Patent ID: 8794947

Claim:
A translating die apparatus for forming a piece of material, the translating die apparatus comprising: a first fixed die; a second fixed die, wherein at least one of the first fixed die and the second fixed die is movable relative to the other between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the second fixed die is shaped and configured to selectively mate with at least a portion of the first fixed die when the translating die apparatus is in the closed configuration and to be spaced a distance apart from the first fixed die when the translating die apparatus is in the open configuration; a first movable die laterally aligned with and translatably coupled to the first fixed die; a second movable die laterally aligned with and translatably coupled with the second fixed die, wherein at least one of the first movable die and the second movable die is movable relative to the other between the closed configuration and the open configuration, wherein the second movable die is shaped and configured to selectively mate with at least a portion of the first movable die when in the closed configuration and to be spaced a distance apart from the first movable die when in the open configuration, wherein the first and second movable dies are operable to translate toward and away from the first and second fixed dies, wherein movement of the dies between the closed and open configuration is transverse to translation of the first and second movable dies toward and away from the first and second fixed dies.