Short answer: Weigh your active ingredient and ReadyBlend at a 20–60% ReadyBlend ratio, blend the two together for 3–15 minutes until uniform, load the finished mix into your press hopper, set fill depth for the target tablet weight, and press a test batch before running the full run.
ReadyBlend is built to remove the ratio math a from-scratch formulation needs — it already combines the binder, filler, glidant, and lubricant roles in one bag, so the only variable you're actually solving for is how much of it to mix with your active ingredient.
What You Need Before You Start
- ReadyBlend, in the bag size that matches your batch (1, 5, 10, or 50kg).
- Your active ingredient, weighed and ready.
- A powder mixer, such as the SM-2L for small trial batches or the SM-10L for larger runs.
- A digital scale accurate enough for your batch size.
- A tablet press — any TDP-pattern model works, since ReadyBlend is formulated for direct compression without granulation.
Step 1: Weigh Your Active Ingredient and ReadyBlend
Target a ReadyBlend ratio of 20–60% of total tablet weight — 20% is the recommended minimum for the excipient system to do its job properly. Actives that compress poorly on their own, or that make up a large share of the tablet, generally need a ratio toward the higher end of that range.
Step 2: Blend the Two Together
Combine the weighed powders in a mixer — see the full powder mixer guide for load levels and speed settings. Blend for 3–8 minutes on the SM-2L or 5–15 minutes on the SM-10L, checking uniformity rather than mixing to a fixed time regardless of result.
Step 3: Check the Blend Visually
Sample the top, middle, and bottom of the mix and compare color and texture. Streaking or visibly unmixed pockets mean the batch needs more time — pressing an unevenly blended mix is one of the most common causes of tablet-to-tablet weight and potency variation.
Step 4: Load the Press Hopper
Transfer the finished blend into the press hopper promptly. ReadyBlend is formulated for consistent flow, but any powder picks up ambient moisture if left uncovered for an extended period, which affects how evenly it feeds into the die.
Step 5: Set Fill Depth for Target Tablet Weight
Dial in fill depth on the press to match your total blended tablet weight — see the TDP-0 or motorized press setup guides for the exact adjustment steps. Run a small test batch before committing the full blend to a production run.
Step 6: Adjust and Press the Full Batch
Check test tablets for weight and hardness. ReadyBlend's directly-compressible formulation generally needs less compression force than a from-scratch blend to reach an acceptable hardness — if tablets feel soft, increase force gradually rather than assuming the formulation itself is at fault.
Step 7: Store Any Unused Blend Sealed
Keep leftover blended powder in a sealed, airtight container at room temperature (10–30°C). Unblended ReadyBlend has a 2-year shelf life unopened, but once mixed with an active ingredient, storage conditions should follow whichever component is more sensitive to moisture or temperature.
ReadyBlend vs. Building a Blend From Scratch
| ReadyBlend | From-scratch blend | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratio to calculate | One number — 20–60% ReadyBlend | Four separate ratios (binder, filler, glidant, lubricant) |
| Ingredients to source | One bag | MCC, dicalcium phosphate, magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide separately |
| Color options | 9 pre-milled food-grade colors | Colorant sourced and blended separately |
| Best for | Most direct-compression formulations | Formulations needing a custom excipient ratio |
For the full breakdown of building a blend from individual excipients instead, see how to make an all-in-one direct-compression tableting powder.