Extruder assembly and method of extruding a meltable material using the extruder assembly

A method of extruding a meltable material, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) obtaining an extruder assembly comprising:
• a frame having an upstream end and a downstream end;
• a barrel assembly on the frame having a length and a passage with an inlet and an outlet,
• at least one material advancing component residing at least partially in the barrel assembly passage and configured to be turned around an operating axis to thereby cause material to be conveyed from the barrel assembly passage inlet to the barrel assembly passage outlet;
• and
• a drive assembly for turning the at least one material advancing component around the operating axis,
• the drive assembly comprising a motor on the frame situated so that at least a part of the motor is in lengthwise overlapping relationship with the barrel assembly,
• wherein the motor has a shaft with an axis that is substantially parallel to, and spaced from, the operating axis for the at least one materiel advancing component,
• wherein the drive assembly is configured to turn the at least one material advancing component around its operating axis at a speed of at least 300 rpm,
• wherein the extruder assembly further comprises a hopper assembly with a storage volume into which a supply of material to be processed can be placed, the hopper assembly configured to delivery material from the storage volume to the barrel assembly passage inlet at a first delivery location;
• (b) placing a material in the storage volume;
• (c) delivering the material from the storage volume into the barrel passage;
• (d) heating the material in the barrel assembly passage;
• and
• (e) operating the drive assembly to turn the at least one material advancing component around its operating axis at a speed of at least 300 rpm to thereby advance the material in the barrel assembly passage to the barrel assembly passage outlet.