Small footprint molten metal pump

A support post for use in a molten metal pump that comprises:

• (a) a motor positioned on a platform, wherein the platform has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of apertures extending therethrough;
• (b) a pump base that comprises an inlet leading to a pump chamber and an outlet in communication with the pump chamber;
• and
• (c) a drive shaft comprising a first end connected to a motor and a second end connected to a rotor, wherein the rotor is positioned at least partially in the pump chamber;
• wherein the support post has a body, a first body end, a second body end, and a rod positioned at least partially in the body, and the rod has a first rod end configured to be received in one of the apertures and be fastened above the top surface the platform.

A molten metal pump base that comprises an inlet leading to a pump chamber and an outlet in communication with the pump chamber, and that is configured to be used in a molten metal pump that comprises:

• (a) a motor positioned on a platform, wherein the platform has a top surface and a bottom surface;
• (b) a drive shaft comprising a first end connected to a motor and a second end connected to a rotor, wherein the rotor is positioned at least partially in the pump chamber;
• and
• (c) a plurality of support posts, wherein each of the plurality of support posts has a body, a body first end, a body second end, a rod positioned at least partially in the body, a first rod end extending from the body first end, and the first rod end is connected to the platform, and a second rod end extending from the second body end and received in a bore in the molten metal pump base and connected to a fastener in the molten metal pump base.