Extrusion press and method of using

A method of extruding comprising:

• accessing an extrusion press including a compaction container defining a compaction compartment and having a compaction container axis, wherein the extrusion press further includes a ram having a ram body configured for movement along a ram axis;
• loading material into the compaction compartment though a first open end thereof when the compaction container is in a first orientation wherein the compaction container axis is not aligned with the ram axis;
• covering the first open end;
• and
• while the first open end remains covered, rotating the compaction container to a second orientation wherein the compaction container axis is aligned with the ram axis such that the ram body is movable into the compaction compartment.

A method of extruding comprising:

• accessing an extrusion press including a compaction container defining a compaction compartment, wherein the extrusion press further includes a ram having a ram body configured for movement along a ram axis;
• loading material into the compaction compartment;
• at least partially moving the ram body into compaction compartment to compress the material positioned therein without extruding the material;
• and
• further moving the ram body into the compaction container to thereby extrude material out of the compaction container.

An extrusion press comprising:

• a ram having a ram body configured for movement along a ram axis;
• a compaction container defining a compaction compartment and having a compaction container axis, wherein the compaction container is rotatable between a first orientation wherein the compaction container axis is not aligned with the ram axis and a second orientation wherein the compaction container axis is aligned with the ram axis such that the ram body is movable into the compaction compartment;
• and
• a vacuum shroud movable between a sealing position wherein the vacuum shroud sealingly engages the compaction container and a retracted position where the vacuum shroud does not sealingly engage the compaction container, wherein the vacuum shroud is fluidly coupled to a vacuum source.

A method of forming an electrode comprising:

• accessing an extrusion press including a compaction container defining a compaction compartment and having a compaction container axis, wherein the extrusion press further includes a ram having a ram body configured for movement along a ram axis, and wherein the compaction container has a first open end and a second open end positioned opposite to the first open end;
• loading green carbon raw material into the compaction compartment when the compaction container is in a first orientation wherein the compaction container axis is not aligned with the ram axis;
• rotating the compaction container to a second orientation wherein the compaction container axis is aligned with the ram axis such that the ram body is movable into the compaction compartment;
• inserting the ram body into the first open end of the compaction compartment, at least about 1% of an axial length of the compaction container, while the second open end is closed to prevent extrusion and allow compaction of the material;
• and
• further inserting the ram body into the first open end of the compaction compartment, while the second open end is open, to form an extruded green carbon body through the second open end.