Abstract: An apparatus for evenly distributing forces around a die mounted to an extruder barrel includes a barrel flange mounted around the extruder barrel, the barrel flange providing a flange sealing face and a first angular cam surface, and a die adapter for carrying the die, the die adapter providing an adapter sealing face that opposes the flange sealing face, and a second angular cam surface. The apparatus further includes a pair of opposed clamshells each with a semi-circle opening and a lock channel facing each other, each lock channel having angled cam surfaces facing the first and second angular cam surfaces.