Devices, systems, and methods for extruding materials bearing millefiori-like patterns

A method of extruding material comprising:

• providing at least one extruder system, wherein the extruder system comprises:
• a barrel having a barrel width structured to contain and pass an extrudable material;
• a piston assembly comprising a piston structured to fit at least partially within the barrel, the piston assembly configured to push the extrudable material through the barrel upon activation;
• and
• a body disposed within the barrel between the extrudable material and the piston, wherein the body comprises a first planar end and an opposing second planar end, the first planar end being substantially parallel to the second planar end, and a lip extending radially from the body at or near the second planar end to define an edge, the edge defining a first width and the lip comprising a resilient material;
• wherein the body supports the lip enabling the edge of the lip to flex, the first width is nearly the same as the barrel width, and the body is releasably coupled with the piston such that the body is released from the piston when sufficient force is applied to the piston in a direction away from the body;
• and
• a cap structured to reversibly attach to an end of the barrel and to secure an extrusion die at the end;
• placing the material in a feed end of the barrel of the extruder;
• placing the body in the feed end of the barrel adjacent the material such that the body is behind the material relative to the extrusion end;
• applying a force to the first planar end of the body to extrude the material from the end of the barrel through the die;
• and
• creating a vortex within a core region of the material within the barrel.

A method of producing a tile having a pattern made by an extruder system comprising:

• providing the extruder, wherein the extruder system comprises:
• a barrel having a barrel width structured to contain and pass an extrudable material;
• a piston assembly comprising a piston structured to fit at least partially within the barrel, the piston assembly configured to push the extrudable material through the barrel upon activation;
• and
• a body disposed within the barrel between the extrudable material and the piston, wherein the body comprises a first planar end and an opposing second planar end, the first planar end being substantially parallel to the second planar end, and a lip extending radially from the body at or near the second planar end to define an edge, the edge defining a first width and the lip comprising a resilient material;
• wherein the body supports the lip enabling the edge of the lip to flex, the first width is nearly the same as the barrel width, and the body is releasably coupled with the piston such that the body is released from the piston when sufficient force is applied to the piston in a direction away from the body;
• placing a first stacked arrangement of material in a feed end of the barrel of the extruder, the first stacked arrangement comprising at least two materials positioned together in a stacked arrangement;
• placing the body in the feed end of the barrel adjacent to the first stacked arrangement of material such that the body is behind the first stacked arrangement of material relative to the extrusion end;
• applying a force to the planar end of the body to extrude the first stacked arrangement of material from the extrusion end of the barrel through the die;
• and
• creating a vortex within a core region of the first stacked arrangement of material within the barrel, the vortex rearranging the first stacked arrangement of material into a pattern in the core region;
• extruding the first stacked arrangement through a die in the extrusion end of the device to result in a molded body;
• and
• firing the molded body to produce the tile, wherein at least one of the at least two materials defines a central pattern on the tile.