Balancing centrifuge....... - (Sep/17/2006 )
suppose u have a 6-tube rotor and 3 tubes to spin.
Can the 3 tubes b positioned alternately( tube1 <\0> tube2 <\0> tube3 <\0> )?
OR is a 4th tube reqd 4 the balancing act(1 opposite each)?
i think the alternate positioning of the three tubes is right and your rotor is balanced..
My physics sez the same but my senior wont agree.
I trust u more strawberry.
I trust u more strawberry.
i don't know if it's okay to put each 2 tubes next together (2 then 0 then the other 2 tubes(the third tube and one for balance)then 0),
but your alternate way of positioning seems right to me
Can the 3 tubes b positioned alternately( tube1 <\0> tube2 <\0> tube3 <\0> )?
OR is a 4th tube reqd 4 the balancing act(1 opposite each)?
i would certainly do the alternate positioning
I agree. Alternating the tubes is okay in this case. 
Alternating is OK if tubes are same weight. If you got two with same weight and one with the other you should add 4th tube and in worst case ie. all tubes with different weight you need to add three extra tubes.
As long as all the 3 tubes weight the same, I would place the tubes alternatively.
It is fine to use only 3 tubes, as long as they have the same weight. If they have different weight, you cannot. Basic physics
If the pattern of tubes (alternating / tube tube blank tube tube (if you use 4 tubes) and the weight is symmetrical (best obtained by havingthe same weightin all tubes), you should not have any problems.
Just to see if you understand the concept, how do you run 7 tubes in a 12-place rotor without adding a balance tube? Assume all tubes are the same weight.