Multi-cavity Die Performance in Extrusion

Hanif Hamzah¹

¹Press Metal Aluminium Holdings, Setia Alam,Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract. Multi-cavity die design has always been a simple die to make but a difficult die to extrudefor the extrusion industry. The extrusion industry is facing a low productivity in output and a lowpress recovery. An approach to review the die designs is investigated for both solid and hollow dies.A solid die design is discussed from two cavities or more made in the die making process.The design covers the pocket die type, a feeder plate die design and also the ring type die designs.The basic fundamentals of conventional multi-cavity dies are discussed and the merit and demeritsare reviewed from die making to final die correction. The hollow dies are also discussed with thevarious types of die designs used in the extrusion process. The conventional method is reviewed alongwith the new type of die designs with the objectives to get better press recovery and productivity.Nevertheless, process factors such as the press alignment and temperature are considered for the dieto perform. The approach to the new concept of die design and the introduction of negative bearingin the solid die designs helps in gaining the stability of die performance. The stability of dies in theextrusion is the key indicator to gain a higher output and better press recovery. Thus, for multi-cavitydies in extrusion, die design plays a key role to stabilise the die for better productivity and pressrecovery.