TABLET

TOOLING

Shah Nitin S
Dept. of Pharmaceutics
M. Pharm Sem 3
K.B.I.P.E.R
 CONTENTS

• Introduction
• General Terminology of Tooling
• International Standards
• Types of Tooling
• Different shapes of Dies and Punches
• Materials for Construction
• Maintenance of Punches & Dies
• New Developments
 INTRODUCTION

• High speed tableting in 24hr shifts has tremendously

increased productivity, which in turn places heavy demands
not only on tablet presses and compressibility of tableting
materials but also on precision with respect to dimensions
and wear resistance of tablet tooling (punch and die sets).
• Worn-out punches affect the quality of tablets (increased
variation of mass, reduced surface shininess, etc.)
• Variation in the length of entire set also leads to varying mass
variability in tablet batch, compression forces, affects the
dissolutions properties of the tablet.
GENERAL TERMINOLOGY OF TOOLING

• A set of tooling consists of upper punch, lower punch, die and

keying. The upper punch has a shorter stem, the lower punch
stem is longer because it travels longer distances up and down
in the die for filling, compression and ejection, thereby sealing
the die hole from below during entire process of compression.
PUNCH
Head: The end of the punch, which
guides it through the machine’s cam
track.
Head Flat: The area of the head that
receives the full force of the
compression rolls at the time that
tablet is being formed.
Outside Head Angle/Radius: Contact
area with the machine cams and initial
contact with pressure rolls.
Inside Head Angle: Area of contact
with pull down and lifting.
Neck: Clearance provided for the cams.
Barrel: The surface controlled by
the turret punch guides to ensure
alignment with the die.
Tip: The end of the punch that is
compatible with die bore and
responsible for the size, shape,
profile and embossing detail of
the tablet.
Stem: The lower punch tip, which
allows for movement within the
die bore for the metering of
the granules, compression and
ejection of the tablet.
Working length: The distance
between bottom of cup and
the head flat is called as working
length which determines weight
and thickness of tablet.
Overall length: Distance between
top of the cup and head flat.
Key: To prevent rotational
movement of the upper punches
to ensure alignment to shaped
and multi-hole
dies.
GENERAL TERMINOLOGY OF TOOLING (Continue)

DIE
Chamfer: Entry angle of the die bore.
Die Bore: The zone where the tablet
is made.
Die Groove: Groove around the
periphery of the die to allow
the die to be fixed in the tablet press.
Die Outside Diameter (O/D): Outside diameter of the die,
compatible with the die pockets in the machines.
Protection Radius: To prevent damage to the die locking screw
and burring to outside diameter of the die.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

• Standardization of tooling dimensions has been agreed to

facilitate interchangeability between presses and to reduce
the number of spare parts.
• Internationally there are two recognized standards for tablet
compression tooling the TSM standard and the EU standard.
• TSM(Tablet Specification Manual) is recognized in America
and is considered exclusive in the US.
• The EU tooling standard is internationally recognized and is
more widely used than TSM standard.
Types of Tooling
• ‘B’ – tooling
• ‘D’ – tooling
• ‘BB’ – tooling
• ‘DB’ – tooling
Types of Tooling (Continue)
‘B’ – tooling
• It has a long and thin body compared with ‘D’ – tooling , with
a smaller punch head and punch tip. Small punch head leaves
a restriction on punch pressure, thus tablets and pills
requiring high hardness can’t be finished by ‘B’ – tooling ,
while the small tip directly decides the size(diameter) of
tablets. Thus, it is more suitable to make small pills.
• Due to its small punch body occupies less space, more
stations of tablet tooling can be designed on the rotary table.
Which means that higher yield and quicker production can be
achieved at the same working speed.
• Operating force in tons is 6.5.
Types of Tooling (Continue)
‘D’ – tooling
• It is short and fat in views of its configuration. Fat punch body
and big punch head allow high pressure to be engaged, thus
the pills can be made hard and strong enough. And big punch
tip and tip flat leaves more space for materials, thus big pills
with large diameter(20mm) can be made.
• The fat punch body occupies, less stations can be set on the
premise of the same size of rotary table. With the same
working speed, less tablets and pills are processed.
• Operating force in tons is 10.
Different Shapes of Dies and Punches
Round shape punch die set
• Used by pharmaceutical
and veterinary industry.
• Can manufacture following
type of tablets:
1. Shallow convex ball shape
2. Deep convex flat faced
3. Convex with edges flat with
bevel edges
4. Normal convex
Different Shapes of Dies and Punches (Continue)

Oval shape punch die set

• Applicable to pharmaceutical
and ayurvedic industries.
• Can manufacture following
types of tablets:
1. Flat faced flat with bevel edges.
2. Convex/Deep/Deep convex
with bevel edges.
Different Shapes of Dies and Punches (Continue)

Capsule shape punch die set

• Applicable to pharmaceutical
and ayurvedic industries.
• Can manufacture following
types of tablets:
1. Convex with edges.
2. Deep convex flat faced.
3. Normal convex flat with
bevel edges.
Different Shapes of Dies and Punches (Continue)

Geometric shape punch die set

• Applicable to pharmaceutical,
confectionary, chemical, powder
metallurgy industries.
• Can manufacture following
types of tablet:
1. Triangular
2. Benzene
3. Rhombus
4. Rectangular square
Materials For Construction
• Dies- HCHC (High Carbon High Chromium steel)
• Punches- OHNS (Oil Hardened Nitride Steel)
• Different types of steel standards:
For Dies: AISI-01
For Punches: AISI-S7, AISI-S1, D2(HCHC-D2), SUS 440C.
MAINTENANCE OF PUNCHES AND DIES
• Proper maintenance can extend tool life, avoid tool damage and
reduce operating cost.
• Over time, tooling loses its luster and can develop scratches
and/or J-hooks.
• These imperfections can cause quality issues such as tablet
capping, laminating, sticking, picking and unnecessary downtime.
• Programs are available to strengthen tooling such as:
• Inspection-Visual inspection, Dimensional inspection.
• Coating- To prevent corrosion, stickiness of material.
Coated by chromium nitride, nickel plating, etc.
• Cleaning-Warm soap water and a soft brush are suitable.
• Polishing- By hand and drag finishing.
 New Developments

• Multi-tip punches & dies.

• Markings for identification of a preparation.
Two types:
Debossed : This markings are
intended into the tablet.

Embossed : This markings are

raised on the tablet surface.
• Development in manufacturing different shapes of tablets
Polo, Teddy bear

• Tablets which can be broken into four equal halves.

References:
• Encyclopedia of Pharmaceutical Technology, Volume VI, 3rd
Edition, Page no.:3782
• Industrial Pharmacy, Author: Leon Lachman, Herbert A.
Lieberman, Page no.:306
• Aulton’s Pharmaceutics, Edited by Michael E. Aulton, 3rd
Edition, Page no.:446
• http://pharmapathway.com/basics-tablet-
toolingterminology-specifications/&hl=en-IN
• https://www.saintytec.com/types-and-classification-of-
tablet-press/
• http://www.kosindustry.com/which-is-better-b-tooling-or-d-
tooling.html
• https://natoli.com/about/resources/tool-maintenance/
Thank You