Modular casting sprue assembly

A modular molding system comprising:

• a preformed sprue trunk having substantially consistent width walls defining an interior volume and constructed of a hardened refractory material to provide a passageway open at an upper end and closed at a lower end, the walls further including a plurality of openings extending laterally therethrough, wherein each preformed opening is defined by an opening surface formed within a width of the wall of the sprue trunk;
• and
• a multiplicity of preformed hollow branch connectors constructed of a hardened refractory material having outer surfaces and inner walls, the inner walls defining a passageway through the connectors between opposed first and second ends of the connectors, the outer surfaces of the second ends of the connectors engaging the opening surfaces in the sprue trunk in a tapered interference fit between the outer surface and opening surface to form mechanical attachments to the plurality of openings in the sprue trunk, forming fluid tight seals between the sprue trunk and connectors and continuous channels in fluid communication from the passageway of the sprue trunk to the first end of the connectors,
• a ceramic shell surrounding a pattern extending from each of the multiplicity of hollow branch connectors, the shells including a hardened refractory material adhered to an outer surface of the pattern and a length of the outer surface at the first end forming an attachment between the pattern and the connector, and wherein a length of the outer surface of the connectors at a portion of the second end adjacent the preformed opening in the sprue trunk is exposed to atmosphere when the connectors are mechanically attached to the plurality of openings in the sprue trunk while maintaining fluid tight seals between the sprue trunk and connectors.