The C3100 is the LC-8 Lab Centrifuge — NEW product family of lab-tier centrifuges distinct from the microcentrifuge / mini-centrifuge classes. Sold at $647 with 8 × 15 mL conical-tube rotor included. Lab centrifuges typically operate at lower max RPM (~5,000–8,000 RPM) than microcentrifuges (~14,000+ RPM) but accommodate larger tube formats (15 mL / 50 mL conicals) at meaningful capacity. 150 W power.
Author confidence note (MEDIUM): No specific LC-8 brochure in available corpus. Confirm exact max RPM / RCF, rotor swap mechanism, and timer / control features with Benchmark Scientific technical support.
Voltage options: This unit can be ordered with European voltage requirements (230V/50Hz). Contact us to order.
Key Specifications
| SKU | C3100 |
| Type | LC-8 Lab Centrifuge with 8 × 15 mL conical-tube rotor |
| Rotor included | 8 × 15 mL conical tubes |
| Power | 150 W |
| Voltage | 115 V or 230 V, 50–60 Hz (discrete variants) |
| Compatible accessories | C3100-130RS (rotor shields for 130 mm tall tubes, $143), C3100-ADP (5-7 mL blood tube adapters, $132), C2570 (5 mL tube adapters, $53) |
| Sister LC-8 Plus | C3200 ($897 — premium variant) |
| Sister Sprint clinical | C3303-6HP ($1,899 — clinical-tier with swing-out rotor) |
| List price | $647 |
Lab Centrifuge vs Microcentrifuge — Distinct Chassis Classes
| Feature | Lab centrifuge (LC-8 family, this product) | Microcentrifuge (C1612 MC-12 / C2417 MC-24) |
| Tube format | 15 mL conical (mid-volume) | 1.5/2.0 mL Eppendorf (small-volume) |
| Max RPM | ~5,000-8,000 RPM | ~14,000+ RPM |
| Max RCF | Lower (~5,000-7,000 g) | Higher (~21,000+ g) |
| Best for | Cell-pellet workflows at 15 mL scale, blood tube workflows, mid-volume sample prep | DNA / RNA / protein extraction at high RCF |
| Power | 150 W | 100-250 W (with motor torque optimized for high RPM) |
| List price | $647 | $1,793 (MC-12) / $2,693+ (MC-24) |
Pick the LC-8 (C3100) when:
- Workflow uses 15 mL conical tubes for centrifugation
- Cell-pellet collection at 15 mL volume scale (bacterial / mammalian cell pelleting from larger cultures)
- Blood tube workflows — clinical / hematology centrifugation (with blood-tube adapter accessory)
- Mid-volume sample-prep — workflows requiring centrifugation in 15 mL format
- Cost-optimized lab centrifuge procurement
Step to LC-8 Plus (C3200, $897) when premium features ($250 step-up) match the workflow.
Step to Sprint 6H Plus Clinical (C3303-6HP, $1,899) when clinical-tier swing-out rotor + advanced features are needed.
Step to microcentrifuge (C1612 / C2417) when small-volume Eppendorf workflows at high RCF are the routine.
LC-8 Family Tier Comparison
| SKU | Variant | Capacity | List price |
| C3100 / -E (this product) | LC-8 standard | 8 × 15 mL | $647 |
| C3200 / -E | LC-8 Plus | 8 × 15 mL | $897 |
| C3303-6HP | Sprint 6H Plus Clinical (swing-out) | 6 × 15 mL (12 × 15 mL with optional rotor) | $1,899 |
Application Profile
15 mL conical tube centrifugation — workhorse mid-volume centrifugation workflow.
Cell-pellet collection — bacterial / mammalian cell pelleting at 15 mL scale.
Blood tube workflows — clinical / hematology centrifugation (with C3100-ADP adapter).
Mid-volume sample-prep — DNA / RNA / protein workflows at 15 mL volume.
Educational laboratory teaching — undergraduate / graduate molecular biology coursework.
Multi-investigator shared facility — facility-scale lab centrifuge procurement.
Cost-optimized procurement — entry-tier lab centrifuge at affordable price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What rotor does the C3100 include? An 8 × 15 mL conical-tube rotor.
How does the LC-8 lab centrifuge differ from a microcentrifuge? The LC-8 accommodates 15 mL conical tubes at lower speed (~5,000–8,000 RPM), while microcentrifuges spin 1.5/2.0 mL tubes at ~14,000+ RPM and higher RCF. Pick the LC-8 for cell-pellet and mid-volume 15 mL workflows.
Can the C3100 spin blood tubes? Yes — with the C3100-ADP 5–7 mL blood-tube adapter accessory.
When should I step up from the C3100? Step to the C3200 LC-8 Plus ($897) for premium features, or the C3303-6HP Sprint 6H Plus clinical unit ($1,899) for a swing-out rotor.
Ordering & Configuration
Pair with workflow-specific accessories — C3100-130RS (130 mm tall tube shields), C3100-ADP (5-7 mL blood tube adapters), C2570 (5 mL tube adapters).
Confirm voltage and plug type. 115 V / 230 V chassis.
Confirm at quote: voltage / plug type, intended 15 mL workflow context, accessory pairing, and lead time.
Warranty: Per Benchmark Scientific standard capital-equipment terms.
Lab centrifuge product class:
- C3100 LC-8 (this product, $647) — Standard lab centrifuge, 8 × 15 mL
- C3200 LC-8 Plus ($897) — Premium variant
- C3303-6HP Sprint 6H Plus Clinical ($1,899) — Clinical-tier swing-out rotor
Pick the LC-8 standard for cost-optimized lab centrifuge workflows; sister chasses cover premium / clinical-tier workflows. Cross-class microcentrifuges (C1612 / C2417) cover small-volume high-RCF workflows.
