FEM simulation of aluminium extrusion through two-hole multi-step pocket dies

Multi-hole pocket dies are a type of extrusion tooling setup commonly used across the aluminium extrusion industry for efficient production of solid aluminium profiles. Such dies are designed on the basis of experience and corrected after a number of trial extrusion runs before becoming usable. Computer simulation based on the finite element method (FEM) is in principle capable of predicting metal flow through the dies designed, but it is yet a huge technological challenge to simulate the extrusion process to produce profiles of industrial significance. The present research was attempted to investigate the effect of steps in the die pocket on metal flow to produce two chevron profiles with unequal thicknesses through two-hole dies, by means of 3D FEM simulation of extrusion in the transient state. The results showed that the pocket step could be effectively used to balance metal flow. Extrusion experiments validated the predictions of metal flow, extrudate temperature and the pressure required for extrusion through the pocket dies with three different designs. 3D FEM was demonstrated to be a powerful tool in optimising die design and decreasing the number of trial extrusion runs.