Dosage-form testing
Tablet Hardness Tester (Breaking Force Tester)
Measures the force needed to break a tablet by squeezing it between two jaws. Used to control compression and to make sure tablets are strong enough to survive coating, packing and handling.
- Pharmaceutical
- Nutraceuticals
- Confectionery and food tablets
- Veterinary medicines
TROUBLESHOOTING
Common problems, causes and fixes
Readings drift or do not return to zero
Likely causes
- • Load cell fault
- • Debris on the jaw
- • Temperature change
What to do
- • Clean the jaws and re-zero
- • Recalibrate; service the load cell if it still drifts
High variability between tablets
Likely causes
- • Inconsistent orientation
- • Variable compression on the press
- • Laminated or capped tablets
What to do
- • Standardise orientation
- • Check press settings and weight variation
- • Inspect tablets for capping
Results differ between two testers
Likely causes
- • Different loading rates
- • Calibration difference
- • Different jaw geometry
What to do
- • Compare settings
- • Check both calibrations
- • Use the same tester for trend data
Tablet slips or rotates in the jaws
Likely causes
- • Curved or irregular shape
- • Wrong orientation fixture
What to do
- • Use the specified fixture or orientation and document it in the procedure
In LimsPulse · Calibration Management
Keep every Hardness tester in control: usage logs, calibration and maintenance schedules, and automatic blocking of overdue instruments.