LFA Tablet Presses TDP 5 User manual

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We don’t just sell machines—
we provide service.
TDP 5® Tablet Press User Manual

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Copyright Notice
© LFA Machines Oxford Limited, published in 2019 by LFA Machines Oxford Limited 2019.
Registered in England and Wales, company number 08428898, registered office for service
Demar House 14 Church Road East Wittering, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 8PS.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or
by any means, or stored in any retrieval system of any nature, without prior permission, except
for fair dealing under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or in accordance with the
terms of license issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency in respect of photocopying and/or
reprographic reproduction. Application for permission for other use of the copyright material
including permission to reproduce extracts in other published works shall be made to the
publisher. Full acknowledgment or author, publisher and source must be given.
All trade marks are acknowledged and are owned by their respective owners.

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Important Safety Information
READ THIS BEFORE OPERATING MACHINE
Intended Use
The intended use of this machine is to press dry
raw materials into tablet form.
Potential misuse of this machine includes:
• Applying too much force to the powder.
• Trying to fill the Die with powder by hand.
• Inserting Tooling that is too big for the
machine.
• Not properly mounting the machine.
• Using powders that could explode under
pressure.
• Using wet or damp material.
Personal Protection
For personal protection while transporting the
TDP 5®, abide by these actions:
• Use an engine hoist to lift the machine.
• Wear steel toe boots to prevent foot injury.
• Wear heavy duty grip gloves to ensure firm
grasp on machine.
• Wear back support belt to prevent injury if
needed.
For personal protection while operating the
TDP 5®, abide by these actions:
• Avoid wearing loose jewelry to prevent
machine entanglement.
• Contain long hair to prevent machine
entanglement.
• Wear safety goggles.
• Wear disposable latex/rubber gloves.
• Wear a hairnet (food grade products only).
• Wear a beard net if needed (food grade
products only).
General Hazards
• Be aware of risk of entanglement and pinch
point due to moving parts.
• Do not operate in a wet environment or with
wet hands due to risk of electrical shock or
burn.
• Do not operate if any wires are damaged,
pinched, or frayed due to risk of electrical
shock or burn.
• Keep out of reach of children.
• Keep fingers away from all moving parts.
• Ensure that it is secured to a workbench to
prevent from falling.
• Inspect machine before use.
• Check that nuts and bolts are suitably
tightened.
• Use this machine only for its intended use
as described in this manual.
• Turn off and unplug the machine before
conducting cleaning and maintenance.
• Do not modify the machine in any way.
• Turn off and unplug the machine before
conducting cleaning and maintenance.

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WARNING
This signals potential risk for personal injury.
Modes for Stopping
WARNING
This signals potential risk for electrical shock.
Symbols
Important Safety Information
READ THIS BEFORE OPERATING MACHINE
In the case of an emergency during manual operation, immediately stop turning the Hand Wheel
and remove yourself from the TDP 5®.
In the case of an emergency during motor operation, immediately press the red OFF button (see
below) and unplug.
CAUTION
This signals potential risk for damage to the
machine or other parts.

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Table of Contents
Copyright Notice 2
Important Safety Information 3
Intended Use 3
Personal Protection 3
General Hazards 3
Important Safety Information 4
Symbols 4
Modes for Stopping 4
TDP 5 Components 7
TDP 5 Parts List 8
Preface 9
Training 10
On-Site/Off-Site Training 10
Training via Video Chat/Phone 10
LFA Articles 10
LFA Videos 10
Installation 11
Tools and Materials Needed 11
The Appropriate Workstation for the Machine 11
Assembly 14
Mounting the TDP 5 15
Manual and Electrical Controls 17
Settings and Adjustment 20
Maintenance 27
General Maintenance Prescriptions 27
Lubrication 27
Dismantling for Repair and Replacement 31
Tooling 32
Boot Timing Bar 38
Boot 41
Upper Drift Pin Assembly 43
Upper Drift Pin Assembly Threaded Cam 50
Lower Drift Pin Assembly 57
Lower Drift Pin Assembly Timing Rod Runner Bolt 65
V Belt 68
Hand Wheel 70
Electrical Drive Flywheel 71
Boot Timing Cam 74
Pinion Gear 78
Cam Drive Cog 82
Drive Belt Pulley 87
Motor 89
Top Cam 93
Troubleshooting 98
Common Machine/Part Issues 98

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Common Tablet Issues 100
De-Jamming the TDP 5 101
Cleaning 106
Storing the TDP 5 110
Appendix 112
Glossary 112
Description of TDP 5 Parts 113
Food Grade Point of Contact Parts 120
Technical Specifications 120
Maintenance Checklist 121
Diagrams 122
Resources 128
Table of Contents - Continued

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TDP 5 Components
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3
4
5
7
6
9
10
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24
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TDP 5® Parts List
1. TDP 5® Base (#AEC0000)
2. Lower Drift Pin Assembly Cogs (#AEC0012)
3. Lower Drift Pin Assembly Locking Bar (#AEC0013)
4. Lower Drift Pin Assembly Lifting Bar (#AEC0034)
5. Lower Drift Pin Assembly (#AEC0011)
6. Boot Bolt and Spring (inside Boot) (#AEC0051; #AEC0055)
7. Base Plate (#AEC0008)
8. Ejection Guard (#AEC0009)
9. Boot (#AEC0036)
10. Boot Timing Bar (#AEC0018)
11. Upper Drift Pin Assembly Mounting Block (#AEC0010)
12. Upper Drift Pin Assembly (#AEC0002)
13. Upper Drift Pin Assembly Locking Nut (#AEC0006)
14. Upper Drift Pin Assembly Threaded Cam (#AEC0005)
15. Boot Timing Cam (#AEC0038)
16. Hand Wheel (#AEC0046)
17. Top Cam (#AEC0037)
18. Eccentric Sheave (#AEC0033)
19. Eccentric Sheave Strap (#AEC0004)
20. Cam Drive Cog (inside Cam Drive Cog Safety Cover)
(#AEC0050)
21. Electrical Drive Flywheel (#AEC0021)
22. Pinion Gear (#AEC0022)
23. Lower Drift Pin Assembly Timing Rod Runner Bolt (#AEC0015)
24. Lower Drift Pin Assembly Timing Rod (#AEC0014)
25. V Belt (Drive Belt) (#H108012028)
26. Motor (#AEC0042)
27. Electrical Box and Connecting Cables (#AEC0053)
28. Motor Mounting Plate (#AEC0041)
29. Hopper (#AEC0030)

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Preface
The TDP 5® Tablet Press has the ability to press small quantities of tablets in a wide variety of
sizes from a powder formulated with dry granular materials and an excipient. By generating up to
50 kN of pressure with either electrical or manual power, the TDP 5® can produce up to 4,800
tablets an hour with interchangeable dies. This machine can create most types of tablets, including
irregularly shaped pills, up to 20 mm in diameter and 8 mm thick. Useful for work in the field and on
location, the TDP 5® is popular with a range of industries such as hospitals, research facilities, and
laboratories in the pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries.
The purpose of this document is to support your understanding of the TDP 5®’s components,
features, functions, and design. With this manual, you will be able to successfully operate and
maintain your TDP 5® machine.
The user manual’s content includes:
• Important safety information
• TDP 5® installation instructions
• Description of the TDP 5®’s operation
• TDP 5® maintenance information
• Appendix with supplemental information

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Training
TDP 5® training is essential for the machine’s successful operation and your personal safety.
There are several methods to prepare you for working with the TDP 5®.
On-Site/Off-Site Training
LFA technicians can travel and train you at your own facility with your own machines. LFA also
offers free training at our UK and USA facilities for all our customers and their teams.
For more information, go to https://www.lfatabletpresses.com/services
Training via Video Chat/Phone
Using an online video chat system, an LFA technician can interact face-to-face with you and assist
with your understanding of the machine. Or, if you prefer, LFA can provide training via phone for all
customers who call the office. To set up a training, call or email your local LFA office:
UK
Phone
[phone]
Email
[email protected]
Taiwan
Phone
[phone]
Email
[e-mail]
USA
Phone
[phone]
Email
sales.us[email protected]
LFA Articles
LFA writes informative articles about desktop tablet presses, which includes instructions,
procedures, and guides. To access the articles, go to https://www.lfatabletpresses.com/articles
LFA Videos
LFA has created several videos involving the TDP 5® and other desktop tablet presses. To access
the videos, go to https://www.lfatabletpresses.com/videos or https://www.youtube.com/channel/
UCwtbcwja77ai7vX2o34FUkQ

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Installation
Tools and Materials Needed
Before you install and operate the TDP 5®, it is best to have the following tools and materials on
hand for general operation and maintenance:
• Engine hoist or lift and lifting strap
• Mounting materials such as:
• Non-slip pad (such as a yoga mat cut to fit the machine's base) OR anti-vibration pads
• Power drill
• Hammer
• Gear puller
• Rubber mallet
• Copper pipe around 22 mm in diameter
• Metric wrench set
• Circlip pliers
• Pliers/grippers
• Flathead screwdriver
• Set of metric Allen keys with ball ends
• Long wire pipe cleaner
• Lubricant (NSF approved for food grade products)
• Grease gun
• Toothbrush
• Bagless vacuum
• Sanitizer (e.g. Maker's Mark Commercial Sanitizer)
• Cleaning brush set
• Plastic sheet or something similar to cover machine
• Safety goggles
• Disposable latex/rubber gloves
• Hairnet and/or beard net (food grade products only)
• Sterile shoe covers (food grade products only)
The Appropriate Workstation for the Machine
Find a stable workspace surface that supports the TDP 5®’s 125 kg (about 275 lbs) weight, such
as a wooden bench (use stainless steel if for food grade industry). Another important thing to
consider is to find a bench that has a suitable working height for you.
Environmental Conditions
It is important that the environment in which you operate and store the TDP 5® has the appropriate
temperature and relative humidity levels. These two environmental factors can potentially cause
the machine to rust and/or cause the tablets to have a lower quality. The table below shows the
acceptable temperature and relative humidity levels:
MACHINE TEMPERATURE HUMIDITY
TDP 5 °C °F 20-80% RH
0-40 32-104

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The shipping crate will contain the following:
1. The assembled TDP 5®
2. The Tooling (already installed)
3. The Hopper 4. The De-Jamming Bar
Note: The Hand Wheel Handle is packaged with the De-Jamming Bar.

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Tools Needed
• Flathead screwdriver
• Hammer
• 17 mm wrench
Instructions
1. Pry open each of the clips on the shipping container with a flathead screwdriver.
1.1 Note: Hammer the clips even further down to aid in removing the shipping container
from the base.
2. Lift the top of the shipping container from its base, which is bolted to the TDP 5®.
3. Remove the plastic wrapping and set the Hopper aside.
3.1 Note: Save the wrapping for future transport and/or storage.
4. Remove the bolts from the shipping container's base with a wrench.
4.1 Note: Keep the bolts and the shipping container’s base in case you need to return the
TDP 5®.
Unpacking the TDP 5®
Watch a video of a TDP 5® unboxing at https://www.lfatabletpresses.com/videos/tdp-5-
unboxing-setup

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Assembly
The TDP 5® comes almost fully assembled. Insert the Hopper into the Boot like so:

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Mounting the TDP 5®
WARNING: To prevent personal injury, wear steel toe boots and heavy duty grip
gloves while transporting the TDP 5®.
LFA does NOT recommend carrying the machine manually but rather with
an engine hoist. At least two people should be involved (one operating the
engine hoist and one stabilizing the machine) in removing the machine from the
shipping container and placing it in the workspace.
Transporting the TDP 5®
Tools and Materials Needed
• Engine hoist and lifting strap
Instructions
1. Secure the engine hoist onto the eyelet bolt attached to the top of the TDP 5® Base.
2. Wrap the lifting strap to support both the bottom and top of the TDP 5®.
3. Carefully transport the machine to the desired workspace.

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Bolting the TDP 5®
The TDP 5® Base comes with three bolts and three bolt holes. Because the machine’s movement
could cause it to fall off the workspace surface during operation, which creates potential for injury
to self and to the machine, it is important to ensure that it will not move by bolting down the TDP
5®. There are other options as well that can prevent the TDP 5® from moving, which are described
below:
Non-Slip Pad
Placing a pad or mat that grips the surface underneath the TDP 5® will stabilize any movement.
What works well is anything similar to a yoga mat. Simply cut the pad to a size that is slightly
bigger than the TDP 5®’s base, and then bolt the base through the mat and into the workspace
surface.
Anti-Vibration Pads
Anti-vibration pads underneath the TDP 5®’s base not only absorb noises and vibrations, but also
reduce the machine’s movement. Similar to using a non-slip pad, the anti-vibration pads also need
to be bolted through into the workplace surface.
WARNING: Anti-vibration pads with feet indentations, such as those used
for washing machines, are not suitable for the TDP 5®. They may cause the
machine to lose its balance and fall off the workspace surface, potentially
resulting in personal injury.
Note: Before bolting the machine to the workspace surface, ensure that an appropriate electrical
outlet (240 v/110 v) is nearby.
Once you have determined where the bolts will be, drill three holes into the workspace surface.
Then, insert the bolts through the TDP 5®’s base and the workspace surface and tighten them as
necessary.

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Manual and Electrical Controls
Basic Components
A description of the principal components follows:
• The Hand Wheel can be turned to start the cam track's direction.
• The Top Cam guides the punches’ movement.
• The Hopper holds the dry materials that will be compressed.
• The Boot moves the materials from the Hopper to the Tooling and ejects the tablets.
• The Die defines or molds the size and shape of the powder.
• The Upper Punch and Lower Punch compress the materials within the Die.

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TDP 5® Process
The basic mechanism of the TDP 5® involves filling the Tooling (Die, Upper Punch, and Lower
Punch) with powder, compressing the powder, and ejecting the tablet.
Filling the Tooling with Powder
The dry materials are poured into the Hopper, which funnels the powder into the Boot. As the
Hand Wheel is manually operated, the Top Cam withdraws the Upper Punch from the Die and
moves up the Lower Punch to the Die.
When the machine is operated by the motor, the Drive Belt Pulley and V Belt initiate the movement
of the Electrical Drive Flywheel, which moves the Top Cam to withdraw the Upper Punch from the
Die and pushes up the Lower Punch.
Compressing the Powder
After the powder is filled in the Tooling, the Top Cam drives the Upper Punch into the Die, and the
Lower Punch is then raised by the Top Cam. Both punches then move together to compress the
powder under high pressure.
Ejecting the Tablet
After both punches compress the powder into a tablet, the Top Cam withdraws the Upper Punch
while the Lower Punch is pushed upward to expel the tablet. The tablet is then pushed out of the
way by the Boot to prepare for the next tablet compression.

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How to Create Tablets with the TDP 5®
Tools and Materials Needed
• Raw material formulation
• Fully assembled TDP 5® with Hopper
• Safety goggles
• Disposable latex/rubber gloves (for food grade products and to protect hands from grease)
• Hairnet and/or beard net (food grade products only)
• Sterile shoe covers (food grade products only)
WARNING: For personal protection while operating the TDP 5®, contain long
hair and do not wear loose jewelry.
Instructions
Note: Wear latex/rubber gloves (and appropriate food grade attire if applicable) during this
process.
1. Pour the dry materials into the Hopper.
1.1 Note: Ensure that the TDP 5® is unplugged from the electrical outlet.
2. Rotate the Hand Wheel in the direction indicated by the arrow located on the Cam Drive Cog
Safety Cover.
2.1 Note: Always manually operate the TDP 5® for one rotation to ensure that it is operating
correctly.
3. Plug in the TDP 5® to an electrical outlet.
4. Press the green button (O) to start the TDP 5 and the red button (—) to turn off the TDP 5®.

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Tools and Materials Needed
• Set of metric Allen keys with ball ends
• Disposable latex/rubber gloves (for food grade products and to protect hands from grease)
• Hairnet and/or beard net (food grade products only)
• Sterile shoe covers (food grade products only)
Settings and Adjustment
The TDP 5®’s settings can be adjusted. Tuning the Tooling can help with changing the tablets’
characteristics and how they are ejected from the machine.
Ejection Height
When the Upper Punch is fully lifted, the Lower Punch in its highest position should be flush with
the Die:
If the Lower Punch is above or below the Die’s face, it will affect how smoothly the tablet is ejected.
Adjusting the ejection height will help with this and can vary with different forms of Tooling.
Instructions
Note: Wear latex/rubber gloves (and appropriate food grade attire if applicable) during this process.
1. Produce a test tablet to determine how the Tooling should be adjusted.
2. Remove the Ejection Tray with an Allen key.
WARNING: To prevent any potential personal injury, unplug the TDP 5® from
the electrical outlet