Patent ID: 6857462

Claim:
A method for operating a high pressure die casting machine for casting an engine block, said high pressure die casting machine including a die assembly having a pair of dies, a molten aluminum injector assembly, and a die spraying assembly, comprising the steps of: a) providing a first accumulator assembly and a second accumulator assembly, said first accumulator assembly being dedicated to supplying pressurized fluid to move the die assembly while said second accumulator assembly supplies pressurized fluid to provide motive energy to a remaining portion of the die casting machine; b) operating a barrel inserter to place cylinder barrel inserts in the die assembly; c) closing the dies so as to form an engine block mold; d) injecting molten aluminum into the engine block mold; e) after a predetermined time period, opening the dies to reveal the cast engine block; f) moving an articulated robot arm into alignment with the cast engine block; g) grasping and lifting the cast engine block with the robot arm, and thereby removing the cast engine block from the die assembly; h) moving the die spraying assembly into alignment with the dies; and, i) spraying a fluid from the die spraying assembly so as to clean and cool the dies.