How powder gets into the die matters as much as how it’s compacted. Huxley Bertram simulators support a range of feeder types and fill control methods, allowing researchers to match production-press feeding behaviour, study lubricant smearing, work safely with hand-weighed samples, or run fully automated production simulations with closed-loop weight control.
Feeder Types
Gravity Feeder
Simple gravity hoppers are the standard method for filling the die. Combined with programmable shuffling, speed and dwells, most powders flow into the die reliably. Hoppers are available with shutter plates for filling away from the machine, and lids to protect and contain the powder.
Stirred Feeder
Stirrers can be used to improve powder flow into the die, or to study the effects of stirring on the powder itself. Stirring may cause smearing of lubricants or separation of different powders — behaviours that are useful to understand at an early stage so quality risks are visible before scale-up.
Different stirring options can be programmed in the test set-up depending on what’s being studied.
Paddle Wheel Feeder
Production press simulation is enhanced by using a paddle wheel feeder, the same feeding mechanism used on rotary tablet presses. Paddle speed and duration are programmable, allowing direct comparison with production press conditions.
Manual Fill by Weight
All Huxley Bertram simulators support convenient and safe manual filling of the die from a weighed sample of powder. The lower punch is lowered to a depth that allows ample room for the sample, and the upper actuator is locked in the retracted position by the opening of the guard.
Manual Fill by Volume
For volume-based filling, the lower punch is controlled at a programmed depth with micron accuracy, and the powder is scraped over the die by hand. The upper actuator is locked in the retracted position by the opening of the guard.
Automatic Fill Depth Setting
Fill depth can be set automatically by entering the powder bulk density into the set-up routine. The optimal fill depth is then found by entering the resulting tablet weight into the software and allowing the system to correct the fill depth.
Automatic Fill Depth Correction
When automatic tablet weight measurement is in use and “auto-correct” is enabled, the system corrects any drift in tablet weight using a rolling average method — closing the loop on weight control automatically.
Deep Die Filling
Deep die holders are available for extra-deep dies. Programmable punch movements and hydraulic control provide flexibility on die filling limits.