The Z446-750-B15 is a 17-position 15 mL conical tube insert for the Hermle Z446-MP-BUK rectangular bucket on the Z446-750-AC 4-place swing-out rotor (Z446 / Z446-K chassis), sold as a 2-pack. Each insert holds 17 × 15 mL conical tubes; the 4-bucket rotor configuration takes 2 packs (4 inserts) for full symmetric loading, delivering 68 × 15 mL conical tubes per cycle in swing-out geometry. The B-prefix denotes the rectangular-bucket variant, distinct from the A15R insert (18 × 15 mL on the round bucket Z446-750-BUK at 72/cycle). The rectangular bucket geometry supports specific protocol formats (microplate-direct, certain insert layouts) on the Z446-750 platform.
Key Specifications
| SKU | Z446-750-B15 |
| Type | Tube insert: 17 × 15 mL conical (rectangular bucket) |
| Pack quantity | 2 inserts per SKU (full 4-bucket configuration takes 2 units = 4 inserts) |
| Per-insert capacity | 17 × 15 mL conical tubes |
| Per-cycle throughput (full configuration) | 68 × 15 mL conical per cycle |
| Tube format | 15 mL conical Falcon-style (17 mm OD, 120 mm length) |
| Compatible bucket | Z446-MP-BUK (rectangular bucket on Z446-750-AC swing-out rotor) |
| Compatible rotor | Z446-750-AC (4-place swing-out rotor body): rectangular bucket variant |
| Compatible chassis | Z446, Z446-K (refrigerated), and -E voltage variants |
| Max. operating speed (with insert + tubes) | Per Z446-MP-BUK spec: 4,000/4,500 rpm at 3,130–3,961 × g maximum (slightly lower RCF than round bucket due to 17.5 cm vs 19.2 cm radius) |
| Max. radius | 17.5 cm (rectangular bucket geometry) |
| Temperature at max speed (refrigerated chassis) | 4 °C |
| Geometry | Swing-out (0–90°): flat sediment surface |
| List price | $507 (2-pack) |
Round Bucket vs Rectangular Bucket: Geometry Distinction
The Z446-750-AC swing-out rotor accepts two bucket profiles:
| Bucket | Max RCF | Max radius | Loading height | Loading weight |
| Z446-750-BUK (round) | 4,346 × g | 19.2 cm | N/A | N/A |
| Z446-MP-BUK (rectangular) | 3,961 × g | 17.5 cm | 80 mm | 640 g |
The rectangular bucket reaches lower max RCF (smaller radius) but supports different load-distribution profiles, useful for microplate-direct workflows (the rectangular bucket accepts standard SBS-format microplates without adapter) and for certain rectangular-shaped inserts. The B15 insert (this SKU) uses the rectangular geometry for its 17-position 15 mL conical layout.
Compatibility & When to Order This SKU
Insert pairing: Z446-MP-BUK rectangular bucket only. Order this SKU when:
- Adding 15 mL conical workflow to a Z446-750-AC + Z446-MP-BUK rectangular-bucket install. Order 2 units for full 4-bucket symmetric loading (68 tubes/cycle).
- Mixed microplate / 15 mL workflow consolidation: when the lab uses the rectangular bucket primarily for microplate workflows and the B15 insert adds 15 mL conical capability without requiring a round-bucket swap.
- Cold-chain 15 mL conical clinical-research prep on the Z446-K refrigerated chassis at 4 °C max-speed temperature.
- Replacement inserts if a current set is damaged or worn.
Application Profile
4-bucket symmetric loading. All 4 rectangular buckets must use matching B15 inserts for symmetric balance.
Per-insert symmetric loading. Within each insert, the 17 conical tubes should be balanced symmetrically. Pair tubes by mass with the seventeenth position symmetric to the insert's central axis.
Design Architecture
Mixed microplate / 15 mL workflow consolidation: when the lab uses the Z446-MP-BUK rectangular bucket primarily for microplate workflows and the B15 insert adds 15 mL conical capability without round-bucket swap.
Cold-chain 15 mL conical clinical-research prep on the rectangular-bucket platform: patient sample fractionation, aliquot prep at 68 × 15 mL conical per cycle on the cold-chain swing-out chassis.
Cell-culture pellet recovery in 15 mL: pelleting non-adherent cells from 68 parallel 15 mL suspension batches per cycle on the rectangular-bucket platform.
Density-gradient prep in 15 mL: Ficoll, Percoll, sucrose-gradient prep at 68 parallel preps per cycle on the cold-chain swing-out chassis with rectangular-bucket geometry.
Cold-chain protein prep in 15 mL: TCA, ammonium-sulfate, organic-precipitation in 15 mL conical at 68 parallel preps with refrigeration on the rectangular-bucket platform.
Cross-format Z446-K core facilities: labs running both microplate workflows (rectangular bucket direct-fit) and 15 mL conical workflows (this B15 insert) on the same Z446-MP-BUK inventory benefit from workflow flexibility.
Ordering & Configuration
4-bucket symmetric loading. All 4 rectangular buckets must use matching B15 inserts. Mixed-bucket configurations produce mass asymmetry.
Tube cap confirmation. All conical tubes must be securely capped before spinning at 4,500 rpm.
Z446-750-B15 ships as 2 inserts. 15 mL conical tubes are operator-supplied (commodity Falcon / Corning / equivalent formats). The Z446-MP-BUK rectangular bucket is sold separately.
Confirm at quote: bucket pairing (Z446-MP-BUK rectangular bucket in inventory; distinct from the round bucket Z446-750-BUK which uses A15R insert), chassis pairing (Z446 or Z446-K) and power configuration, tube format (15 mL conical Falcon-style), pack count (2 packs for full 4-bucket configuration = 68 tubes/cycle), and lead time.
Warranty: 5-Year Hermle warranty (3 years full + 2 years drivetrain) on the inserts.
Z446-750 15 mL conical workflow paths (Z446-750-AC swing-out rotor):
- Z446-750-B15 (this product): 17 × 15 mL conical insert on Z446-MP-BUK rectangular bucket (68/cycle, 17.5 cm radius)
- Z446-750-A15R: 18 × 15 mL insert on Z446-750-BUK round bucket (72/cycle, 19.2 cm radius)
Pick B15 when the lab uses the rectangular bucket for mixed microplate / 15 mL workflows; pick A15R for highest 15 mL throughput on the round-bucket platform.
