Multi-piece die for forming honeycomb structures

Abstract

A multipiece die for extruding honeycomb structures that facilitates a variation of geometries in the formation of honeycomb structures by reducing the amount of machining necessary to change die configurations for different honeycomb arrangements. The die has at least two sets of channel forming pins which are supported from separate die bodies. The channel forming pins when brought together with the separate die bodies define a series of discharge slots by which the extrudable structure is ejected from the die. A plurality of cavities communicate extrudable material from inlet and outlet sides of each die body. The cavities in downstream die bodies, downstream being taken with respect to the flow of extrudable material, are made with sufficient size to allow pins depending from upstream die bodies through the cavities while still allowing enough open area to provide a feed passage for the extrudable material. The die bodies can be secured with ordinary fasteners to maintain relative spacing between the pins and the desired geometry of the discharge slots. Manufacturing the die in multiple pieces allows geometry parameters of the die to be easily varied with at most only partial manufacturing of new die components. Geometric features such as slot width, relative pin depth, and alternate pin geometries are examples of the types of modifications that are facilitated by this die design.