Patent ID: 6123539
Filing Date: 2000-09-26
Classification: B29C,B29L,Y10S

Abstract:
A die assembly apparatus for making a component from a molten material, comprising:a base plate;a plurality of die segments which are combinable to form a die assembly with an internal cavity shaped to define said component;a plurality of guides attached to said base plate, each of said plurality of guides being configured to define an associated one of a plurality of paths along which an associated one of said plurality of die segments can travel, each of said associated paths extending from an open position away from other ones of said plurality of die segments to a closed position proximate said other ones of said plurality of die segments, said plurality of die segments being combined to form said die assembly when all of said plurality of die segments are in said closed position, movement from said open position to said closed position for each one of said plurality of die segments being in a direction toward said base plate; anda compression member movable relative to said base plate, said compression member being configured to exert a force on said die assembly by moving toward said base plate with said die assembly disposed between said base plate and said compression member.