Tablet Press

Tablet Press

Tablet, Pill, Pellet & KBr Pellet Presses

REFLEX Analytical offers a complete line of compact, hand-operated benchtop presses engineered to produce tablets, pills, pellets, and KBr pellets from powdered materials. These economical laboratory presses provide precision and reliability in a small footprint, eliminating the expense of larger tablet-making machinery while delivering polished, uniform samples with clean ejection and minimal contamination.

Designed for use across pharmaceutical, biological, nutrition, spectrographic, clinical, and research laboratories, the presses are ideal for tasks such as bomb calorimetry, emission spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and routine sample preparation. Compact dimensions and a simple lever-driven mechanism make these tools versatile for bench-top workflows.

Compliance notice: Our equipment is intended solely for regulated laboratory and industrial purposes. We do not sell to individuals for home use.

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Lab Pellet Press

Lab Pellet Press with Universal Die Holder. Requires a Pellet Die Set (choose from standard sizes and optional in between sizes from 2 – 13mm)

Method: Solid Sampling

Technique: Compresses powdered materials into pellet form; circular in shape with flat ends.

Small Scale Laboratory Applications: Emission Spectroscopy, Calorimetry, Pharmaceutical, Nutraceutical, Biological, Nutritional Supplements, Vitamin Supplements and more.

Press Dimensions: 10"H x 5"W x 9"D with 7" lever arm

Press Weight: 17 lbs

Warranty: Guaranteed to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of 12 months from the date of shipment.

Pellet Press Instructions CLICK HERE
$1,795.00
2800
Standard Pellet Die Sets

Pellet Die Sets for Press Part Number 2800

Standard Sizes: 1/8" 1/4" 3/8" 1/2"

Includes: Die Chamber and Die Plunger (as pictured)

Pellet Press and Die Specifications CLICK HERE
$695.00
280X
Size: 
Universal Pellet Die Holder for Press Part Number 2800

Accommodates Pellet Die Set Sizes: 2 - 13mm

Cross-Sectional Illustration CLICK HERE
$195.00
2810
Optional Pellet Die Sets for Press Part Number 2800

Specify Diameter When Ordering

Optional Sizes: 2mm 2.25mm 2.50mm 2.75mm 3mm 3.25mm 3.50mm 3.75mm 4mm 4.25mm 4.50mm 4.75mm 5mm 5.25mm 5.50mm 5.75mm 6mm 6.25mm 6.50mm 6.75mm 7mm 7.25mm 7.50mm 7.75mm 8mm 8.25mm 8.50mm 8.75mm 9mm 9.25mm 9.50mm 9.75mm 10mm 10.25mm 10.50mm 10.75mm 11mm 11.25mm 11.50mm 11.75mm 12mm 12.25mm 12.50mm 12.75mm 13mm

Available Optional In Between Sizes: 2 - 13mm

Includes: Die Chamber and Die Plunger (as pictured)
$1,295.00
2810-XXX
Size: 

Technical Details

Compact, Stand-Alone Design

Overall dimensions
10" H x 5" W x 9" D
Lever arm
7"
Weight
17 pounds
Ram stroke
1.25 inches
Mounting
Stand-alone - no fixed mounting required; minimal bench space

Die Sizes and Construction

Standard die sizes range from 2 mm to 13 mm. Custom intermediate sizes are available upon request. Smaller dies (4.5 mm and under) are machined from 17-4PH stainless steel. Larger dies (1/4 inch and up) use T-303 stainless steel. All die components are heat treated for added strength and hardness.

Typical cavity depths:

  • 1.00 inch for 3/8" and 1/2" dies
  • 0.75 inch for 3 mm, 4.5 mm, 1/8", and 1/4" dies

Each press ships with a universal die holder that locates and aligns die sets precisely. Spare universal die holders are available to increase productivity - as one tablet/pellet is pressed, another can be prepared in a spare holder.

Tablet, Pill, and Pellet Characteristics

The products formed are typically cylindrical with flat ends. Thickness (height) varies according to the amount of material loaded and the compression force applied. Dies are not permanently fastened - they align with the ram and may be slipped out from under the ram for quick reloading.

Mechanical Advantage and Compression Force

Compression is developed by hand pressure on a lever attached to a large steel cam. The cam design provides a steadily increasing mechanical advantage up to approximately 50:1 at the end of the stroke. For example, 20 pounds of force applied to the lever will generate roughly 1000 pounds of pressure on the press ram. This is adequate to form firm tablets, pills, or pellets from most powdered materials, usually without the need for a binder.

Adjustable Anvil System

The anvil that supports the die is mounted on a heavy screw post allowing it to be raised or lowered. Rotate the anvil to adjust die height - this lets you:

  • Control final tablet/pellet thickness
  • Compensate for volume reduction in light or fluffy materials over successive strokes
  • Use the maximum force of the press at a chosen die setting
  • Generate duplicate tablets/pellets of equal density by keeping the anvil fixed while using equal sample amounts

Applications and Uses

REFLEX benchtop presses serve many laboratory needs:

  • Tablet Press: Fabricating pharmaceutical tablets and pills for clinical, biological, and nutrition research.
  • Pill Press: Producing small cylindrical samples for spectrographic and analytical work, especially emission spectrometry.
  • Lab Pellet Press: Ideal for bomb calorimetry - pelletizing powders improves safety, reduces excessively rapid burn rates, and promotes complete combustion.
  • KBr Pellet Press: Optimized for producing KBr pellets for IR spectroscopy and other spectroscopic analyses.

Why Pelletize - Pellet Benefits

Pelletizing powders offers several experimental advantages:

  • Reduces dangerous high burning rates of some powders in bomb calorimetry - safer combustion
  • Prevents sample blowout or extinguishing in turbulent combustion environments
  • Ensures more complete combustion and reproducible results
  • Makes handling, weighing, and ignition easier - pellets lie flat in capsules and ignite reliably
  • Small diameter pellets can be embedded in electrodes to ensure correct positioning for spectroscopic spark analysis

Laboratory Accessories & Related Products

REFLEX Analytical also offers a range of sampling accessories to pair with these presses, such as:

  • Evacuable pellet dies
  • Pellet molds
  • XRF dies
  • Heated dies
  • Polymer film makers
  • Manual and automatic lab presses
Note: Die selection, die material, and cavity depth should be chosen to match the specific sample type and analytical goal - for example KBr pellets for IR spectroscopy, or compacted pellets for bomb calorimetry and emission spectrometry.

Quick Spec Summary

Die range
2 mm - 13 mm (custom optional)
Die materials
17-4PH stainless (≤4.5 mm); T-303 stainless (≥1/4")
Cavity depths
1.00" (3/8", 1/2"); 0.75" (3 mm, 4.5 mm, 1/8", 1/4")
Ram stroke
1.25 inches
Mechanical advantage
Approximately 50:1
Typical force example
20 lb on lever ≈ 1000 lb on ram
Typical weight
17 pounds

For additional details, spare die holders, custom die sizing, or to view other solid and semi-solid sampling accessories, please contact REFLEX Analytical or consult our product pages for XRF dies, heated dies, pellet molds, evacuable pellet dies, and more.