Patent ID: 8210233

Claim:
An apparatus for die forming metal articles from a molten metal said apparatus including a first die portion and at least a second die portion which are moveable relative to one another between an open condition and a closed condition, said die portions, in a closed condition, delimiting die cavities which define a shape of one or more articles to be formed, the apparatus further comprising a furnace arranged below and connected to the die by a feeding duct, to heat a metal to its molten state and to control a flow of the molten metal through the feeding duct to hollow impressions formed as part of the first or the second portion of the die, said apparatus further comprising a moveable punch located in each hollow impression, which punch is movable towards the other portion of the die, and is adapted to apply a predetermined pressure on the metal article being formed, wherein each punch is moveable independently from all other punches, said apparatus further comprising a controller for controlling a pressure applied by each punch and for levelling the pressure applied by all the punches on the article being formed.