Manifold assembly with atmospheric vent

An improved manifold assembly for use in the extrusion of a plastic with the manifold assembly comprising

• a die having a first end and a second end, said die having a die head secured at said second end,
• sets of a plurality of tubes located centrally of one another, each said set positioned longitudinally within a respective die manifold tube, each said set of tubes having an outermost surface with the outermost surface of each said set of tubes spaced a first distance from said respective die manifold tube, each of said respective die manifold tubes extending through the die,
• at least two calibration fingers secured to the die, each of said calibration fingers having a proximal portion adjacent said die head, said proximal portion of each of said calibration fingers being spaced a second distance from said die head, and
• a venting channel, said manifold assembly being vented to atmosphere by said venting channel, said venting channel extending from between said proximal portion of each of said calibration fingers and said die head to the first end of said die with a portion of said venting channel being between said die manifold tube and said outermost surface of each set of tubes, said first end of the die having formed therein a venting channel outlet.