Abstract: An extruder, such as a double-screw extruder includes a double cylinder and a double-lead screw arranged therein with a drive train for the screw. The drive train has a coupling with the screw. The extruder includes a sensor for recording a moment load having torque and/or bending moment and for generating electronic data from the recorded moment load. A controller is provided in operative connection to a drive for the drive train and the sensor is in data connection with the controller. The controller is adapted to evaluate the data on the recorded moment load and to trigger a protective action if a threshold value set in the controller is exceeded. The evaluation includes a bending moment calculation. A plastic molding plant produces a film with the extruder along with a nozzle unit and a cooling and wind-up unit or a compounding plant. A method for operating such a plant for manufacturing a film includes the extruder.

Abstract: For almost 100 years, extruders have been built in such a manner that at a predetermined screw diameter, a corresponding throughput capacity is achieved, depending on the process conditions. To increase the output capacity, the screw diameter is generally increased in accordance with the physical laws of similitude. The length-to-diameter ratio remains the same, or the extruder becomes longer. This leads to the result that an engineer strives to use an extruder having a small screw diameter. In order to avoid the disadvantage of space-intensive extruders, fast-turning single-screw extruders have been developed in the past 10 years. Extruders having a screw diameter of 35 mm to 100 mm and having a length of 30 D to 40 D are usual in practice. Ultimately, however, all concepts usual on the market fail to implement a universal extruder. The invention is based on the task of presenting a universal concept of a single-screw plastification machine.

Abstract: A device for processing a polymer material including a first screw having a first length; and a second screw having a second length different from the first length, wherein the first screw is configured to be rotated at one of a direction and a speed of rotation that is independent from a respective speed or rotation of the second screw.