Apparatus for forming fibers

An apparatus for forming fibers, comprising:

• a die assembly including a fiber material supply cavity for receiving material to be formed into fibers and an attenuation medium inlet;
• a spinnerette assembly including a plurality of nozzles and one or more attenuation medium passages, the nozzles disposed in the spinnerette assembly such that at least some of the nozzles are in fluid communication with the fiber material supply cavity, the one or more attenuation medium passage having a minimum cross-sectional area;
• a cover plate disposed adjacent at least a portion of the spinneret assembly, the cover plate having therein a cover plate opening into which one or more of the nozzles may extend, the cover plate opening having a limiting cross-sectional area;
• and
• a support plate, wherein the support plate includes at least two stacked plates, one of the plates having a slot spanning at least two nozzles in one direction and at least one of the plates having a slot spanning at least two nozzles in a different direction;
• wherein the minimum cross-sectional area of the one or more attenuation medium passages is greater than the limiting cross-sectional area of the cover plate opening.