Patent ID: 6589454
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
A method of evaluating the material properties of a material which is currently being extruded into a part of a desired profile area or which is being examined for possible use in extruding a part of a desired profile area by an extruder operated in an extrusion process according to a predetermined set of extrusion parameters, the extruder being fitted with a die having an orifice adapted for extruding the material into the part of the desired profile area; the method comprising the steps of:providing a transitioning plate apparatus having an orifice shaped and sized for making a test specimen of a desired profile area which is different than the desired profile area of the part; aligning the orifice of the transitioning plate apparatus with the orifice of the die; extruding the material through the orifices of the die and transitioning plate apparatus to generate a length of the material having the desired test specimen profile area, the length of the material being useable as at least one test specimen for evaluating mechanical properties of the material as extruded according to the predetermined set of extrusion parameters; and testing the at least one test specimen to evaluate the mechanical properties of the material.