Patent ID: 8033805

Claim:
A die for use with a uni-axial press including top and bottom rams, at least one of the top and bottom rams being movable along a pressing axis, the die comprising: at least two separable die parts, each having: a top surface and a bottom surface, the top and bottom surfaces of the separable die parts collectively defining top and bottom surfaces of the die; a peripheral surface, the peripheral surfaces of the separable die parts collectively defining a periphery of the die; parting surfaces extending between the top and bottom surfaces of the die part; a die chamber portion, wherein the die chamber portions of the separable die parts collectively define a die chamber extending along the pressing axis, wherein the die chamber has chamber walls that define a volume having a shape that captures a formed part so that it is immovable within the assembled die; and top and bottom pressing bore portions extending between the die chamber portion and the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, the top and bottom pressing bore portions of the separable die parts collectively defining top and bottom pressing bores extending from the die chamber to the top and bottom surfaces of the die, respectively; and a first removable core rod; wherein the die parts are movable between separated and engaged positions in a direction non-parallel to the pressing axis, the die includes a first passageway extending therethrough between the periphery of the die and the die chamber, and the first removable core rod is configured to be inserted into the die chamber through the first passageway; wherein the parting surfaces of each die part are adjacent to the die chamber portion and, in the assembled die, contact adjacent parting surfaces of other die chamber portion(s); and wherein each parting surface extends in a direction non-perpendicular to the pressing axis.