Methods for forming an electrode for use in forming a honeycomb extrusion die. The method includes forming, by means of an additive manufacturing process, an electrode includes a base having a web extending from the base. The web defines a matrix of cellular openings. The method further includes forming a secondary electrode having a plurality of pins. The plurality of pins are shaped and arranged so as to mate with the matrix of cellular openings defined by the web of the electrode. The method further includes machining the electrode using the secondary electrode to smooth surfaces of the electrode formed by the additive manufacturing process.

A method of manufacturing a honeycomb extrusion die. The die includes a feed hole plate and a pin assembly comprising pins extending feed hole plate. One or more of the pins includes a head including an alignment surface, flow surfaces, a contact surface, and a taper located between the alignment surface and the contact surface. The pins are adhered to the output surface of the feed hole plate at their respective contact surfaces. A tail of each pin is connected to the head and extends away from the feed hole plate. The alignment surfaces of adjacent pins contact each other, such that the tails of adjacent pins are spaced apart to at least partially define discharge slots. The flow surfaces of adjacent pins are spaced apart to at least partially define channels to enable flow from the feed holes to exit the honeycomb extrusion die through the discharge slots.

A method of manufacturing a honeycomb extrusion die. The die includes a feed hole plate and a pin assembly comprising pins extending feed hole plate. One or more of the pins includes a head including an alignment surface, flow surfaces, a contact surface, and a taper located between the alignment surface and the contact surface. The pins are adhered to the output surface of the feed hole plate at their respective contact surfaces. A tail of each pin is connected to the head and extends away from the feed hole plate. The alignment surfaces of adjacent pins contact each other, such that the tails of adjacent pins are spaced apart to at least partially define discharge slots. The flow surfaces of adjacent pins are spaced apart to at least partially define channels to enable flow from the feed holes to exit the honeycomb extrusion die through the discharge slots.

A composite material for producing an extrudate may include: PVC and granules of cereal chaff. The granules of cereal chaff may include spelt, hulls, granules, seed coats and/or stem parts. The cereal may be Pooideae and/or Panicoideae and/or Andropogonoide-ae.

A concrete dowel placement system and methods for making the same. The system allows for accurate and easy substantially-parallel or parallel placement of slip dowels within sections of concrete so that adjacent sections of concrete may be allowed to undergo thermal expansion and contraction while remaining in a common plane without cracking or faulting. The system includes a coupler and a sheath. The sheath is configured to be slidably extensible over the coupler and may be held to the coupler by friction. An outer surface of the sheath may be textured. Additionally, a method of constructing the concrete dowel placement system includes extruding material to form two tubes of different sizes. The tubes are then attached to each other, then material is extruded or injection molded to form a sheath. Alternatively, construction may include extruding material to form a tube, then removing some of the material from the tube in order to form a coupler.

A concrete dowel placement system and methods for making the same. The system allows for accurate and easy substantially-parallel or parallel placement of slip dowels within sections of concrete so that adjacent sections of concrete may be allowed to undergo thermal expansion and contraction while remaining in a common plane without cracking or faulting. The system includes a coupler and a sheath. The sheath is configured to be slidably extensible over the coupler and may be held to the coupler by friction. An outer surface of the sheath may be textured. Additionally, a method of constructing the concrete dowel placement system includes extruding material to form two tubes of different sizes. The tubes are then attached to each other, then material is extruded or injection molded to form a sheath. Alternatively, construction may include extruding material to form a tube, then removing some of the material from the tube in order to form a coupler.

A process for forming a biofilm carrier suitable for use in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) is presented. A blowing agent is mixed with a plastic material to form a blended material. The blended material is then heated to a temperature where the blowing agent liberates gas by decomposition. The heated blended material is extruded through a die to provide the extrudate with a profile of the biofilm carrier. Advantageously, biofilm carriers produced in this manner have increased effectiveness when compared to conventional biofilm carriers.

A process for forming a biofilm carrier suitable for use in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) is presented. A blowing agent is mixed with a plastic material to form a blended material. The blended material is then heated to a temperature where the blowing agent liberates gas by decomposition. The heated blended material is extruded through a die to provide the extrudate with a profile of the biofilm carrier. Advantageously, biofilm carriers produced in this manner have increased effectiveness when compared to conventional biofilm carriers.

A method of manufacturing a honeycomb body, comprising extruding honeycomb extrudate (200) in an axial direction (A), the honeycomb extrudate (200) having an outer periphery (206); and laser machining in situ the honeycomb extrudate (200) to form a laser cut in the honeycomb extrudate. A system for in situ cutting a wet green ceramic extrudate, comprising a laser (500, 732, 826) configured to irradiate laser energy to an outer periphery of a wet green ceramic article, the laser energy adapted to cut through at least a portion of the outer periphery (206).

A method of manufacturing a honeycomb body, comprising extruding honeycomb extrudate (200) in an axial direction (A), the honeycomb extrudate (200) having an outer periphery (206); and laser machining in situ the honeycomb extrudate (200) to form a laser cut in the honeycomb extrudate. A system for in situ cutting a wet green ceramic extrudate, comprising a laser (500, 732, 826) configured to irradiate laser energy to an outer periphery of a wet green ceramic article, the laser energy adapted to cut through at least a portion of the outer periphery (206).