Path: Main menu > Configuration > Edit die…

The die module assists the user creating a die in front of the extruder. The die can be composed of different geometries.

Path: Main menu > Configuration > Create die…

To create, load, edit and save a die choose the respective command within the main menu under configuration. The window die configuration (see figure) comes up when choosing create or edit die.

Figure: Die configuration

The geometries can be selected in the dropdown menu bottom left of the window and inserted by clicking the button next to it. When inserting an element the data sheet containing the geometrical description is to fill in. This description differs from element to element; element name and number of elements, however, have to be given for every element. The latter says how many parallel die gaps exist. The different available geometries are:

• Tube element: Geometrical description contains length and diameter
• Conically shaped tube element: Geometrical description contains length, inlet and exit diameter
• Rectangular element: Geometrical description contains length, height and width
• Conically shaped rectangular element: Geometrical description contains height and width each for inlet and exit
• Annular element: Geometrical description contains length, inner and outer diameter
• Conically shaped annular element: Geometrical description contains inner and outer diameter for inlet and exit
• Filter element: In order to calculate the pressure loss with a filter the filter area, the mesh size and the number of filter elements as well as different reference parameters (known from practical tests) have to be indicated. This involves the pressure decrease which was measured with a reference melt flow rate and a reference melt temperature. The reference values and the pressure decrease that has to be calculated to a constant mesh size.

All die segments are defined one after another, beginning with the part at the screw tip and ending with the die gap. The Up and Down buttons change the position of the single elements. They also allow the definition of an element between already defined geometries. To delete a part of the die mark it first and then choose Delete. When hitting Ok the die is added to the configuration. To save the die separately choose configuration, save die or save it via saving the complete process (cf. chapter Create a Process).

Alternatively to a given pressure at the screw tip the dialog Process parameters offers the possibility of calculating the pressure drop of the die when checking the box.

Path: Configuration > Save die as…

If a tool is used the user can also view the shear rate and the pressure in the tool. With the menu item shear rate in graphic the user gets to the diagram. Unlike in the previous diagrams the process is sketched by the tool. If the user moves the mouse over the individual tool element more information about the tool element are shown in the properties window.

Figure: Graphic depiction of shear rate and pressure in the die

The triangle beneath the diagram symbolizes the screw tip. A rectangular element is depicted by a conventional rectangle, a tube element is depicted by a rectangle with a dashed curve. Annular elements are depicted by a rectangular with a dashed stripe in the center and all conically shaped elements are depicted by the changing diameter. A filter element is depicted by a twice dashed area.