Method for designing a profile extrusion die plate for shaping a polymer resin into a profile

A computer-implemented method for designing an extrusion die for shaping a polymer resin material into a profile having a plurality of sections, the method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a plurality of operating conditions for shaping the resin material into the profile, wherein the plurality of operating conditions include draw speed, die land length, and pressure drop across the die plate;
• specifying the profile dimensions of each of the plurality of sections, the profile dimensions including width and thickness;
• providing extrusion information for the polymer resin, the extrusion information including die swell/drawdown and flow balance;
• and
• determining die dimensions for shaping the resin material into the profile in accordance with the obtained operating conditions, the specified profile dimensions, and the provided extrusion information.

An article of manufacture, comprising:

• a computer usable medium containing computer readable program code means embodied therein for designing an extrusion die for shaping a polymer resin material into a profile having a plurality of sections, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising:
• first computer readable program code means for obtaining a plurality of operating conditions for shaping the resin material into the profile, wherein the plurality of operating conditions include draw speed, die land length, and pressure drop across the die plate;
• second computer readable program code means for specifying the profile dimensions of each of the plurality of sections, the profile dimensions including width and thickness;
• third computer readable program code means for providing extrusion information for the polymer resin, the extrusion information including die swell/drawdown and flow balance;
• and
• fourth computer readable program code means for determining die dimensions for shaping the resin material into the profile in accordance with the obtained operating conditions, the specified profile dimensions, and the provided extrusion information.