Spherical centrifuge

A device for centrifugally casting spheroids, said device comprising:

• (a) a support structure;
• (b) a frame capable of being mounted on said support structure, said frame being capable of rotation about a primary axis;
• (c) a plurality of molds, said molds mountable on said frame in a straight line along said primary axis, each of said molds having a first and second rotational mounting point on opposite sides of each of said molds, each of said molds mountable on said frame at said first and second rotational mounting points, each of said molds having mold walls forming a hollow spherical interior, said hollow spherical interior having an inner surface, and the center of each of said hollow spherical interiors of said molds located on said primary axis;
• (d) said frame having a first side configured to meet said first rotational mounting points, and a second side configured to meet said second rotational mounting points
• (e) said hollow spherical interiors of said molds being capable of containing casting material;
• (f) said molds being separable such that said hollow spherical interiors may be opened into hemispheres;
• (g) said molds being capable of being caused to rotate about said primary axis by said rotation of said frame;
• (h) said molds being capable of rotating on said frame about secondary axes passing through the center of each of said hollow spherical interiors of said molds, said secondary axes each being substantially perpendicular to said primary axis, and said secondary axes passing through said first and second rotational mounting points of each of said molds;
• (i) a primary drive motor for rotating said frame about said primary axis;
• (j) each of said molds having one or more mold gears, and said mold gears being driveably couplable among said molds from each one of said molds to the adjacent one of said molds such that the rotation of any one of said molds is transferred to said adjacent one of said molds;
• (k) a drive gear system couplable to one or more of said mold gears to rotate said molds about said secondary axes while said frame is rotated about said primary axis, wherein said drive gear system includes a set differential gears configured to connect said drive gear system to a source of rotation to drive said drive gear system;
• (l) wherein, for each of said molds, said mold has a neck configured for meeting said frame at at least one of said first and second rotational mounting points, said neck configured to be centered on said secondary axis and to extend from said mold toward said frame, said neck having a neck surface configured to encircle said secondary axis at an angle to said secondary axis, and said frame having a circular rotary mount configured to be centered on said secondary axis and rotationally engagable with said neck surface, wherein said rotary mount is configured to be able to transfer an axial load to said neck substantially parallel to said secondary axis, and wherein said rotary mount is configured to be able to allow said mold to rotate continuously about said secondary axis while said axial load is applied;
• (m) wherein said device is configurable for operation such that, for each one of said molds, the combination of (A) said mold and (B) what is attached to said mold that rotates about said secondary axis of said mold, has its center of mass located substantially at the center of said hollow spherical interior of said mold;
• (n) wherein said device is configurable for operation such that the combination of (C) said frame and (D) what is attached to said frame that rotates about said primary axis, exclusive of said support structure and elements (A)-(B), also has its center of mass located substantially on said primary axis.