• 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…

In addition, a created tool can be saved there. Load tool calls up a previously saved tool. The menu item Create tool… opens the tool configuration.

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 tool segments are defined one after the other by inserting the corresponding geometry, entering all data and inserting the next geometry. It should be noted that the tool is constructed from the screw tip to the tool exit. The order of the tool segments can be changed as desired using the Position forward and Position back buttons. In this way, it is also possible to define a part of the tool that must be inserted between two already defined geometries.

The Delete button deletes the selected part of the tool structure.

The OK button completes the tool structure and returns you to the process.

The tool must then be saved. This is done via the menu item:

Configuration > Save tool as…

Graphical representation of the results

When a tool is used, the user can also display the shear rate and pressure in the tool. The user can access the diagram via the menu item Shear speed in graph. Unlike in the previous diagrams, the curve is now drawn over the tool. If the user moves the mouse over the respective tool elements, further information about the tool element is displayed in the properties window.

The triangle drawn below the diagram symbolises the scroll tip. While a rectangular gap is represented by a conventional rectangle, a rectangle with a dashed line illustrates a circular cross-section. Ring gaps are indicated by a rectangle with hatched stripes in the middle, and all conical elements are represented by the changing diameter. A filter medium is described by a double-hatched area.

For the die element tube element length and diameter have to be indicated in mm. The amount indicates how many parallel elements exist in the die.