Types of Tooling in Compression Machine
This article describes Types of Tooling used in the pharmaceutical industry to manufacture Tablet Formulations.
Types of Tooling in Compression Machines:
Description:
Tablet compression machines are made by keeping view of type of Punches and dies will be used on them.
The Punches and dies and their setup on the compression machine is called tooling. It determines the shape, size and identification markings of tablets.
Internationally in pharmaceutical industry mainly Two types of standards are using for Tablet compression Tooling.
A) TSM Standards (Tablet Specification Manual)
B) EU Standards. (Euro Standard)
TSM standard exclusively used and recognized in United state of America (USA) and EU standard considered as European standard and mostly globally applicable/Considerable.
In EU standard Two Types are available i.e. EU1 and EU19. It is referred as EU1 for D tooling and EU 19 for B tooling.
Different Types of Tooling for Punches and Dies are described Below :
Punches are of Two Types of Tooling i.e. B Type and D Type.
Dies are of four Types of Tooling i.e. D Type, B Type, BB Type and BBS Type.
Different Types of Tooling for Compression Machine:
Different types of Punches and dies will be suitable as per respective compression machine Tooling
| Types of Tooling in Compression Machine | |||
| Sr. No. | Tooling Type | Punch Type | Die Type |
| 1 | D | D | D |
| 2 | DB | D | B |
| 3 | B | B | B |
| 4 | BB | B | BB |
| 5 | BBS | B | BBS |
As per the Compression machine Tooling size there will be limitations for Different Tablet sizes compression on specified tooling compression machine as per the tool design.
On the basis of practical experience, below are the examples provided maximum diameter of tablet can be compressed on different specified tooling which will not adverse effect for smooth running of compression machine.
| Compression Machine Tooling Vs Tablet Diameter | ||
| Sr. No. | Compression Machine Tooling Type | Maximum Diameter of Tablets can be Compressed on Tooling |
| 1 | D | Up to 25.00 mm |
| 2 | DB | Up to 18.00 mm |
| 3 | B | Up to 16.00 mm |
| 4 | BB | Up to 11.00 mm |
| 5 | BBS | Up to 10.00 mm |
In Types of Tooling How Punch and Die will be differentiated for its uniqueness.
For Punch Identification:
- For Identification of Punch tooling need to measure/Check the Punch barrel diameter
- on the basis of Barrel Diameter, its Uniqueness will be decide i.e. D Tooling or B Tooling.
For Die Identification :
- For identification of tooling of Dies need to measure/Check outer diameter of the Die
- On the basis of Outer diameter of die its uniqueness will be decide i.e. D Tooling, B Tooling , BB Tooling, BBS Tooling.
When certain product punch set manufactured from the vendor, Vendor will engrave the type of tooling on each Punch and die for easy understanding.
Dimensions for Punch barrel Diameter and Die Outer Diameter (Die OD) for Different Tooling :
Below are the dimensions for identification of punch and Die Tooling.
| Dimensions of Punches and Dies Tooling Uniqueness Identification | ||||||
| Sr. No. | Punch Tooling | Barrel Diameter | Head Diameter | Die Tooling | Outer Diameter of Die | Die Height |
| 1 | D | 25.4 mm | 31.50 mm | D | 38.10 mm | 23.80 mm |
| 2 | B | 19.00 mm | 25.27 mm | B | 30.15 mm | 22.22 mm |
| 3 | NA | NA | NA | BB | 24.00 mm | |
| 4 | NA | NA | NA | BBS | 22.00 mm | |
How Punch and Die Hardness will be measured?
Punch and dies made up of different Grades of stainless steel and its hardness will be checked by Rockwell hardness Tester.
Generally Punch Hardness will be : 56- 58 HRC and Dies Hardness will be 60-62 HRC. On the basis of MOC of Tooling’s hardness may be vary
Different Grades of Stainless steel used for Punches and dies.
Punches are made up of /MOC of Punches are : OHNS, AISI-01/S7
Dies are Made up of / MOC of Dies are : HCHC, AISI-D3
As per need of formulations MOC will be decide before procurement of Punch set from vendor.
As per type of formulations, different types of Coating will be done on tooling e.g. Chromium Coating.
What is meaning of Punch set ?
Punch set terminology using for : One Upper punch + One Lower Punch + One die = One Punch set.
Upper Punch Picture Lower Punch Picture Die Picture
What is difference between upper Punch and lower Punch?
Length of stem of lower punch is Longer than the Upper punch.
Why Length of the stem of lower punch is longer the stem of the upper punch?
During Tableting operation on compression machine Lower punch slowly move through cam track and will eject the tablet through die Bore by the stem of the lower punch because of that the steam of the lower punch is longer than the upper punch.
Abbreviations :
HRC – Rockwell hardness Scale C
MOC : Material of Construction.
OHNS : Oil Hardening non shrinking
HCHC : High Carbon High Chromium
AISI : American Iron Steel Institute
