Wayne you are exactly right. That was what I was trying to say but didn't get it out right.
Baby chee, The mech advantage is calculated by measuring the full distance from weight to
fulcrum and dividing by the distance from plunger to fulcrum. I am not sure but I think you figured it wrong. It should be 57+9 = 66 and then 66/9 = 7.3. Not a big deal unless you are grading papers.
The idea of placing the whole thing in a pot is a sweet idea. I may try that even with my open bottom hoops.
I would not make the follower any smaller than needed. I made them fit as close as possible because the curd will push up around the top every time. And besides the whey is going to get out if there is any kind of crack at all.
Civil engineering? Me too! I was 2 quarters from graduating and switched to a straight math and physics degree. I finished all the hard stuff but went to a company with a zillion floors and all those cubicles for some hands on experience during the last summer and said 'no way". I still love the physics though. I use it almost everyday.