Method and system for designing a profile extrusion capping die

Abstract

A method for enabling design of a profile extrusion capping die includes, obtaining a size and configuration of a land formable by the capping die, obtaining material properties of a capping resin, obtaining operating conditions for processing the capping resin, and determining, from the size and configuration of the land, the material properties, the operating conditions, at least one of a velocity distribution and a pressure distribution of the capping resin adjacent to an outlet of the land. Desirably, the method also includes obtaining a size and configuration of a runner formable by the profile extrusion capping die, and determining at least one of the velocity distribution and the pressure distribution of the capping resin in the land and the runner. Advantageously, the method is implemented on a system or computer using a finite element mesh of the land and the runner and graphically displaying the velocity distribution and the pressure distribution. The system allows a designer to design a profile extrusion capping die electronically by revising the size and configuration of the land, runner, and/or inlet gate, to obtain a uniform velocity of the capping resin along the land outlet thus resulting in a capping having a uniform thickness.