Upgrade to a Distillate Filling Machine
If your team is still filling cartridges by hand, you should consider upgrading to an automated distillate filler machine. These machines can help speed up production and reduce costs by avoiding human error.
The VERSA5 is a premium cartridge and pen filling system designed for higher production environments. It is highly customizable and offers a full service warranty and US-based support.
Temperature Control
A good quality distillate cartridge filling machine will come with a temperature control system to regulate the oil’s consistency during production. This prevents overfilling, clogs and other issues caused by the oil’s high viscosity. While this feature is optional for smaller operations, more and more companies are upgrading to fully automated machines with this function as they scale up their operation.
This is especially true for vaporizer cartridge manufacturers producing distillate, live resin or CO2 extracts (which require the most heat to reach a workable viscosity) as these concentrates have more plant-derived terpenes that may react negatively to excessive heat. With this feature, you can set the temperature of your oil to a specific level and have it monitored through sensors that alert you if the temperature reaches an unsafe range.
While manually-operated systems still have their merit, many businesses find that the extra cost of a semi or fully-automated distillate cartridge filler pays for itself in calculable ROI periods within a few operational years. Besides speeding distillate cartridge filler up production, these systems also have less chance of contamination and inconsistencies in volume distribution as compared to manual methods that can produce the same results 1% of the time [1]. If you’re looking to maximize your efficiency with a quality THC or CBD cartridge filler, you need to consider which type of machine is right for your company’s needs.
Viscosity Measurement
The viscosity of oil is a significant factor in how quickly it flows through pipes and the effectiveness of the filling process. It’s important to keep this in mind during the filling process since a slower flow can result in clogs. To prevent this, many companies use an automated system to fill the containers instead of manual labor. This method also reduces the chance of contaminates entering the product and saves time and energy.
There are a variety of methods to measure the viscosity of oil. One of the simplest is using a falling-sphere viscometer. This involves dropping a small sphere of known density into a sample-filled tube and measuring the amount of time it takes to fall through. This is then used to calculate the fluid’s viscosity based on charts provided with the specific cup.
Another option is to use a rotational viscometer. This type of test uses relatively weak levels of torque to shear a volume of a liquid sample. The amount of power required to maintain a set speed is directly proportional to the viscosity. This allows analysts to plot full viscosity curves and determine more advanced material parameters.
Lastly, there is a temperature-compensated viscometer (TCV). This is designed to compensate for the effect of temperature on the measured viscosity by converting it to laboratory standards. This makes it easier to correlate lab measurements with in-line process measurements and mitigates the effects of temperature fluctuations for tighter viscosity control.
Filling Speed
The speed of a cartridge filling machine is an important feature to consider when choosing one for your business. If you are currently making your cartridges by hand, you may want to consider investing in a semi-automatic or fully automated filling system to save time and effort. The faster you can manufacture cartridges, the more profit your company will make.
The main hardware that comes with a cart filling machine includes an oil chamber, a nozzle for injecting the oils and a holding tray to put the cartridges in while the oil is being filled. Some brands have additional features such as a heating element that can be used to help make the distribution of more viscous oils easier. The fastest filling machines, such as the VERSA5 Cartridge & Disposable Filling System by ATG Pharma, can produce at least 1200 cartridges per day.
A fully automatic filling machine is a good choice for bigger companies that need to increase their production volume quickly. While the upfront cost can be more expensive, the investment usually pays for itself within a couple of operational years through increased revenue from quicker manufacturing times.
Semi-automatic cartridge filling machines are also an option for mid-level to large producers that need to increase their production capacity but don’t have the budget Cannabis Machine for a full-automatic model. These systems have less moving parts and are simpler to operate than a fully-automatic filler. However, they still require a person to manually cap the cartridges after each fill to reduce the risk of oxidation or leakage.
Maintenance
If you’re still filling cartridges by hand, it’s time to upgrade. Not only does the automation of the process reduce labor costs, but it’s also much faster and more consistent than manual filling. Additionally, a distillate cartridge filler machine is less costly in the long run than manual hardware, which tends to require more maintenance and increases chances of contamination and waste due to human error. Automatic machines have preventative settings to reduce the risk of waste. If you want to reduce waste even further, look for a machine with a recycling system. This will allow you to recycle any excess oil.