System and method for controlling flow distribution of extrudate source material for fabricating a honeycomb extrudate

A system for controlling flow distribution of an extrudate source material upstream of an extrusion die configured for production of a honeycomb extrudate, the system comprising:

• a first plate defining a first plurality of openings;
• and
• a second plate defining a second plurality of openings, wherein at least some openings of the second plurality of openings arranged at different radial positions differ in area;
• wherein the first plate and the second plate are arranged in series in a flow path of extrudate source material to cause the extrudate source material to flow through either (i) the first plurality of openings followed by the second plurality of openings, or (ii) the second plurality of openings followed by the first plurality of openings;
• and
• wherein at least one of the first plate or the second plate is configured to move relative to the other by translation in a lateral direction that is perpendicular to a direction of flow of extrudate source material through the first plurality of openings and the second plurality of openings, and relative movement between the first plate and the second plate is configured to adjust a center-to-outer flow distribution of the extrudate source material through the extrusion die.