Patent ID: 8355809

Claim:
A computer implemented method for making parts of a die, called die halves, for extruding material or coating material on a web through a die slot defined by die slot surfaces, the method comprising: a. selecting a product uniformity percentage; b. selecting a slot height of the die and determining a maximum total indicated run-out (TIR) for the die slot surfaces; c. for each die half, selecting one or more values for one or more dimensions related to the size of each die half and entering the one or more selected values into a computer user interface; d. for each die half, computing, by means of a mathematical model determined by regression analysis of data from a plurality of previously measured total indicated run-out (TIR) corresponding to surfaces of die halves of previously measured dies, a TIR of a surface of the die half defining the die slot, and a range of values for dimensions, not selected in step c, of each die half to attain the selected product uniformity percentage, at the selected slot height, and with the one or more selected values selected in step c, wherein the analysis of data comprises analysis of at least die half lengths, die half widths, and die half thicknesses; and e. machining the die halves, using the selected slot height, the one or more selected values, the computed range of values, and forming the die slot surfaces at or below the determined maximum TIR and within said range of values computed in step d.