M. Kostic
www.kostic.niu.edu/extrusion email: kostic@niu.edu
After initial extrusion process observation and analysis, a plan for systematic experimental research is advised with objective to identify and quantify influence of all relevant process parameters on the final quality and dimensions of the extrudate-profile final product. Since some process parameters are competitive and others are complementive, their individual, mutual and integral effects should be investigated in order to optimize the over-all extrusion process. The results of proposed systematic experimental research should provide needed understanding and better comprehension, as well as quantitative data for numerical simulation and analysis of critical components, with an ultimate objective to obtain an optimal design of extrusion die, sizing-tool or calibrator and extrusion process parameters.
It is evident that final extrusion product dimensions and quality, strongly deepen on extrusion process parameters for the same input materials and hardware components (including die and calibrator). It is also evident that optimizing process parameters (tweaking and setting up extrusion process) requires expertise, experience and patience, since there is a large number of hardware components and control-process parameters to be fine-adjusted in order to make up for different deficiencies observed on the extrudate product at the time of setting up extrusion run. Since every hardware component and process parameter, influence the final extrudate product with deferent magnitude and time-rate, it is important to investigate, not only extrusion system in the steady-state process but also its dynamic response for better choice and control of the process parameters.
Details of extruder hardware components’ features and instrumentation and control are provided elsewhere.
See also: Assessment of NIU Die Designs and Fermilab Extrusion