The Benefits of a Vape Oil Filling Machine
A manual filling machine uses a foot-pedal to control the dispensing of oil. Glass syringes are frequently used with volumes ranging from 3 to 10 milliliters, though smaller syringes are preferred for heating as a larger one may clog during the process.
Fully automated filling machines can produce up to 2,000 cartridges an hour (amount varies by equipment), boosting production speed and reducing human interaction [4]. They also require less maintenance and offer extreme accuracy, precision and efficiency.
1. Accuracy
An accurate oil filling machine allows manufacturers to create precise cartridges every time. It uses an infusion pump working principle and vacuum filling technology to ensure that each disposable vape cartridge or empty cannabis oil cartridge is filled with exactly the right amount of product. This type of precision makes it easier for manufacturers to meet high-volume production demands.
A fully-automatic filling machine is capable of loading up to 2,000 cartridges per hour (amount varies by equipment). These devices can dramatically increase production speed while limiting the amount of human interaction needed.
Manual hardware typically fills one cartridge at a time and requires tools vape oil filling machine like hotplates to keep the oil at the right viscosity for insertion. However, this method is less dependable than semi-automatic or automatic devices.
Many machines offer granular controls that let users customize the production process to their specific needs. For example, you can set the temperature and volume of your cartridges’ contents, which can make a significant difference in your product’s quality and consistency. Additionally, you can choose a machine with safety features that protect employees and prevent injuries from overheating or explosions.
2. Speed
The speed of a machine is important when it comes to cartridge filling, as the more cartridges a business can manufacture in a day the more profit that can be made. A good quality cart filling machine will be able to handle both lower and higher viscosity concentrates quickly and accurately, meaning the amount of time that is spent handling each cartridge will decrease.
The hardware that comprises a cart filling machine typically includes an oil chamber, a nozzle to dispense the oils into cartridges and a tray for holding the empty and filled cartridges. A few machines are equipped with a heating element to make handling thicker oils easier and may also include a capping mechanism that can reduce the risk of leakage or oxidation within each cartridge.
Some smaller businesses may need to use manual hardware that can fill only one cartridge at a time, however this method takes up more space, requires more staff and has a high start-up investment cost. Alternatively, some manufacturers such as Thompson and Duke offer semi-automatic cart filling machines that can take up less lab space and still be capable of handling all types of cartridges, PODs, syringes and jars.
3. Efficiency
When you’re producing high volumes of cartridges, efficiency is key. Having a vape oil filling machine that can get the job done efficiently will ensure that you can meet your daily production goals while also maintaining high levels of quality and consistency in each cartridge.
Buckeye Relief’s team uses two fully automated cartridge-filling machines to achieve this goal. Each of their 2,000-plus cartridges is filled, capped and labelled with the correct information before being sent to dispensaries.
Manually filling cartridges by hand requires Vape Oil Filling Machine a lot of equipment, including hotplates to keep the oil at an optimal consistency for insertion. Zupancic explains that even with this equipment, it takes three and a half minutes to fill 50 0.5g cartridges at his shop, while it only takes four minutes for the same number of 1g cartridges when using their automated equipment.
Automation also increases efficiency by eliminating the need for human intervention at every stage of the process. This allows workers to focus their attention on other tasks, ensuring that each cartridge meets compliancy standards before being sold to consumers.
4. Reliability
A reliable cartridge-filling machine helps ensure that each cartridge is filled with the exact measurement needed, reducing the chance of inconsistencies. This is especially important for products that are difficult to handle manually, like thick oils and concentrates.
Manual hardware typically fills one cartridge at a time and utilizes utensils like syringes to keep oil viscous for insertion. Since distillate is denser than water, it must be heated consistently throughout the process to avoid bottlenecks during insertion. For this reason, a thermometer is frequently utilized for live resin and cannabis-derived terpenes that are sensitive to heat.
Semi and fully automatic cart filling machines can churn out several thousand cartridges per day with minimal human interaction. Although these machines require more upfront investment costs and may need specialized hardware jigs, they can help reduce waste and refocus employee time on other tasks. In addition, these machines provide the highest level of production efficiency and consistency in cartridge filling volume. Safety features are also a must for any type of cart filling machine, as they allow workers to stop the machine quickly in case of an emergency.
5. Safety
While the benefits of automation in cartridge filling machines are clear, the process does come with some drawbacks. For example, using an automated machine removes human error, but it also makes it harder to monitor and adjust the calibration settings. It’s important to ask possible equipment suppliers about their customer support policies and how quickly they can send a technician to your location if a problem arises.
In addition, it’s often necessary to prime a machine before loading cartridges. This process involves dispensing a small amount of oil into a jar to ensure that it’s flowing properly. In the case of cannabis oil, this can be especially important since different products have varying viscosities that may cause blockages.
A manual filling system is also an option, but it can take up more space and has a higher start-up investment than a fully automatic device. The manual method uses tools like syringes and hotplates to keep the liquid at an optimal consistency for insertion. This is particularly important with distillate, but even more so for live resins, which contain terpenes that are sensitive to heat.