System and method for extruding parts having microstructures

摘要

A manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing extruded parts having microstructures comprising: a support structure; a hopper carried by the support structure for receiving feedstock; an extrusion chamber operatively associated with the hopper for receiving the feedstock from the hopper and melting the feedstock above a feedstock melting temperature; a die carried by the support structure having die microstructures disposed on an inner surface of the die, the die microstructures having a plurality of microfeatures each having an upper surface and a lower surface, the melted feedstock being forced through the die to produce an extrudate having extrudate microstructures; and, a cooling assembly wherein the extrudate microstructures of the pre-cooled extrudate have larger physical dimensions than that of the extrudate microstructures of the cooled extrudate.

主权项

1. A manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing extruded parts having microstructures comprising:
a support structure; a hopper carried by said support structure for receiving feedstock; an extrusion chamber operatively associated with said hopper for receiving said feedstock from said hopper and melting said feedstock above a feedstock melting temperature; a die carried by said support structure having die microstructures disposed on an inner surface of said die, said die microstructures having a plurality of microfeatures each having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface having an arc defined in said lower surface, said melted feedstock being forced through said die to produce a pre-cooled extrudate having pre-cooled extrudate microstructures; an upper channel defined in said upper surface including a concave portion; a cooling assembly wherein said extrudate microstructures of said pre-cooled extrudate have larger physical dimensions than that of post-cooled extrudate microstructures of a post-cooled extrudate wherein said post-cooled extrudate microstructures has a height in the range of 70 to 90 μm, a width in the range of 120 to 160 μm and a general slope shape.