Manual Capsule Filling Machine

1. Small-scale supplement manufacturers.
2. Compounding pharmacies.
3. Herbalists and naturopaths.
4. Research laboratories.
5. Small business owners creating their own product lines.
6. Home users who need to encapsulate large quantities of powders.

Most models are designed to hold specific sizes. Common sizes are 000, 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4. Many machines come with a set of interchangeable plates to handle different capsule sizes. You must ensure you buy the correct plates for your capsule size.

Free-flowing: Like powdered herbs, amino acids, or fine minerals.
Powders that are sticky, oily, clumpy, or very fibrous are more difficult to work with and can lead to clogging and inconsistent fill weights.

Yes, but it requires extra preparation. You must grind the powder to a very fine consistency using a coffee grinder or mortar and pestle. You may also need to add a small amount of a flow agent (like rice flour or silica) to improve flow, but this dilutes your active ingredient.

Accuracy is volumetric, not weighted. The dose is determined by the size of the capsule and how tightly you tamp the powder.

With practice and consistent tamping pressure, you can achieve very consistent results (typically within a 5-10% weight variance).

For critical applications, you must check the weight of finished capsules on a scale and adjust your tamping technique accordingly.

Speed depends on the user and the model. A skilled operator using a 100-hole machine can typically complete 3-5 batches (300-500 capsules) per hour, including setup, filling, and cleanup.

Disassemble all the plates.
Brush away all powder residue with a small, dry brush.
Wipe with a dry, lint-free cloth.
For a deeper clean, you can wipe components with a cloth slightly dampened with food-grade alcohol or a mild soapy solution. Air dry completely before reassembling to prevent rust (on metal parts) or powder clumping.
Never immerse the entire unit in water, especially if it has springs or other mechanical parts.

Key factors include:
Number of Holes: (24, 50, 100, 200). Choose based on your production volume.
Build Quality: Metal (aluminum/stainless) is more durable than plastic.
Capsule Size Compatibility: Ensure it comes with or supports plates for the capsule size you use.
Included Accessories: Many kits come with a tamper, cleaning brush, and capsule separator tray, which are essential.

Manual: Requires human operation for every step (scraping, tamping, pressing). It’s mechanical, affordable, and perfect for small batches.

Automatic/Semi-Automatic: Uses electric motors to perform some (semi-auto) or all (full-auto) of the steps like filling, tamping, and joining. They are much faster but also significantly more expensive and suited for high-volume commercial production.