• Die Module
• Tube Element
• Conically shaped Tube Element
• Rectangular Element
• Conically shaped Rectangular Element
• Annular Element
• Conically shaped Annular Element
• Filter Element

Path: Main menu > Configuration > Edit die…

The tool module is used to assemble a tool in front of the extruder. The tool can be assembled from different geometries. In the Configuration menu item, you can choose between Create tool and Load tool.

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.

The tool is constructed from the available geometries. The desired geometry is selected using the Insert button. A data sheet appears on the right-hand side, in which the properties of the tool must be entered. For all geometries, a name for the tool section and the number of parallel elements must be entered. The latter indicates how many outlet cross-sections are parallel in the tool. The geometric dimensions for defining the tool are different for each cross-section.

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.

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.