Apparatus and Method for Producing Piston for Internal Combustion Engine

A method for producing a piston for an internal combustion engine by casting using an apparatus, the piston having a cooling channel therein, the apparatus comprising:

• a fixed die with an upwardly opened cavity in which a core serving to form the cooling channel is to be disposed;
• a moveable die moveably disposed relative to the fixed die in a vertical direction, the moveable die comprising a predetermined engaging portion, the moveable die being inserted and engaged in the fixed die through the engaging portion to thereby serve to form a crown surface of the piston,
• a guide die comprising an engaging portion engageable with the fixed die, the engaging portion of the guide die having a same shape as that of the engaging portion of the moveable die, and
• a core retaining mechanism disposed in the guide die, the core retaining mechanism serving to retain the core in a predetermined position,
• the method comprising:
• a first step of retaining the core in a predetermined position through the core retaining mechanism;
• a second step of inserting and engaging the guide die in the fixed die to thereby carry out positioning of the guide die relative to the fixed die through the engaging portion of the guide die;
• a third step of arranging the core in the cavity of the fixed die through the core retaining mechanism;
• a fourth step of removing the guide die from the fixed die;
• and
• a fifth step of inserting and engaging the moveable die in the fixed die.