Investment casting or another technology?
Material, geometry, dimensions, production volumes and required finish determine the most suitable process. This comparison helps assess the total manufacturing cost, not just the unit price.
There is no single best manufacturing technology
Investment casting is particularly competitive for complex components in stainless steel, carbon steel and special alloys when near-net-shape geometries and reduced machining are required.
Other processes may be more suitable when very large dimensions, very high production volumes, very low part weights or tolerances achievable only by machining are the main requirements.
Six manufacturing technologies compared
| Parameter | Investment casting | Sand casting | MIM | CNC machining | Die casting | Gravity casting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | Stainless steels, carbon steels, alloy steels and special alloys | Ferrous and non-ferrous alloys | Steels and alloys compatible with sintering | Almost all machinable materials | Aluminum, zinc and magnesium | Mainly aluminum and other non-ferrous alloys |
| Indicative part weight | From a few grams to approximately 100 kg | From approximately 1 kg to very large components | Typically up to approximately 100 g | Highly variable | From a few grams to approximately 15 kg | From approximately 0.1 to 200 kg |
| Indicative production volume | Tens of parts – large series | Single parts – large series | Medium and large series | Single parts – large series | Large series | Small – medium series |
| Tooling cost | ||||||
| Unit cost | Medium, competitive for complex geometries | Medium-high | Low at high production volumes | High for complex geometries | Low at high production volumes | Medium |
| As-cast accuracy | Not applicable: machining process | |||||
| Surface finish | Good; approximately Ra 1.6–6.3 µm | Rougher; often requires secondary machining | Very good | From good to very high | Very good | Intermediate |
| Design freedom | ||||||
| Thin walls | Good capability, to be verified according to alloy and surface area | More limited | Excellent for small components | Possible, but potentially costly or delicate | Excellent | Intermediate |
| Secondary machining | Reduced; required for tight functional dimensions | Often extensive | Generally reduced | They are the manufacturing process | Reduced | Moderate |
| Typical application | Complex steel parts, near-net-shape | Large components and small batches | Small complex parts in large series | From single parts to very high production volumes, with highly accurate dimensions | Large series in leghe leggere | Medium-sized non-ferrous castings |
* Ranges and performance values are indicative: alloy, dimensions, wall thicknesses, geometry, parting line, tooling and inspection requirements can affect the result. Final tolerances must be agreed after reviewing the drawing.
The strength of each manufacturing process
A quick overview to identify which manufacturing technologies should be evaluated in more detail before quotation.
Complex steel geometries
Suitable for near-net-shape components, fine details, undercuts and ferrous or special alloys.
Ideal for: complex geometries, good accuracy, reduced machining.Learn more about investment casting →Large dimensions and small batches
Flexible in terms of materials and part weights, with low-cost tooling but lower dimensional accuracy and surface quality.
Ideal for: large parts, low quantities and geometries requiring finishing.Small components in large series
Combines design freedom and metallic materials for lightweight components produced in high volumes.
Ideal for: low part weights, complex details and high production volumes.Learn more about MIM →Maximum accuracy on functional dimensions
Requires no dedicated casting tool and is highly flexible, but machining time and cost increase with material removal and geometric complexity.
Ideal for: single parts through to very high production volumes, with tight tolerances.Learn more about CNC machining →Large series in alluminio e zama
Provides fast production cycles and excellent repeatability, with higher tooling costs and limitations on suitable materials.
Ideal for: high production volumes and non-ferrous alloys.Learn more about die casting →Medium-sized non-ferrous castings
An intermediate solution for light alloys, with lower tooling investment and production volumes than high-pressure die casting.
Ideal for: small to medium production series in aluminum.Start from the project priority
The right choice comes from balancing technical requirements with the total industrial cost.
Which manufacturing technology is right for your component?
Send us your 2D or 3D drawing, material specification, tolerances and required quantities. We will compare the process, tooling, machining requirements and total cost.