Molding apparatus

A molding apparatus that molds a metal pipe with a flange, comprising:

• a first mold and a second mold that are paired with each other;
• a slide that moves at least one of the first mold and the second mold;
• a drive unit that generates a driving force for moving the slide;
• a holding section that holds a metal pipe material between the first mold and the second mold;
• a gas supply section that supplies gas into the metal pipe material held by the holding section;
• and
• a control unit that controls the drive unit, the holding section, and the gas supply section,
• wherein the first mold and the second mold are provided with a first cavity portion that molds a pipe portion of the metal pipe, and a second cavity portion that molds a flange portion,
• wherein the control unit
• controls the gas supply section such that the gas supply section expands and molds the metal pipe material by supplying gas into the metal pipe material held between the first mold and the second mold by the holding section and
• controls the drive unit such that the drive unit molds the flange portion by crushing a portion of the expanded metal pipe material in the second cavity portion of the first mold and the second mold, and
• wherein the second cavity portion communicates with an outside of the molds from a start of molding so that at least some air between an inner surface of the second cavity portion and a place forming the flange portion of the metal pipe escapes to the outside of the molds, and wherein the second cavity includes a step having a size corresponding to a thickness of the flange portion which closes communication of the second cavity to the outside of the molds and prevents excess crushing of the flange portion at a closed position of the molds that completes the molding.