Supplied with the “tri-axial decompression” fixture for creating cubes for “Hiestand testing”.
Our outstanding software suite gives you a wide range of powerful tools to quickly iterate on your formulation and even build entirely bespoke compaction profiles. Our data analysis package allows you to rapidly obtain the information you need, including USP 1062: Solid Fraction, Tabletability, Compatibility, Compressibility; Heckel or Kawakita plots, and much more. Or to quickly dive deep into the data in microns, microseconds, Newtons, or MegaPascals.
Machine Control
Servo Control
Huxley Bertram are experts in servo-hydraulic control and employ the latest advanced control algorithms to optimise the performance of their Compaction Simulators.
High speed FPGA (field programmable gate array) controllers allow very high speed control algorithm processing, and servo loop update rates are able to be chosen to optimise performance versus stability relative to the much slower servo-valve response characteristics.
The 4th generation of Huxley Bertram Compaction Simulators give a further step forward in performance, with a further optimisation of hydraulic cylinder performance, control electronics and transducer mounting and design. Combined with an increase in frame stiffness across the range, this adds up to world leading performance.
Courtoy Simulation
Courtoy presses may be used in a “load limiting” mode that defies definition by a fixed geometry. “Courtoy Mode” allows simulation of the load limiting press by entering a “break-away” force for the upper roller.
Press Elastcity
The “elephant in the room” of press simulation. Historically, experienced formulators expect “simulator data” to be different to “production press data”. It looks different due to the different shape of the load curve! In practice, tableting loads are high, and production presses are an assembly of elastic components. Contact faces deform and metals stretch and bend, and always more than simplistic calculations would predict. Compaction Simulators have historically simulated presses based on theoretical geometrical dimensions, assuming the press is infinitely stiff. This gives a higher strain rate, a shorter dwell, and a higher load release rate than on a production press, and therefore a different “shape” to the load curve. The Huxley Bertram Compaction Simulators are the first to give a “Press Elasticity Simulation” capability. This is a major step forward in simulation accuracy, and will lead to greater confidence in scaling up products for production. Studies of the relative behaviour of different production presses can now be meaningful, and especially the comparison of pilot scale and production scale presses. Trouble-shooting of production issues will be performed more effectively.
Data Acquisition
Data is acquired simultaneously on up to 12 channels at 100 kHz. Mechanical and electronic design ensures filters do not affect the relative timing of data.
Data Analysis
“Data Analysis” is supplied for use on the machine and at operators’ desks and on their laptops. This presents tables of peak data, compensated data, and derived values such as: elastic, plastic and total work. Semi-automated Heckel Analysis is included. It also allows graphing of raw data or derived values, with over-laying etc. Graphs and data can be exported for reporting and or further analysis.
Operator Interface
Simulation Mode
Used for press simulation work, operating from a library of production presses. Automated press set-up for single and multi-layer tablets… Designed for quick tests, and use by non-expert operators, student interns, and infrequent users.
Research Mode
Working from a pre-defined test set-up file, this mode allows full use of the machine’s capabilities for load and position controlled tests, and special instrumented tooling and accessories. Test set-ups can be designed away from the machine.
Compaction Set-Up
In “Research Mode” tests are run using set-up files. This allows special tooling to be configured and test profiles to be defined. Typically, a series of tests are run in one sequence, with one variable being incremented for each test. This provides more information than a number of tests at the same condition.
Tests can be created from press profiles, mathematical functions, or “Rippie Danielson” press simulations, and the controlled variable may be position or load. Sophisticated tests such as “elastic recovery” with “in-die height measurement” are easy to program.
Hiestand Module
Capsule Filling Module
Supplied with the “Capsule Filling” fixture for a material sparing analysis of powder characteristics during capsule filling. Dosator Needle and Tamping Disc methods are provided.
Press Library
A press library is supplied of common production presses and this can be used to run the machine is Simple or Research modes. “Press Editor” software is supplied to create new presses for the library from given or measured press geometry.
Security
Security and tracking levels are fully configurable. The administrator can define the access level for each operator to different machine operations.
The event and operator logging feature may be de-activated when not required for convenience.
Press Elasticity Simulation
The “elephant in the room” of press simulation. Historically, experienced formulators expect “simulator data” to be different to “production press data”. It looks different due to the different shape of the load curve! In practice, tableting loads are high, and production presses are an assembly of elastic components. Contact faces deform and metals stretch and bend, and always more than simplistic calculations would predict. Compaction Simulators have historically simulated presses based on theoretical geometrical dimensions, assuming the press is infinitely stiff. This gives a higher strain rate, a shorter dwell, and a higher load release rate than on a production press, and therefore a different “shape” to the load curve. The Huxley Bertram Compaction Simulators are the first to give a “Press Elasticity Simulation” capability. This is a major step forward in simulation accuracy, and will lead to greater confidence in scaling up products for production. Studies of the relative behaviour of different production presses can now be meaningful, and especially the comparison of pilot scale and production scale presses. Trouble-shooting of production issues will be performed more effectively.