Halloween season conjures up imagery of witches brewing up spooky concoctions, or mad scientists hard at work in the lab making monsters. Here at 2mag, of course, we know that some of the most sophisticated experiments and creations rely not on magic or mad science, but on our innovative 2mag magnetic stirrers!
In honor of the “spooky season,” take a look below to learn more about the science behind our versatile lab equipment today.
Hands-free stirring
You don’t need a spell to stir your solution hands-free, as if by magic! The key feature of our magnetic stirrers (and what makes them such an essential addition to your laboratory equipment stock) is that they operate on inductive principles. Without moving parts or erosion-susceptible material, your stirrer is able to quickly, efficiently and uniformly stir substances of varying viscosities and compositions.
It may not be a witch’s wand, but this stirrer can still solve your stirring needs with ease! Its smart, simple design helps reduce human error in stirring, while also serving to keep your lab space as clean as possible—an important aspect of the scientific method and, of course, our current concerns with COVID-19.
Unlimited lab potential (and beyond)
As you can see, the applications of hands-free magnetic stirring technology in the lab environment are abundant—limited only by your scientific curiosity and imagination! But our magnetic stirrers do not only have to be used in research labs or school settings. They can also help families and hobbyists have fun embarking upon new projects, this Halloween and all year long—such as homebrewing for a festive gathering, making your own CBD or any other project you can put your mind to. If it involves materials that need to be stirred in an efficient, controlled environment, chances are 2mag’s magnetic stirrers may be able to help.
For kids and kids-at-heart alike, our magnetic laboratory stirrers can seem a lot like magic! Order this specialized equipment for your research lab, science classroom or home brewing or kitchen projects today, or simply contact our team to learn more.
CBD, which stands for cannabidiol, is the second most prevalent ingredient of medical marijuana without any of the components that cause a “high.” It is nearly impossible to avoid marketing for CBD products no matter where you go and this is due to its many health benefits, ranging from pain management to antiinflammatory properties. What exactly does CBD do, and is it possible to make at home? Read on for all our answers and learn how 2mag magnetic stirrers can play a part!
What is CBD?
CBD is a chemical compound derived directly from the hemp plant, making it a naturally occurring substance used in products like oils, edibles, and creams to impart a feeling of relaxation. However, it provides no psychoactive effects unlike its cousin, THC, which is the ingredient in marijuana that gives the feeling of a high. There is some evidence that suggests that CBD is an effective product for managing pain and anxiety, amongst other things, though this industry is still burgeoning.
What forms does CBD come in?
CBD comes in a variety of forms – some more effective than others – many of which can be purchased from vendors, or even made at home! Most commonly, CBD can be purchased as an oil which is created by infusing cannabidiol with a carrier oil, such as coconut or hempseed. These oils can be consumed directly, or they can be mixed into food and drink. Additionally, CBD comes in vapes, edibles, and topicals, all of which are used to apply the calming effect of cannabidiol.
How can I make CBD at home?
Fortunately, CBD can be made entirely at home with few ingredients and the right tools! All you need are ground buds of hemp flowers and food-safe grain alcohol to make your very own CBD oil. To start, you must decarboxylate your plant matter by grinding it into a fine and even consistency and baking it on a tray lined with parchment paper for an hour at 225ºF. This eliminates a carboxylic acid group from the plant matter. Then, you will need to mix the ground hemp with enough alcohol to completely submerge it and stir it for upwards of 10 minutes. Here, it is best to utilize one of our 2mag stirring systems to guarantee an even and reliable stir
without any of the work! This stirring will pull the desired components out of the hemp, including the CBD.
Next, you will need to separate the CBD-laden alcohol from the ground hemp by straining the solution through a cheesecloth or other fine sieve. Repeat this process a few more times with fresh alcohol until your extract starts to appear clearer in color, from its previous dark green color. Then, the extract will need to be kept over gentle heat and stirred for another 15-20 minutes to evaporate more of the alcohol. Our stirring hotplates are perfect for this function, as they can simultaneously heat and mix any solution. Once all the alcohol is removed, the extract should display a thick and tar-like consistency and while it is still warm, draw it up using a large syringe. After these simple steps, you finally have your very own homemade CBD oil that is safe for use!
Before you begin this process, make sure you are fully equipped for it by having the best equipment possible. 2mag magnetic stirrers are leading the industry by ensuring even and effortless stirs each time. Many of our stirring systems utilize magnetic drives containing stationary coils that generate electromagnetic rotating fields, resulting in zero motors and zero moving parts. View our catalog online today to look over all our stirrers and see which one best fits your needs, whether you are making CBD oil at home or conducting research.
Back-to-school season is here! From virtual learning environments and physical classrooms all across the country, students are learning about science in new, engaging ways—and whatever the lesson may be, 2mag magnetic stirrers can help bring it to life.
Read on to learn more about how 2mag supports students’ learning with our modern lab equipment and contributions to education, this back-to-school season and all year long! Take a look.
Upholding the integrity of the scientific method
From elementary school to college and every age in between, students are taught the scientific method and the significance of following it in the laboratory setting. The success of the method depends on a safe, clean environment where tests can be reproduced as many times as needed to achieve a clear understanding of the results. This is where 2mag’s magnetic stirrers come in. They reduce the reliance on moving parts, as well as the risk of human error, to help school labs maintain as clean a lab environment as possible. A clean lab, of course, is a safe lab, especially during the days of COVID-19 when institutions are looking for ways to limit contact among students, teachers and the learning environment.
Make the switch from manual, moving-part stirrers to magnetic for clean, hands-free confidence you and your students can greatly benefit from.
Options for every lesson
One of the biggest benefits of 2mag magnetic stirrers is their versatility! Not only can your magnetic stirrer be used to stir a wide variety of solution types and viscosities, but you can also ask us about different options for your unique lab needs—so you always have the equipment you need for the project at hand.
Beyond the lab
Magnetic lab stirrers can be used to engage students beyond the lab, too! They can help parents and children work on projects together at home, which may be especially helpful as more children continue to learn virtually during this school year.
At 2mag, our commitment to students and their families also extends to our community outreach efforts! We are proud supporters of COVID-19 relief efforts including Feeding America and the First Responders Children Foundation, two organizations committed to providing for children and families in need. We know that when families’ most essential needs are taken care of, children can learn and excel academically, too, and we are proud to be a part of that process.
When you shop 2mag’s selection of laboratory stirrers and other lab equipment, you are doing something great for your student lab, or even your at-home test kitchen where you and your child’s imagination can run wild! Shop or contact us today to learn more and get started.Before purchasing from our catalog of industrial stirrers, it is crucial to first determine what you will need the stirrer for. We offer a wide array of industry-leading stirring systems, each suited to specific and different functions. Continue reading for our guide on our entire selection of stirrers, including what they are used for and how they are different.
Direct Controlled Stirrers
These stirrers utilize a control panel directly on the front of the device that determines various stirring functions, such as power and speed. A power supply unit is always included with direct controlled stirrers in order to provide safe, low voltage to the unit. These are ideal for uses in which the user can be near the stirrer.
Remote Controlled Stirrers
Unlike the previous stirrers, these are operated by a control panel that is found on a separate control unit. These are optimal for applications where the user will have to be in a different location than the stirrer. Many remote-controlled stirrers are submersible, which will be touched on later, but the control panel itself is not resistant to such conditions.
Single Point Stirrers and Multi Point Stirrers
Simply put, our single point stirrers are ultra-compact with one stirring position. We offer single point stirrers that are ideal for small to medium vessels, as well as stirrers that accommodate up to 40 liters. As you might guess, our multi point stirrers offer the same reliable stirring as our single point devices, but with multiple stirring positions available instead of just one. These stirrers provide either synchronized or individually controlled stirring for each separate position, which is just as reliable as our single point stirrers.
Submersible Stirrers and High Temperature Stirrers
These remote-controlled stirrers are safe to use submerged in a water bath or in high-humidity environments. In order to operate these stirrers safely, they do require an external control unit, which is sold separately. Similar to its submersible cousins, our high temperature stirrers are built to withstand high temperatures such as within ovens, meaning that these devices also require external control units.
Small Volume and Large Volume
Our small volume stirrers are ideal for system integration in analytical devices, cuvette holders, and photometers, including cuvette applications, with stirring volume of up to 25 milliliters. On the other end of the spectrum, our large volume stirrers are single point devices designed to hold volumes of anywhere between 40 and 1,000 liters depending on the model. These are suitable for highly viscous media and very strong magnetic coupling, meaning that large or thick-bottomed vessels are no problem.
Hotplate and Drybath
Stirring hotplates are simply stirrers combined with a heating plate, meaning that the stirring platform can be adjusted to temperatures up to 200 °C. The stirring and heating functions can either be used separately or in conjunction with one another. Similarly, stirring drybaths are heating blocks that house samples inside of bore holes, keeping them at set temperatures while also stirring each sample.
Cell and Tissue Culture
These stirring systems are designed for careful and protective mixing of cell suspensions and culture broths. These devices ensure 100% jerk-free and gentle mixing of cell cultures, promising even and smooth stirring to deliver uncompromising continuous operations.
Now that you know a little bit more about the wide array of stirrers available from 2mag, you can peruse our selection of the best stirring systems to find the best fit for your next project. Contact us today with all your questions, and to place your order seamlessly and efficiently.
Magnetic stirring is a widely employed method of stirring and mixing in liquid media that is useful for mixing components or agitating fluids to expedite reactions or improve mixtures. These systems usually consist of two basic components: a chemically inert stirrer magnet placed within the liquid and a magnetic drive located outside the vessel, typically within the housing structure of the plate. 2mag offers industry-leading stirring systems that are maintenance-free and wear-free due to our magnetic drives containing stationary coils that generate electromagnetic rotating fields, resulting in zero moving parts and zero motors. Continue reading for why your laboratory needs 2mag magnetic stirring systems to run more efficiently and effectively than ever before.
Our secret is hidden away inside our magnetic drives that power each stirrer. Conventional stirrers rely on electrical motors to spin permanent magnets that in turn exert force on magnetic stirring bars within the vessel. This means that there are more moving parts that require regular maintenance and also more wear and tear on your instruments. 2mag stirring systems are unique in design and superior in function to conventional stirrers, as our systems operate on inductive principles. The stationary coils housed in most 2mag stirrers mean zero moving parts while still promising higher precision, constant speed, and an ultra-flat design.
2mag stirring systems are configured with space efficiency and one hundred percent reliability in mind. A single stirring point consists of four stationary drive coils arranged in a square configuration, meaning that each coil can be used as a driving element for up to four stirring points. This enables the establishment of a network of stirring points with the use of very few drive coils, and almost any arrangement can be realized. All stirring points operate synchronously, including the speed of rotation, ensuring perfect comparability of samples within the network which is perfect for mass screenings. Additionally, each stirrer is designed to be optimally compact, meaning that your stirring network will not occupy a lot of space.
Our wide array of magnetic stirring systems include direct-controlled and remote-controlled options that are suitable for any environment. Direct-controlled stirrers have a control panel that regulates stirring functions – such as power and speed – located directly on the front, making these optimal for applications where the stirrer will be operated in the same location as the user. Remote-controlled stirrers have a control panel located remotely on a separate control unit, making these optimal for applications where the stirrer will be operated in a different location than the user, such as the stirrer being on the ground under a heavy vessel while the control panel is located conveniently next to the user. Most remote-controlled stirrers are submersible and waterproof, meaning that they are ideal for water bath or other wet environments.
In addition to our top-notch hardware, our stirrers also come equipped with superior functionality to ensure smooth and worry-free stirring every time. One such function that comes equipped on some of our stirrers is mixWATCH, which allows stir bar monitoring with fully automatic trim of the maximum stirring speed for reliable and unattended stirrer operation. Furthermore, our stirring plates allow quick setting of the starting and maximum stirring speeds, immediate stirring stoppage, and reliable catching, centering, and safe acceleration of the stirring bar regardless of viscosity or volume.
2mag magnetic stirrers are a step ahead of the industry due to their cutting-edge innovation and design for continuous applications of all kinds; chemical, biotechnical, or medical. With their long, maintenance-free life quality, these stirring systems are sure to improve the work done at any laboratory. View our online catalog of stirring systems, control units, stir bars, and more to get started on enhancing your lab work today.
Many beer lovers dream about the prospect of brewing their own drinks right at home. After all, what could beat the convenience of pulling bottles of your own homemade beer from the refrigerator? The actual homebrewing process can be confusing to some or intimidating to others – it requires quite a few materials and it is not quick either – but with the right tools and the right help, the payoff is well worth the effort. Continue reading to learn more about brewing at home and how our industrial stirrers can not only make the job much easier but also yield a better product.
Preparation & Sanitation
First, you will want to make sure that you have all the equipment and ingredients that you will need for your homebrew adventure. Many starter kits are available for consumers and these will come with some basic ingredients as well as most of the materials you will require, such as a fermenter, bucket, siphon, and more. Before you begin, it is vital to sanitize all your equipment, such as your magnetic stirrers, that will come into contact with your beer. Keeping your beer away from contaminants, like bacteria, will ensure that you get the highest quality yield. Sanitation products are available individually or come included in most starter kits.
Grain Steeping
Once all your equipment is sanitized and ready for use, you are ready to start your brew. Begin by heating roughly two gallons of water to 170 degrees in a pot large enough to accommodate this volume. Put all your grains into a grain bag and tie it off, then drop your grain bag into the hot water so that it can steep for twenty minutes or so. Remove the grain bag, allowing for runoff to drain, and your water should have changed to a murky shade of brown. This mixture is the wort, which is simply unfermented beer, is sometimes referred to as “sugar water.”
Boil & Magnetic Stirring
Upon completion of the grain steeping, you will bring your wort to a low boil and add either dry or wet malt extract. The wort will boil at this temperature for an hour and stirring every five minutes or so is crucial to preventing any undissolved extract from burning at the bottom. 2mag’s submersible stirrers can continuously stir the mixture during this boiling process to ensure a perfect dissolution. When there are five minutes left on your boil, you will add your finishing hops to the mix which contribute aroma and fragrance to your beer.
Fermentation
Once you are done with your boil, the wort must be cooled down to 70 degrees as quickly as possible, which can easily be done by dunking the pot into a sink full of ice water. When the wort has cooled down enough, it will be moved into your fermentation vessel and topped off with two to three more gallons of filtered water. This is when yeast is added to the mix, which feasts on the sugars in the water from the grains to produce alcohol. All that is left to be done now is sealing the fermenter and aerating the wort with additional magnet stirring, which feeds oxygen to the yeast inside.
Keep your vessel stored in a dark, cool place (around 68 degrees) for two weeks so that the mixture can ferment properly. After enough time has passed, your very first batch of homemade beer will be finished! If you are following a recipe that calls for any bottling additives – most usually priming sugar – then this is when you’ll add them prior to dispensing the beer. After so much work and so many days of waiting, you can finally refrigerate and enjoy your beer.
As far as the procuring the equipment for stirring, 2mag has everything you need. Our high-temperature, heavy-duty industrial stirrers and magnetic stirring systems will do the trick, last a lifetime, and give you the perfect brew every time.
The production and distribution of pharmaceuticals are heavily monitored by the Food and Drug Administration in order to ensure the highest quality of drug for consumers. Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations – or CGMPs for short – are enforced by the FDA in order to verify that every drug being researched and manufactured is safe. These CGMPs are what facilitate the faith placed in the effectiveness and safety of pharmaceuticals which is why following these regulations when using your industrial stirrers is so important.
There are many steps to the production of pharmaceuticals and each one is equally as important as the rest. Factors such as poor hygiene, temperature control, and cross-contamination can influence drug production and the result may pose negative health risks to consumers and the environment alike. The FDA relies on regular inspections of manufacturing facilities as well as reports of potentially defective drug products from the public and industry to ensure that every drug manufacturer is compliant with all regulations. Additionally, CGMPs are the “bare minimum” requirements and many pharmaceutical manufacturers implement their own quality systems that are even more thorough and advanced.
There are multiple basic CGMP guidelines in place to assist manufacturers with ensuring that their processes using industrial stirrers are as streamlined and efficient as possible, including quality management, sanitation and hygiene, equipment, validation and qualification, and inspections.
When it comes to CGMP compliance within your organization, it is usually best to keep it simple by utilizing easy-to-use systems, using current equipment, and implementing processes to check the efficiency of your premises. Reliable equipment is key in consistently manufacturing at a high level, and we offer a selection of the best industrial stirrers, stirring hotplates, and more for these needs. Contact 2mag today to learn more about our magnetic stirring systems and how our magnetic stirrers, such as our submersible stirrers and stirring bars, are the best equipment to ensure for CGMP compliance and the most efficient production.
You might use them every day, or you could be curious as to how they’d directly benefit your business. Whatever your specific situation, it’s good to know the latest trends and information surrounding magnetic stirrers, magnetic stirring, and other laboratory equipment.
Simply stated, a magnetic stirrer uses a rotating magnetic field to force a stir bar to rapidly spin. This stirs whatever liquid you may be working with at the time. Most often used for applications in chemistry and biology, magnetic stirrers are quiet, durable, and efficient. Read on to learn more about how these submersible stirrers can benefit your business or organization.
Embrace the Benefits
As mentioned, one of the main benefits of a magnetic stirrer is that it can achieve a very rapid spin rate. This is accomplished through the use of a rotating electro-magnet (or series of such magnets) under the container that holds your specific liquid.
Meanwhile, stir bars can be octagonal or circular, and might come in a variety of other shapes depending on your specific needs. They range in size from just a few millimeters to several centimeters in length.
Know the Possibilities and Limitations
It’s important to know exactly what magnetic laboratory stirrers can and can’t do. This will help you plan your projects and research endeavors. You can also speak with representatives from a company well-versed with all types of laboratory equipment, especially stirring systems. Here, you could glean insight and information that you hadn’t previously considered.
Stirrers are not homogenizers, nor are they the best choice for gum dispersion. Before buying a stirring hotplate, you should consider a few details. That includes heat output and range, adjustable temperature, capacity, speed, and other factors.
Choose the Best Product for Your Needs
As discussed, stirring bars (sometimes called a stirring flea) come in various shapes and sizes. That ranges from circular, to slide round, ball, oval, bone, triangle, and more. Determining the best size of stir bar depends on your specific needs. It’s usually wise to consider the following:
You’ll also have certain other requirements and specifications for each project on your list.
Partner with a Dynamic Company
If all of this sounds overwhelming and cumbersome to sort through, it doesn’t have to be. Instead, there is a company well-versed with various magnetic laboratory and technical equipment. In fact, for years 2mag has served clients across North America — including Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Browse our website to learn more about our stirring systems, control units, accessories, and more. Then, contact us today with all of your questions, and to seamlessly and efficiently place your orders.