In one example, a sand core for use in a sand casting process includes a core body comprising a sand composition, the sand composition including sand and a binder; and a burnable fuse extending within the core body along a path and out of a surface of the core body, wherein the burnable fuse is configured such than when the fuse is ignited, the fuse burns within the core body to substantially remove the fuse and form a venting tunnel along the path within the core body with an opening in the surface.

In one example, a sand core for use in a sand casting process includes a core body comprising a sand composition, the sand composition including sand and a binder; and a burnable fuse extending within the core body along a path and out of a surface of the core body, wherein the burnable fuse is configured such than when the fuse is ignited, the fuse burns within the core body to substantially remove the fuse and form a venting tunnel along the path within the core body with an opening in the surface.

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement bulk metallic glass-based strain wave gears and strain wave gear components. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a strain wave gear includes: shaping a BMG-based material using a mold in conjunction with one of a thermoplastic forming technique and a casting technique; where the BMG-based material is shaped into one of: a wave generator plug, an inner race, an outer race, a rolling element, a flexspline, a flexspline without a set of gear teeth, a circular spline, a circular spline without a set of gear teeth, a set of gear teeth to be incorporated within a flexspline, and a set of gear teeth to be incorporated within a circular spline.

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement bulk metallic glass-based strain wave gears and strain wave gear components. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a strain wave gear includes: shaping a BMG-based material using a mold in conjunction with one of a thermoplastic forming technique and a casting technique; where the BMG-based material is shaped into one of: a wave generator plug, an inner race, an outer race, a rolling element, a flexspline, a flexspline without a set of gear teeth, a circular spline, a circular spline without a set of gear teeth, a set of gear teeth to be incorporated within a flexspline, and a set of gear teeth to be incorporated within a circular spline.

Methods are provided for manufacturing a component. In one method, first material is cast into a first body. At least a portion of the first body is machined. Second metal material is cast onto at least the machined portion of the first body to form a monolithic second body. A first portion of the second body is formed by the first metal material. A second portion of the second body is formed by the second metal material. The second metal material is different from the first metal material.

Methods are provided for manufacturing a component. In one method, first material is cast into a first body. At least a portion of the first body is machined. Second metal material is cast onto at least the machined portion of the first body to form a monolithic second body. A first portion of the second body is formed by the first metal material. A second portion of the second body is formed by the second metal material. The second metal material is different from the first metal material.

Methods and apparatus for a composite bicycle front sprocket are disclosed herein. One embodiment discloses a composite bicycle front sprocket assembly having an outer assembly of a first material. The bicycle front sprocket assembly also has a center assembly of a second material. The center assembly is disposed at least partially within the outer assembly. The center assembly is irremovably coupled with the outer assembly. The center assembly is irremovably coupled with the outer assembly without an external fastening device to irremovably couple the center assembly with the outer assembly.

Methods and apparatus for a composite bicycle front sprocket are disclosed herein. One embodiment discloses a composite bicycle front sprocket assembly having an outer assembly of a first material. The bicycle front sprocket assembly also has a center assembly of a second material. The center assembly is disposed at least partially within the outer assembly. The center assembly is irremovably coupled with the outer assembly. The center assembly is irremovably coupled with the outer assembly without an external fastening device to irremovably couple the center assembly with the outer assembly.

Disclosed herein is a casting cluster for casting a body of a golf club head made of titanium or a titanium alloy. The casting cluster comprises a receptor and a plurality of runners coupled to the receptor and configured to receive molten metal from the receptor. The casting cluster also includes at least forty main gates. At least two of the main gates are coupled to each of the runners and each main gate is configured to receive molten metal from a corresponding one of the plurality of runners. The casting cluster further comprises at least forty molds. Each mold of the at least forty molds is configured to receive molten metal from a corresponding one of the main gates and to cast a body of an iron-type golf club head.

An axial cast hole is formed to have a large diameter side end on one side at a draft angle. A large diameter hole is formed on the one side to form a stepped surface between the large diameter hole and the axial cast hole. The stepped surface has an inner periphery end located on a plane perpendicular to the axial direction. A tool is moved from the one side toward the other side coaxially with the axial cast hole to make contact with the stepped surface. The tool is moved subsequently to cut the inner periphery of the axial cast hole between the large diameter hole and the first port. The tool is moved subsequently to cut the inner periphery of the axial cast hole on the other side relative to the first port.