Tablet compression tooling is an integral part of a tablet compression machine that defines the tablet’s various physical characteristics. It can make or break the entire tablet batch and establishes its physical properties.
What is tablet compression tooling?
Tablet compression tooling refers to the set of dies and punches that gives the tablet its physical characteristics such as shape, size, weight and hardness. For example, if the punch head is round, tablets will be round-shaped; if the punch head is square, the tablet’s shape will also be square.
They are fixed in the turret, and their number varies, depending upon the type of tablet compression machine, since different machines can handle different tooling numbers.
Tablet tooling is the machine parts that have a direct impact on tablets. In contrast with other machine parts such as CAM, gears and motors, they only indirectly affect machine performance rather than affecting the tablet properties and characteristics.
Table tooling consists of Upper punch, lower punch and a die.
The upper Punch is attached to the upper portion of the turret. It is used to exert force on the powder in the die from the upper position. The upper Punch receives pressure from the upper-pressure roll of the table compression machine.
A lower Punch is attached to the lower part of the turret and exerts force from the lower side. It receives pressure from the lower compression roll of the compression machine. In some machines, the lower Punch does not exert force but instead supports the upper Punch for exerting force on the powder in the die.
Die is a round-shaped mechanical assembly having a cavity in its middle. The powder is filled in the die through the action of various cams in a tablet compression machine. The upper and lower Punch presses the powder in die against each other.
Since tooling is attached to the turret, each rotates during the machine operation. The powder filling in the die and subsequent compression takes during the rotation. After compression and powder conversion, to tablet automatically ejects the tablet out of the die.
Part of tablet compression tooling?
There are different parts of tablet compression tooling, each having a distinct function. Let’s briefly discuss an essential part of tablet tooling.
Head
The head is the upper portion of tooling, and it rests on a guiding cam of a tablet compression machine. Its basic function is to guide the tooling during the entire turret rotation and prevent the ejection of punch from the cam.
Head Flat
It is the topmost part that is flat in its appearance. Its function is to receive the pressure from the compression roller of the tablet machine to exert force on the powder in the die. This part also defines the dwell time, i.e. how much time a powder in the die receives pressure. A larger head flat increases the dwell time and vice versa.
Neck
The neck acts as a supporting and connecting part between the head and body. It is also used to hold the punch in the bore of the turret and facilitates easy movement.
Key
The key is a small flat mechanical part attached to the upper punch in a small spacing. It is attached to prevent the upper punch from rotating in its place and remains fixed during the rotation of the tablet. Its primary function is to keep the upper punch aligned with the die and prevent accidents.
For the lower punch, it is not included, as the lower punch remains in the die, and there is no issue of alignment.
Tip
The tip is the lower portion of the punch and comes in direct contact with powder in the die. It is designed according to the requirements of the physical characteristics of tablets, and it defines the physical, quality and therapeutic effects of a tablet.
Commonly it also includes a company logo or any other identification for engraving on the tablet surface.
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