At the heart of the extruder is a very simple machine. Various configurations of shaft speed, number of chambers, and screw/steam lock types enable operators to create a wide variety of products. Different products usually require different configurations and operating parameters.
An important parameter to consider is the retention time in the bucket. Depending on your product needs, you may need to increase or decrease the amount of time your product stays in the barrel. A common approach is to change the screws in each cavity.
The screw in each cavity serves two purposes:
1. Convey the product through the barrel
2. Generate shear and heat to process the product necessary
There are two main factors that affect screw performance:
1. Pitch: The distance between adjacent threads
2. Thread: The raised helical portion of the screw (similar to the threads on a machine bolt)