The stirrer comes with a plate stand with support rod and clamp, a steel cross-stirrer, chuck key, and power cord. The stand and stirrer are valued at approximately $340 if purchased separately - many competitors charge extra for these accessories.

The SCI40-Pro operates on 100-220V, 50/60Hz, making it suitable for use worldwide. A US plug is standard; other plug types are available on request.

The SCI40-Pro comes with a 2-year warranty covering manufacturing defects and component failures under normal use conditions.

Yes. Scilogex offers a range of stainless steel and PTFE-coated impellers including straight stirrers, paddle stirrers, centrifugal stirrers, anchor stirrers, radial-flow stirrers, spiral stirrers, and flat-blade stirrers. Impellers are available in various shaft lengths and impeller widths.

The microprocessor continuously compares actual shaft speed to set speed and adjusts motor power automatically. This maintains ±3 RPM accuracy even as sample viscosity changes during your process.

The LCD displays real-time torque information, allowing you to visually track viscosity changes as they happen. This is useful for monitoring polymerization progress, emulsion development, or any process where viscosity correlates with product properties.

Yes. The RS232 interface connects to any PC with a serial port (or USB with an adapter). Free software is available for download from the Scilogex website, allowing you to control the stirrer and log data from your computer.

Safety circuits automatically cut off the motor in anti-stall or overload conditions. An LED indicator alerts you to the condition. The stirrer can be restarted once the obstruction is cleared or load is reduced.

Yes. The brushless DC motor is designed for extended operation without overheating. For multi-day reactions, the SCI40-Pro operates reliably without scheduled rest periods.

Magnetic stirrers work well for low-viscosity liquids in smaller vessels (typically under 5 liters). Overhead stirrers are necessary when viscosity exceeds about 5,000 mPas, when volumes exceed magnetic stirrer capacity, when you need specific impeller geometries for mixing patterns, or when the coupling between stir bar and magnet becomes unreliable.

The SCI40-Pro matches IKA and Heidolph models on core specifications (speed range, torque, capacity, viscosity handling) at 25-35% lower cost. Premium brands offer additional features like USB connectivity, advanced programming, and extended warranties that may or may not be relevant to your applications. For routine overhead stirring, the results are identical.

The SCI40-Pro is affordable, not cheap. There's an important difference. Cheap equipment cuts corners on components and construction, leading to poor performance and short service life. Affordable equipment delivers reliable performance at reasonable prices by eliminating premium brand markups and unnecessary features. The SCI40-Pro uses quality components (brushless motor, microprocessor control, LCD display) - you're just not paying for the brand name.

A digital overhead stirrer is a laboratory mixing device that uses a motor-driven shaft with an attached impeller to agitate liquids. "Digital" refers to electronic speed control and display, as opposed to analog dial controls. Overhead stirrers are mounted above the vessel and mix from the top down, unlike magnetic stirrers that spin a bar at the bottom of the vessel.

Use an overhead stirrer when: your sample volume exceeds magnetic stirrer capacity (typically 5-10 liters), your sample viscosity exceeds 5,000-10,000 mPas, you need specific mixing patterns from different impeller designs, you're working with magnetic-sensitive materials, or the stir bar coupling becomes unreliable due to vessel geometry or sample properties.

Torque is rotational force - it determines how much resistance the stirrer can overcome while maintaining set speed. Higher viscosity materials require more torque. The SCI40-Pro's 60 Ncm handles viscosities up to 50,000 mPas. If your materials are thicker than peanut butter, you may need a higher-torque model.

The 50,000 mPas viscosity rating indicates the maximum viscosity the stirrer can effectively mix. For reference: water is about 1 mPas, honey is 2,000-10,000 mPas, peanut butter is 150,000-250,000 mPas. The SCI40-Pro handles everything from water to thick polymer solutions.  

Different impellers create different flow patterns. Cross stirrers provide general-purpose mixing for most applications. Paddle stirrers work well for gentle blending and heat transfer. Centrifugal (propeller) stirrers create axial flow for suspensions and low-viscosity liquids. Anchor stirrers sweep vessel walls for high-viscosity materials and heat-sensitive products. Radial-flow stirrers create horizontal flow patterns for certain dispersion applications.

The through-shaft (or pass-through) design means the stirrer rod passes completely through the chuck and can be adjusted up or down without removing it. This makes it easy to change impeller depth during operation - useful when optimizing mixing parameters or when sample volume changes during your process.