an improved process and apparatus for the melt - spinning of synthetic polymers are disclosed . the process and apparatus are preferably adapted to polymers such as polyamide 6 , polyamide 66 , polyester and their copolymers . the polymers are melt - spun in a spinneret and the resulting filaments are withdrawn at a speed between 600 and 6000 meters / min . the distance between the uppermost blow point of the cooling zone and the spinneret surface is selected so that the distance is within a range , the upper limit of which is defined by the relation b and the lower limit is defined by one of the relations a 1 or a 2 or a 3 as follows : b = 48 . 2 - 109 a . sub . 1 = 34 . 4 - 71 a . sub . 2 =- 32 . sup . 2 + 34 a . sub . 3 =- 44 . sup . 2 + 32 , where v is the spinning withdrawal speed in meters / min .