# Drain Grates

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/drain-grates/11894>\
**Category:** Share your creations\
**Created:** [March 15, 2021, 1:55pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/drain-grates/11894 "2021-03-15T13:55:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Yepher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/yepher/32/8902_2.png) [@Yepher](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Yepher)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 1:55pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/drain-grates/11894/1 "2021-03-15T13:55:01Z")

</div>

I am not super thrilled with the commercial selections available _(or more likely just looking for a reason to make my own)_ so I am designing my own custom drain grates for a retaining wall I just finished.

I got a metal foundry for Christmas so I am planning to cast them in aluminum once I have the design I really like.

 ![IMG_8593](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/6/6f2767e01fb915f25be4b57f596c502ca919a2ff.jpeg)

## A Few different designs I am playing with

 ![IMG_1422.PNG](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/2X/1/172d32fec5e14f7bdf194f2426412d1b7976faec.jpeg)

some of these I don’t think are castable…???..

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![milouchien](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/milouchien/32/10020_2.png) [@milouchien](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/milouchien)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 2:33pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/drain-grates/11894/2 "2021-03-15T14:33:27Z")

</div>

The W one and the circular louvred one might be hard to cast because of the undercut louvres - but you could make some cores by printing a core box for them.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Yepher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/yepher/32/8902_2.png) [@Yepher](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Yepher)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 2:47pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/drain-grates/11894/3 "2021-03-15T14:47:43Z")

</div>

Thanks for the tip. I’ve not done casts before so can use all the advice I can get. I was thinking about doing lost PLA cast. Not sure if that makes a difference in this case.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![milouchien](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/milouchien/32/10020_2.png) [@milouchien](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/milouchien)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 3:16pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/drain-grates/11894/4 "2021-03-15T15:16:53Z")

</div>

I’ve only made a few simple patterns over the years but because of my dad being into vintage ships and motorcycles (odd combo huh?) ive always been around a few engineers and top restoration mechanics who often do a bit of their own casting or pattern making.

Lost PLA casting should make it easy… no draft or even the need for a split mould box. A top pour might well be ok but in case you’re interested …

…There’s a good old fashioned book on scribd about how to design gating, sprue and channels for the pour.

The Ten Rules of Castings.

> **[Read Castings Practice Online by John Campbell | Books](https://www.scribd.com/book/282481123/Castings-Practice-The-Ten-Rules-of-Castings)**
>
> Each chapter of Professor Cambell's new book Castings Practice will take a look at one of his 10 rules. It is to be expected that the Rules wil one day be taken as an outline or blueprint for an international specification on the methods for making...

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Yepher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/yepher/32/8902_2.png) [@Yepher](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Yepher)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 3:23pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/drain-grates/11894/5 "2021-03-15T15:23:09Z")

</div>

Awesome… Thanks