a complete mechanical and temperature-control system before being returned to laboratory service.
American Instrument Exchange technicians inspect and test refurbished centrifuges to verify rotating assembly balance, bearing and spindle condition, braking, controls, lid mechanisms, safety systems, and overall mechanical performance.
Refrigerated centrifuges are additionally tested to verify that the refrigeration system reaches and maintains temperature properly.
Because this particular Legend XTR includes the BIOLiner 75003667 rotor and microplate carriers, American Instrument Exchange tests the centrifuge and rotor configuration together before shipment.
American Instrument Exchange and AIE Laboratory Services provide diagnostics, preventative maintenance, and repair support for centrifuges and other general laboratory equipment.
For a refrigerated centrifuge such as the Legend XTR, evaluation may include the drive assembly, bearings, braking system, refrigeration components, temperature sensors, lid safety systems, rotor management, and electronic controls.
If an existing Legend XTR develops a problem, our technicians can help evaluate whether repairing the centrifuge or replacing it with another refurbished system is the more practical option.
Does this particular Legend XTR include a microplate rotor?
Yes. This centrifuge includes the Thermo Scientific BIOLiner swing-bucket rotor, Cat. No. 75003667, and two microplate carriers, Cat. No. 75003796. This configuration is designed for plate-based centrifugation.
Is 75003667 actually a dedicated microplate rotor?
Not exactly. 75003667 identifies Thermo Scientific's BIOLiner multipurpose swing-bucket rotor. Microplate processing is accomplished by installing compatible microplate carriers. The same rotor can support other bucket and adapter configurations, which gives it considerably more flexibility than a dedicated plate-only rotor.
What is the maximum speed with the included BIOLiner rotor?
The BIOLiner operates at up to 3,500 RPM and 2,739 × g in the Legend XTR with this configuration. These rotor-specific limits are lower than the maximum performance of the centrifuge itself.
Why is the Legend XTR rated to 15,200 RPM if this rotor only runs at 3,500 RPM?
The 15,200 RPM specification refers to the maximum capability of the centrifuge platform with an appropriate high-speed rotor. The BIOLiner is a large swinging-bucket rotor optimized for capacity and flexibility rather than maximum RPM.
Can I use the Legend XTR for PCR plates?
Yes. PCR plate processing is one of the applications well suited to this configuration. The horizontal swing-out geometry helps direct liquid toward the bottom of the wells during centrifugation.
Can the BIOLiner also centrifuge tubes?
Yes. With the appropriate BIOLiner buckets and adapters, the rotor can accommodate a broad selection of tubes and bottles and provides up to 4 × 750 mL capacity. Customers should verify the necessary accessories before purchase.
Why choose a refrigerated centrifuge for microplates?
Refrigeration can be useful when plates contain temperature-sensitive cells, nucleic acids, proteins, enzymes, or assay reagents. The Legend XTR provides a -10°C to +40°C operating range and can be pre-cooled before samples are loaded.
Can the Legend XTR be converted from plate processing to conical tubes?
Yes. Depending on the desired tube format, laboratories may be able to reconfigure the BIOLiner with different buckets and adapters or install another compatible rotor. This flexibility is one of the main advantages of the Legend XTR over a dedicated plate centrifuge.
How does the Legend XTR compare with a smaller dedicated microplate centrifuge?
A small plate centrifuge may be sufficient for laboratories that only need quick plate spin-downs. The Legend XTR provides a much broader platform: active refrigeration, programmable general-purpose operation, a large rotor ecosystem, and the ability to support tubes, bottles, and higher-speed applications with other rotor configurations.
Is a refurbished Legend XTR a good choice for a laboratory with changing workflows?
It can be particularly attractive for that situation. A laboratory may initially use this configuration for plate-based molecular biology or assay workflows and later add compatible rotor equipment for conical tubes, bottles, blood tubes, or higher-speed processing. That ability to expand the instrument's role can make a professionally refurbished Legend XTR a more versatile capital investment than a single-purpose centrifuge.
CLICK HEREto see the Thermo Sorvall Legend XTC on our YouTube channel
FAQ
Does the equipment come with a warranty?
Yes, all equipment from American Instrument Exchange comes with a warranty. Used/reconditioned/refurbished equipment is tested to make sure it operates to the manufacturer's specifications and comes with a 90-day warranty (unless otherwise noted). New equipment comes with a warranty from the manufacturer.
How do you test and recondition the equipment?
Testing requirements vary across all the equipment categories we sell. Temperature controlled units are tested with NIST traceable probes and data loggers. Gaskets, external housing, glass, handles, controls and control screens are all thoroughly inspected for integrity and functionality. We test all equipment using the manufacturer's parameters and specifications to confirm that the unit operates properly.
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Return and order cancellation policy
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