Casting apparatus and casting method

A casting apparatus comprising:

• a support block;
• a die provided on a first surface of the support block, the die being configured to form a cavity in cooperation with the support block;
• and
• an insert member movable relative to the support block and configured to selectively move between a first position at which the insert member is received in the cavity and a second position at which the insert member is extracted out of the cavity;
• wherein the support block further comprises a through hole, and the insert member moves from the first position to the second position along the through hole;
• wherein the casting apparatus further comprises:
• a restriction unit configured to selectively restrict the insert member disposed at the first position;
• wherein the restriction unit comprises:
• a first restriction block provided on a second surface of the support block and configured to move between a first closed position at which the first restriction block closes the through hole and a first opened position at which the first restriction block opens the through hole;
• and
• a second restriction block provided on the second surface of the support block and configured to move between a second closed position at which the second restriction block closes the through hole and a second opened position at which the second restriction block opens the through hole;
• and
• wherein the casting apparatus further comprises:
• a holder member configured to support the first restriction block and the second restriction block such that the first restriction block and the second restriction block are movable.