The orbital rotary shaker was designed during the 1998 Spring semister at MIT.During the first two weeks of the semister the group was acquainted with the conditions in the Third world countries where the orbital rotary shaker was intended to be used. Lectures were given by members of the Edgerton Centre,{I should link this} and Mr. Ben Leader, an affiliate of the Mechanical Science department at MIT.

After the group became aware of the working conditions in the developing countries, and other limitations such as the number of tests which would have to be performed daily and the possible sources of power, the group came up with a list of feasible powers sources and methods of moving the top plate. A pro-cons table was created for each item on the list. After discussions with Professor Carmicheal, a professor at the Ocean Engineering department, and Professor King, head of the experimental Physics department at MIT, the group decided to have the orbital rotary shaker powered by a clock spring and move the plates in an orbital manner using a off-centred crankshaft.

In order to determine the dimension of the spring needed to drive the crankshaft, a prototype of the orbital rotary shaker was first constructed. This 'shaker' would be moved manually. This prototype consisted of two plates. The bottom plate was kept stationary while the motion of the crankshaft turned the top plate. To minimize frictional forces, the top plate moved over three ball bearins. These ball bearings were placed in a V-shaped circular grove of radius 1cm. The centres of these three circles formed an equilateral triangle.As the motion of the ball bearing was constrained, so to did the top plate have to move in a circular orbit.