Abstract: A centrifuge with a drive-mechanism that incorporates a vertical spindle mounted on ball or roller bearings and driven by a belt in such a way as to rotate while aligning itself in space around a point of attachment on its longitudinal axis with respect to the framework of the centrifuge and with respect to a bearing housing that is supported on the framework. The midplane of the drive belt extends through the point of attachment, with which the center of mass of the self-aligning components also coincide. The overall length of the spindle is short. The ratio L/D of the distance L between the bearings to the diameter D of the bearings ranges from approximately 0 to 2.