Laboratory ovens may not single-handedly propel your company to the forefront of your industry, but they certainly play a very important role in enhancing production processes. These robust workhorses offer a multitude of benefits, from enhancing product quality to ensuring a substantial return on investment, all while significantly improving overall profitability, efficiency, and productivity. With their precision, reliability, and versatility, modern lab ovens are equipped with advanced features such as automatic shut-off timers and overheat protection, designed to prevent any accidents.
Laboratory ovens are ideal for a broad range of uses and used across a wide spectrum of applications, making them indispensable in various fields. They’re used for tasks like delicately drying samples free from contamination, sterilizing glassware and pipettes to eliminate harmful bacteria and viruses, altering the state of materials by melting or solidifying waxes and plastics, facilitating the curing of epoxy and polyester compounds, baking agarose and polyacrylamide gels to perfection, and playing a vital role in separating molecules for DNA analysis and protein purification. They’re also ideal for heat-treating metals and ceramics to improve their properties.
Type of Laboratory Ovens
When it comes to choosing a lab oven, you’ll find several distinct types to consider. Among them, three common types stand out:
Forced Air Convection Ovens
These ovens use a fan or blower to circulate heated air evenly throughout the oven chamber. The fan continuously moves hot air, ensuring a consistent and uniform temperature distribution throughout the interior. Their capabilities extend to a wide array of applications, including drying, baking, sterilizing, heat treating, evaporating, annealing, and testing. For enhanced safety and precise control, many models are programmable, offering advanced functionality.
Gravity Convection Ovens
They’re often simpler in design and operation, they can be quieter and consume less energy than forced air ovens because they don’t require a fan. Used for tasks similar to forced air ovens, including drying, baking, sterilizing, heat treating, evaporating, annealing, and testing. They would be favoured in situations where the absence of forced air circulation is preferable to prevent sample disturbance or contamination. Much like their forced air counterparts, programmable versions of these ovens provide an extra layer of safety and control accuracy.
Vacuum Convection Ovens
As the name suggests, these ovens operate under reduced atmospheric pressure, creating a vacuum or low-pressure environment within the oven chamber. This allows for precise control over certain chemical reactions, drying processes, and heat treatments. They’re particularly well-suited for applications that demand controlled heating in an environment with inert gas, those involving sensitive materials or processes where moisture or gases need to be removed at lower temperatures. Making them ideal for drying, heat-treating, outgassing, and chemical processing under controlled atmospheric conditions.
Other types of lab ovens include Muffle Ovens, specialized for high-temperature applications such as ashing and sintering; and Inert Gas Ovens, which maintain an oxygen-free atmosphere for processes like heat-treating metals and brazing. Each of these ovens serves unique purposes, catering to specific needs within the realm of laboratory and industrial applications.
Despatch’s Top Five Laboratory Ovens
At Despatch, we take pride in our laboratory ovens. They’re known for their high performance with superior uniformity and consistent results. Among our top models, you’ll find a range of features to meet various laboratory needs:
1. LLB Laboratory Oven
Forced Convection Benchtop Oven
The LLB Lab Oven provides forced convection for excellent temperature uniformity, all at a moderate price point. It combines both vertical and horizontal airflow for optimal heat distribution. Key features include fast heat-up rates, short processing times, precise digital controls, and sturdy shelves. Available with a top-mounted fan to prevent spill damage, this industrial oven has a maximum temperature range of 400℉ (204℃) and is UL and C-UL listed. Easy to clean, it’s well-suited for laboratory applications such as drying, curing, annealing, and materials and asphalt testing.
| Model | Chamber Size | Capacity in cubic feet (liters) | Overall Size | Max Number of Shelves | Capacity Per Shelf | Ramp up Time. (40˚C to 204˚C) | Temp Accuracy | Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LBB 1-23 | 18 x 18 x 12 in. 46 x 46 x 30 cm | 2.3 (65) | 24 x 26 x 26 in. 61 x 66 x 67 cm | 5 | 50lb (23kg) | 31 Min. | +/- 3˚C at 150˚C +/- 4˚C at 204˚C | 11.6 or 5.8 |
| LBB 1-69 | 30 x 18 x 22 in. 76 x 46 x 56 cm | 6.9 (195) | 36 x 26 x 36 in. 92 x 65 x 92 cm | 10 | 200lb (91kg) | 29 Min. | +/- 3˚C at 150˚C +/- 4˚C at 204˚C | 21.6 or 10.8 |
| LBB 2-12 | 30 x 20 x 35 in. 76 x 51 x 89 cm | 12.1 (343) | 36 x 28 x 51 in. 91 x 71 x 130 cm | 16 | 200lb (91kg) | 26 Min. | +/- 3˚C at 150˚C +/- 4˚C at 204˚C | 16.6 |
| LBB 2-18 | 37 x 24 x 35 in. 94 x 61 x 89 cm | 18 (510) | 43 x 32 x 51 in. 109 x 81 x 130 cm | 16 | 200lb (91kg) | 33 Min. | +/- 3˚C at 150˚C +/- 4˚C at 204˚C | 16.7 |
| LBB 2-27 | 37 x 37 x 35 in. 94 x 94 x 89 cm | 27.7 (784) | 43 x 45 x 51 in. 109 x 114 x 130 cm | 16 | 200lb (91kg) | 33 Min. | +/- 3˚C at 150˚C +/- 4˚C at 204˚C | 21.7 |
2. LAC High-Performance Laboratory Oven
With Horizontal Airflow for Ultimate Temperature Uniformity
The LAC benchtop oven is designed for demanding laboratory applications. Ideal for drying, sterilizing, aging, and other process-critical procedures, the oven features horizontal recirculating airflow for precise temperature uniformity, a programmable controller, and remote operation, programming, and data logging. For advanced control, there’s an optional Protocol 3™ microprocessor-based temperature and hi-limit controller with a large LCD display. Easy to clean and maintain, the oven has a stainless-steel interior and a maximum temperature of 500℉ (260℃).
| Model | Chamber Size | Capacity in cubic feet (liters) | Overall Size | Max Number of Shelves | Capacity Per Shelf | Ramp up time. (40˚C to 260˚C) | Temp Accuracy | Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAC 1-38 (120V) | 19* x 18 x 19 in. 48* x 45 x 48 cm | 3.8 (105) | 31 x 27 x 38 in. 78 x 69 x 96 cm | 9 | 50 lbs (23 kg) | 60 min. | +/- 2˚C at 200˚C +/- 3˚C at 260˚C | 16.3 |
| LAC 1-38 (240V) | 19* x 18 x 19 in. 48* x 45 x 48 cm | 3.8 (105) | 31 x 27 x 38 in. 78 x 69 x 96 cm | 9 | 50 lbs (23 kg) | 45 min. | +/- 2˚C at 200˚C +/- 3˚C at 260˚C | 10.5 |
| LAC 1-67 | 24* x 20 x 24 in. 61* x 50 x 62 cm | 6.7 (189) | 36 x 29 x 43 in. 91 x 74 x 110 cm | 11 | 50 lbs (23 kg) | 40 min. | +/- 2˚C at 200˚C +/- 3˚C at 260˚C | 12.4 |
| LAC 2-12 | 24* x 24 x 36 in. 61* x 61 x 91 cm | 12 (340) | 36 x 33 x 55 in. 91 x 84 x 139 cm | 17 | 50 lbs (23 kg) | 35 min. | +/- 2˚C at 200˚C +/- 3˚C at 260˚C | 24.2 |
| LAC 2-18 | 36* x 24 x 36 in. 90* x 61 x 91 cm | 18 (510) | 47 x 33 x 55 in. 120 x 84 x 139 cm | 17 | 50 lbs (23 kg) | 45 min. | +/- 2˚C at 200˚C +/- 3˚C at 260˚C | 24.2 |
3. LCC/LCD Clean Process Laboratory Oven
Save Valuable Floor Space – Stainless Steel Interior and Exterior
Designed for minimal contamination applications, this benchtop oven features forced recirculating airflow that is 100% HEPA-filtered. Plus, it can maintain ISO Class 5 (Class 100) operation throughout the process cycle. Available in two atmosphere configurations, the oven provides enhanced control and remote operation. The oven is stackable for added capacity in small labs. Nitrogen atmosphere is available and the maximum temperature is 662℉ (350℃). This oven is ideal for die-bond curing and other semiconductor packaging processes, depyrogenation, sterilizing, and drying for life sciences.
| Model | Chamber Size | Capacity in cubic feet (liters) | Overall Size | Max Number of Shelves | Capacity Per Shelf | Ramp up time. (40˚C to 260˚C) | Temp Accuracy | Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCC/LCD 1-16 | 15* x 14 x 14 in. 38* x 36 x 36 cm | 1.6 (45) | 32.5 x 39.0 x 21.5 in. 83 x 99 x 55 cm | 5 | 25 lbs (11 kg) | 45 min. | +/- 2˚C at 200˚C +/- 3˚C at 260˚C | 15.5 |
| LCC/LCD 1-51 | 23* x 20 x 20 in. 58* x 51 x 51 cm | 5.1 (144) | 41.5 x 46.0 x 28.0 in. 106 x 117 x 71 cm | 8 | 25 lbs (11 kg) | 35 min. | +/- 2˚C at 200˚C +/- 3˚C at 260˚C | 27.3 |
| LCC/LCD 2-14 | 25.5* x 26 x 37 in. 64* x 66 x 94 cm | 14 (396) | 47.5 x 41.5 x 71 in. 121 x 105 x 180 cm | 11 | 50 lbs (23 kg) | 35 min. | +/- 2˚C at 200˚C +/- 3˚C at 260˚C | – |
4. LFC Class A Laboratory Oven
High Performance Laboratory Oven for Flammable Solvents
This benchtop oven meets NFPA 86 requirements for handling flammable solvents or large amounts of moisture removal. Designed for demanding production and laboratory applications, the oven is well-suited for curing, drying, sterilizing, aging, and other process-critical procedures. It features horizontal recirculating airflow to ensure uniform temperatures throughout the oven, a pressure relief panel, a purge timer, an exhaust fan, and perforated, stainless steel walls. This oven ensures exceptional temperature uniformity of +/- 5.6℃ at 538℃. Ideal for annealing, aging, stress relieving, and other process-critical applications, the oven and delivers temperatures up to 1000℉ (538℃). Its maximum temperature is 500℉ (260℃).
| Model | Chamber Size | Capacity in cubic feet (liters) | Overall Size | Max Number of Shelves | Capacity Per Shelf | Ramp up time. (40˚C to 260˚C) | Temp Accuracy | Amps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LFC 1-38 | 19* x 18 x 19 in. 48* x 45 x 48 cm | 3.8 (105) | 31 x 33 x 38 in. (78 x 84 x 97 cm) | 9 | 50 lbs (23 kg) | 20 min. | +/- 2˚C at 200˚C +/- 3˚C at 260˚C | 22.7 |
| LFC 2-12 | 24* x 24 x 36 in. 61* x 61 x 91 cm | 12 (340) | 41.5 x 46.0 x 28.0 in. 106 x 117 x 71 cm | 17 | 50 lbs (23 kg) | 30 min. | +/- 2˚C at 200˚C +/- 3˚C at 260˚C | 29.1 |
5. RBC Laboratory Oven for Burn-in Testing
Stackable Burn-In Chambers
This benchtop lab oven provides maximum flexibility for small lot qualification testing, burn-in, reliability testing, and research and development. A stackable benchtop unit, it allows you to run concurrent tests utilizing different temperatures or different cycle times. It features a unique oven configuration that maximizes throughput and equipment utilization. Standard digital controls allow users to regulate temperatures within tight tolerances, while a small footprint makes it ideal for test labs or production areas where space is at a premium. Options include Protocol 3™ control with a large LCD.
The RBC burn-in oven chambers is assembled with burn-in board racks inside the chamber. The burn-in board has multiple sockets where chips or devices can be plugged in. Depending on the type of chip or device being tested, a single board may accommodate anywhere from a few large devices to over a thousand small chips.
| Model | Chamber Size | Capacity in cubic feet (liters) | Overall Size | Max Dissipation (Watts) | Ramp up time. (240V) | Temp Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RBC 1-50 Air | 18 x 25 x 18 in 46 x 64 x 46 cm | 4.7 (133) | 46 x 36 x 32 in 117 x 91 x 81 cm | @ 80 ˚C – 800 watts @ 125˚C – 1300 watts @ 150˚C – 1400 watts | 25-80 ˚C – 4 min. 25-260 ˚C – 34 min. | +/- 1˚C at 125˚C +/- 1˚C at 260˚C |
| RBC 1-50 Nitrogen | 18 x 25 x 18 in 46 x 64 x 46 cm | 4.7 (133) | 46 x 36 x 32 in 117 x 91 x 81 cm | @ 80 ˚C – 800 watts @ 125˚C – 1300 watts @ 150˚C – 1400 watts | 25-80 ˚C – 4 min. 25-260 ˚C – 30 min. | +/- 1˚C at 125˚C +/- 1˚C at 260˚C |
Laboratory Ovens: Flexible, Reliable, Versatile
Lab ovens are, without a doubt, the workhorses of your laboratory, they’re powerful, versatility, and reliability, improving your application quality and adding value. However, in the realm of lab ovens, not all units are created equal. Finding the perfect match for your specific needs is important before making a purchase. Take the time to explore the wide selection of brands and models available, scrutinizing factors such as quality, performance, warranty, and standard features. If navigating this landscape leaves you with questions or uncertainties, don’t hesitate to seek guidance from experienced manufacturers like Despatch. With their expertise, you can confidently select the lab oven that not only meets your requirements but also fits within your budget, ensuring that your laboratory operations continue to excel.
