CPC B21D 26/047 (2013.01) [B21C 23/00 (2013.01); B21D 26/033 (2013.01); B21D 26/053 (2013.01); B23P 15/00 (2013.01); B21D 53/88 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. An apparatus for forming a part comprising:
a die having:
a round orifice;
a central mandrel disposed within the round orifice; and
a plate including a plurality of bridges and a corresponding plurality of portholes between the bridges, the central mandrel disposed at a center of the plate, the bridges and portholes disposed around the central mandrel, the bridges extending in a radial direction of the plate from the central mandrel, the bridges each including flat side surfaces extending along a direction parallel to an axial direction of the plate, each of the portholes being defined by adjacent ones of the flat side surfaces of the bridges,
wherein a spacing of the bridges around the central mandrel is non-equiangular, and
wherein the die allows a material to be extruded through the die to form a round, closed geometry tube from the material such that the round, closed geometry tube has non-equiangular welds after emerging from the die.
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