"Lloyd E. Sponenburgh" wrote in message
.. .
I'm not squeezing cane. I'm compressing powdered compositions that
contain, among other abrasive things, silica.

I should've added that it's a process similar to sintering with the
attendant VERY high pressures... tons per square inch. The sugars tend to
migrate to the surface under plastic flow, and stick to the forming dies.

The system already works, but requires frequent cleaning (which is a chore).

LS