Patent attributes
An apparatus and process for manufacturing a disc rotor made of a metal-based composite material, which enables stabilization of a preform support within a disc rotor casting cavity while minimizing likelihood of damaging of preforms. The apparatus comprises a lower die 10 and a movable core assembly 20 which constitutes a disc rotor casting cavity 18; a preform supporting portion 24a which is provided on a movable core assembly 20; a pressurizing and shaping portion 32 of an upper die 30 for applying pressure upon a molten metal accommodated in the cavity 18; and a preform biasing mechanism 40 having a biasing face 41b which can be brought into a face-to-face contact with the upper face of a preform 5 which is supported on the preform supporting portion 24a. On application of pressure upon the molten metal, the preform biasing mechanism 40 biases the preform 5 via the biasing face 41b to prevent the preform 5 from being shifted due to an increase in the pressure upon the molten metal.
