OPTIMIZATION OF DIE PROFILE FOR COLD FORWARD EXTRUSION USING AN IMPROVED SLAB METHOD ANALYSIS

One of the most important design parameters in extrusion process is the shape of die
profile. In the present research work, an optimum extrusion die profile has been obtained through
implementation of slab analysis in a computational algorithm. Moreover, extrusion process
through both optimum conical and curved die has been performed experimentally and also by
finite element method. It has been demonstrated that material work hardening characteristics and
friction condition have remarkable effects on the optimum streamlined die profile. Also, results
prove that the streamlined die profile designed based on the developed approach, is superior to the
conventional conical dies from both metallurgical and manufacturing perspectives. Consequently,
the proposed method can be regarded as an efficient and reliable tool for designing streamlined die
profiles. Hence, this technique can be used to produce desirable conditions in both process and
product quality in terms of extrusion force, deformation homogeneity and die wear.