Advanced Hot Cutter for Precise Pelletization

The hot die pelletizer is an advanced, efficient hot-cut pelletizer for processing extrudates into uniform, high-quality pellets. By bringing one or more knives into direct contact with the die plate—a hot-cut pelletizing method—the unit slices strands the instant they exit, locking in consistent shape and size. This precision makes it indispensable in plastics, pharmaceuticals, and any industry demanding tight pellet geometry.

One of the key advantages of the hot die pelletizer is its ability to handle both wet strands and melt pelletizing duties with equal ease. Thermoplastics, elastomers, and certain food products all process smoothly—even filled compounds like EPDM rubber loaded with carbon black—because the material is still pliable when cut. Operators can vary knife count and speed to produce pellets from 0.5 mm micro-pellets up to 10 mm granules, tailoring output to downstream requirements while maintaining superb uniformity.

The hot cutter features an integrated potentiometer for on-the-fly speed control, letting users fine-tune shear rate to match each formulation’s viscosity. For greater automation, it can plug directly into the Xceptional Instruments extruder’s control cabinet, synchronizing temperatures, RPM, and draw-down in a single interface. This seamless link transforms the setup into a cohesive micro extruder pelletizer line that boosts overall efficiency and reduces operator workload.

A major benefit of this design is its knack for brittle or high-fill extrudates. Because the strand remains warm and plastic during cutting, it resists cracking and can be molded into near-perfectly spherical pellets—much smoother than the irregular granules often produced by cold-strand granulators. These spheres flow better in hoppers, dose more accurately, and improve bulk density consistency in subsequent handling steps.

Compact and space-saving, the pelletizer slips easily into laboratory hoods, pilot plants, or small production bays. Its retrofittable frame bolts into existing extrusion lines without major alteration, and an optional sealed housing keeps dust and fines contained for a cleaner, safer workspace.

Key features include its small footprint, knife and speed adjustability for 0.5 mm to 10 mm output, and the capacity to cut very brittle strands without breakage. The customizable blade carousel offers configurations to suit soft melts or tough, fiber-reinforced resins, while optional integration kits deliver plug-and-play connectivity to higher-level PLC systems or MES dashboards.

Overall, this hot die pelletizer—equally at home as a stand-alone cutter or the finishing stage of a continuous pelletizer line—provides reliable, versatile performance across a vast array of materials. By uniting precise knife control, melt-state flexibility, and retrofit-ready engineering, it elevates productivity and pellet quality in any compounding or production environment.