Hi Doc,
Nice investment casting - the oldest casting method known to mankind and still a great way to make parts. Something you learned in your day job (you're a dentist, right)? I have a couple of places in my town that do it, but I've never approached them about doing some one-offs or small runs.
Neat 3D modelling - I should really get into it, but I'm from the old school of patternmaking (learned it 35+ years ago when I was working my way through school), where you make the master by hand on the bench, figure out the shrink allowance and adjust the pattern to suit. Wow, how much easier would it be to push the button on the keyboard to make the pattern a little bigger and then CNC the master?
Looks like a pretty big riser for the part (a lot of metal left in it after chilling) - but too much is better than too little, right - and the foundry just remelts the offcuts anyway? Also wondered why your foundry didn't suggest using a gating system and pour a number of parts at one time?
I gather it's A356 aluminum alloy - seems to be the bread and butter casting alloy in these parts and the finished product doesn't seem to exhibit any of the issues of a casting with a lot of reclaim in it?
BTW, the above are not criticisms, just questions - there are many, many ways to accomplish the task and... I was just curious.
Your attention to detail is awesome , incredible, inspirational - maybe just the thing to shake a lot of us out of our winter lethargy, up here in the frozen north.
Most excellent build.
Pat