Apparatus and method for molding material

An apparatus for molding a material, the apparatus comprising:

• first and second fixed platens (110 and 120) which are provided as a pair and spaced a predetermined distance from each other by a tie bar (150);
• a movable platen (140) formed such that the movable platen (140) is capable of moving along the tie bar (150) between the first and second fixed platens (110 and 120);
• a mold (200) which is provided with a movable mold (220) formed on the movable platen (140) and with a fixed mold (240) formed on the second fixed platen (120) and which forms a molding space (260) in a point where the movable mold (220) and the fixed mold (240) are in contact with each other, wherein the molding space (260) is formed such that the molding space (260) is capable of being open or closed as the movable mold (220) moves in a direction toward or away from the fixed mold (240);
• a pressing block (300) formed such that the pressing block (300) is capable of being moved at a position deviated from between the first fixed platen (110) and the movable platen (140) by an actuator (500), the pressing block (300) being capable of applying a pressure to the movable mold (220) when the pressing block (300) is moved between the first fixed platen (110) and the movable platen (140) by the actuator (500);
• and
• a punch (230) which penetrates the movable platen (140) and the movable mold (220) and reaches the molding space (260) and which has a rear end provided with a punch support (232), the punch (230) being configured to move forward or backward by a punch cylinder (234) that is formed between the movable platen (140) and the punch support (232), thereby being used as a forging mold.