Design of porthole aluminium extrusion dies through mathematical formulation

Abstract

A mathematical approach to solve the porthole die design problem is achieved by statistical analysis of a large amount of geometric data of successful porthole die designs. Linear and logarithmic regression are used to analyse geometrical data of 596 different ports from 88 first trial dies. Non-significant variables or high correlated variables are discarded according to knowledge of the extrusion process and statistical criteria. This paper focuses on a validation model for a typical case of porthole dies: four cavities and four ports per cavity dies. This mathematical formulation is a way of summarizing in a single expression the experience accumulated in a large number of designs over time. A broad way of research is open to generalise this model or extend it to other types of porthole dies.