Tablet tooling MCQs With Answer is a focused review designed for B.Pharm students to deepen understanding of tablet punches, dies, and the tablet press. This introduction covers tooling materials, punch and die geometry, tooling coatings, wear mechanisms, maintenance, reconditioning, and how tooling affects compression, tablet weight, hardness, and defects such as capping, lamination, and sticking. Emphasis is placed on practical topics like tooling selection, inspection, tolerances, cleaning, and life-cycle management to improve manufacturing robustness and product quality. These keyword-rich concepts—tablet tooling, punches, dies, compression, tooling materials, and tooling maintenance—prepare you for exams and industry practice. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What is the primary function of tablet tooling (punches and dies) in tablet manufacture?
- To control capsule filling
- To shape, compress and eject tablets
- To sterilize granules
- To coat tablets
Correct Answer: To shape, compress and eject tablets
Q2. Which material is commonly used for long-life tablet punches due to high wear resistance?
- Aluminum alloy
- Stainless steel 316
- Tungsten carbide
- Brass
Correct Answer: Tungsten carbide
Q3. Which tooling feature primarily determines tablet thickness?
- Die depth
- Punch head type
- Punch tip shape
- Die material
Correct Answer: Die depth
Q4. What defect is most directly related to inadequate punch face polishing or wrong coating?
- Weight variation
- Sticking (adhesion) of granules to the punch
- Discoloration of tablet
- Low dissolution rate
Correct Answer: Sticking (adhesion) of granules to the punch
Q5. What does “dwell time” in a rotary tablet press influence most directly?
- Granule particle size
- Compression force effectiveness and tablet hardness
- Tablet color uniformity
- Die wall temperature only
Correct Answer: Compression force effectiveness and tablet hardness
Q6. Which punch end configuration is typically used for engraved logos or scoring?
- Beveled edge
- Plain flat
- Engraved/concave tip
- Round nose
Correct Answer: Engraved/concave tip
Q7. Which tooling parameter is most critical to prevent tablet capping and lamination?
- Punch head color
- Compression profile and tooling alignment
- Tablet coating thickness
- Ambient humidity only
Correct Answer: Compression profile and tooling alignment
Q8. What is the purpose of a tooling coating such as TiN (titanium nitride)?
- Increase electrical conductivity
- Improve wear resistance and reduce sticking
- Make tooling magnetic
- Decrease die depth
Correct Answer: Improve wear resistance and reduce sticking
Q9. Tooling wear is most commonly monitored by measuring which dimension?
- Tablet dissolution time
- Punch tip diameter and die bore diameter
- Turret speed
- Granule flow rate
Correct Answer: Punch tip diameter and die bore diameter
Q10. Which punch type is used on single-punch tablet presses rather than rotary presses?
- Upper and lower matched punches for single-station
- Multi-tip punches only for rotary
- Die-mounted punches exclusively
- Sporadic punches
Correct Answer: Upper and lower matched punches for single-station
Q11. What is the function of the die in tablet compression?
- To deliver lubricant
- To contain powder and define tablet diameter
- To cool the press machine
- To engrave the tablet
Correct Answer: To contain powder and define tablet diameter
Q12. Which measurement ensures correct punch-die concentricity?
- Punch head engraving depth
- Runout measurement using a dial indicator
- Granule moisture content
- Tablet friability test
Correct Answer: Runout measurement using a dial indicator
Q13. Why is tooling storage and handling important when not in use?
- To prevent loss of serial numbers only
- To avoid mechanical damage, corrosion and contamination
- It is not important
- To change punch geometry automatically
Correct Answer: To avoid mechanical damage, corrosion and contamination
Q14. What is the likely result of excessive punch tip radius for a scored tablet?
- More accurate weight control
- Poorly defined score and difficult splitting
- Faster disintegration
- Improved coating adhesion
Correct Answer: Poorly defined score and difficult splitting
Q15. Which inspection technique is used to detect microcracks on punch tips?
- Visual inspection with magnification or dye penetrant testing
- Measuring tablet weight only
- Checking tablet color under white light
- Listening for acoustic clicks
Correct Answer: Visual inspection with magnification or dye penetrant testing
Q16. What causes “mottling” related to tooling and compression?
- Incorrect punch head design only
- Incompatible excipient distribution or coating pickup on tooling
- Excessive tablet hardness only
- Wrong tablet size
Correct Answer: Incompatible excipient distribution or coating pickup on tooling
Q17. Regrinding of punch faces is performed to:
- Polish the die wall
- Restore geometry, remove wear, and refresh engraving
- Change tablet color permanently
- Increase the punch length only
Correct Answer: Restore geometry, remove wear, and refresh engraving
Q18. Which tolerance is most critical for tablet diameter consistency?
- Die bore diameter tolerance
- Punch head depth tolerance
- Turret bore tolerance
- Lubricant viscosity tolerance
Correct Answer: Die bore diameter tolerance
Q19. What is the effect of a worn die bore on tablet ejection?
- Easier ejection without issues
- Possible sticking, increased ejection force, and edge chipping
- No effect if compression force is low
- Only affects tablet color
Correct Answer: Possible sticking, increased ejection force, and edge chipping
Q20. Which maintenance practice extends tooling life most effectively?
- Ignoring minor corrosion
- Regular cleaning, lubrication, inspection, and timely reconditioning
- Running at maximum turret speed continuously
- Using abrasive cleaning pads on polished faces
Correct Answer: Regular cleaning, lubrication, inspection, and timely reconditioning
Q21. What tooling attribute affects tablet hardness distribution across a batch?
- Punch tip coating only
- Uniformity of die fill depth and compression force consistency
- Tablet embossing pattern solely
- Packaging method
Correct Answer: Uniformity of die fill depth and compression force consistency
Q22. Which punch marking is useful for traceability in production?
- Random scratches
- Unique serial number or tool ID engraved on punch head
- Color stains
- Coating thickness only
Correct Answer: Unique serial number or tool ID engraved on punch head
Q23. Thermal expansion of tooling can most affect which parameter during high-speed compression?
- Tablet dissolution pH
- Clearance between punch and die, altering weight and hardness
- Granule particle shape
- Coating gloss
Correct Answer: Clearance between punch and die, altering weight and hardness
Q24. What is “knocking” observed during tablet compression and how is tooling related?
- Acoustic signal indicating correct compression
- High-frequency vibration due to misaligned or loose tooling
- Sign of optimal lubrication only
- An aesthetic tablet defect unrelated to tooling
Correct Answer: High-frequency vibration due to misaligned or loose tooling
Q25. Which of the following best describes a bevelled punch face benefit?
- Increases friction during ejection
- Reduces sharp edges, aiding powder flow and ejection
- Prevents any tablet breakage always
- Removes the need for lubrication
Correct Answer: Reduces sharp edges, aiding powder flow and ejection
Q26. How does punch-to-die clearance influence tablet quality?
- No influence at all
- Too tight clearance causes friction and wear; too loose causes weight variability
- Only affects tablet color uniformly
- Only affects coating adhesion
Correct Answer: Too tight clearance causes friction and wear; too loose causes weight variability
Q27. What is the recommended action if tooling shows galling marks?
- Continue production until major failure
- Inspect, polish or recondition and investigate lubrication and composition
- Paint the tooling
- Replace machine bearings only
Correct Answer: Inspect, polish or recondition and investigate lubrication and composition
Q28. Which tablet defect often indicates problems with feeder and die fill rather than punch face finish?
- Sticking to punch
- Weight variation and double impressions
- Surface discoloration
- Engraving loss
Correct Answer: Weight variation and double impressions
Q29. Why is lubrication of punch guide surfaces important?
- To increase electrical resistance
- To reduce friction, wear and ejection force
- To make tablets disintegrate faster
- To change tablet color
Correct Answer: To reduce friction, wear and ejection force
Q30. During tooling selection for a moisture-sensitive formulation, which consideration is most important?
- Tool head engraving depth
- Material compatibility, corrosion resistance, and ease of cleaning
- Number of tooling suppliers only
- Tool color
Correct Answer: Material compatibility, corrosion resistance, and ease of cleaning
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
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